Aquarianne's latex and fabric tail!

[Aquarianne]

So here is my little project thread to discuss the tail I'm making...basically, a spandex base, with a latex fluke. I have loads of experience with mask-making latex molds, so I don't anticipate any problems. I have kind of a tricky thing in mind for the body, but I'll write it up later, as I have to run to opening night for this operetta I'm grudgingly managing the wardrobe for (hey, paycheck's a paycheck). This is mostly just a little thread where I can post my progress and feel like I'm getting somewhere...and it'll motivate me to keep going!

Also, I signed up at the local Y and got a major discount on monthly fees, because of their open-door policy. Basically, I am very poor, so I qualify to pay less. Which is good news for me, cuz otherwise I would not be able to afford it and would have nowhere to swim.

MORE excitingly, I was totally up-front with them about what I wanted to swim for and about my monofin and eventual tail, and they're actually pretty cool with it! I might have to work out the best time to come and swim when I have my tail, so there are few people in the pool, but still! They're also interested in talking about me eventually coming to swim with the kids in swim class as a special treat, so that's something to work towards. My boss at the princess company is happy too...she's champing at the bit to start booking for mermaid parties, but I told her I'm not doing it til I'm TOTALLY comfy with swimming and am happy with the quality of my tail.

I will post sketches later this weekend of my tail design. Yay! :D

[jukumerboii]

This sounds so exciting! Can't wait to see your progress!

[lollikit]

I Would love to see pic's when your up to that!

[SINicallyTwisted]

Look forward to your process! :)

[Aquarianne]

Just came back from my first swim at the Y...everyone was SO nice and very curious about mermaiding! I guess they don't see many monofins in that pool XD

Ugh, need googles and must wait for swim cap I ordered to arrive, my hair and eyes are a mess. It's been a long time since they've seen chlorine. Luckily, my feet still remembered how to swim and I was sculling up and down the lanes in no time :3 But I'm gonna have to add another strap on my finis Rapid...either I'm swimming too hard or my feet are weird, cuz one feet keeps slipping out every so often. They fit me perfectly otherwise, like it was MADE for my feet! Maybe it's my technique.

I have to finish up my tail sketches, but in the meantime, here's a prop I made for dry events/party entrances:
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It's a triton's horn shell, drilled and modified to make an actual useable horn. I affixed a metal latch bar on one side and put a green belt/tether on it, with some greenery to go over the keychain latch that attaches on the other side. I also added some "Atlantean gold treasure" bits on the mouth piece and one on the end of the spiral. :3 The way it sits on my hip, with the mouth facing forward, is cool-looking but mostly for show, as it will create a lot of drag that way while swimming. So this will just be for party entrances and special photo shoots

I think this'll make a cute accessory to wear on my hip when I arrive at parties, and scare the pants off kids by blowing it (it sounds like a slightly less loud foghorn). I use to summon my whale and dolphin friends! i got the idea from the fact that Aquarianne in the gummi bears show has a seashell horn she uses to summon a sea creature...of course, hers is a tiny cute little pink shell around her neck, not a major beast like this XD

[SINicallyTwisted]

Love this so hard!


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[Aquarianne]

Tanx Sin! :D I was thinking of mebbe getting some more shells like this and making them into usable horns for mers who want one of their own. These shells are about 7-8 inches long and have a rich, resonating sound. They can be a bit tricky to play (you don't just blow into them, you have to play them like a trumpet), but they're easy enough to learn and they're loud and impressive! Plus, what mer wouldn't want to play something called Triton's Horn? XD

[SINicallyTwisted]

Ooo I would be VERY interested in one! <3


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[Grey Gambit]

I think that shell is an awesome addition! Even if it's mainly for dry events.

[Aquarianne]

Thanks Gambit! <3

It can technically be worn while swimming, but I don't want to bump a little friend with it while swimming at kid's parties XD Plus the drag, while not that much, isn't ideal for speedy swimming. But for lazy swimming, it works pretty well, just sort of floats along at my hip :D The nice thing is that, as a prop, I don't have to worry about it degrading in water. It was made for water! XD

[Grey Gambit]

You're welcome! It's got me thinking about prop additions I may want to make to go with my own tail. But tail and top go first, haha.

Did you alter the shell to function as a horn or did you get it already modified?

[Aquarianne]

Bought it whole and altered it myself. You need a dremel cutter, a drill, a file and some patience XD Gotta be careful not to shatter or chip it, or cut too much or too little off. The size of the mouth hole you cut will greatly affect the horn's pitch.

[Aquarianne]

OK, here's my fluke design...it's a little like PearlieMae's butterfly fluke...

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but more like the tails I usually draw in my mermaid art...I always like to do these cell-like designs that look like the insides of an orange :)

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I almost always draw long, snakey tails, but obv. can't make one of those. But at least I can incorporate the segmented fluke design I like!

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Since we'll be doing a lot of princess parties, I'll have to go with a similar color scheme to Ariel...hunter green tail and lighter fins. Even though we plan to offer two mermaid options...Aquarianne with her blonde hair, and "little mermaid" with a red wig...the tail should be similar because it's what parents expect. Plus I just like hunter green :)

I got my latex gallon in today, have to be SUPER careful because my roommate is very allergic to latex! So it will have to be a backyard project, which means waiting until the rain clears up :D I think I may just take the spandex I ordered, make a tight fabric tail, and paint the latex over it on a molded form, making a solid latex layer that bonds with the spandex. I can use the leftover spandex to make a practical fabric tail for casual swimming.