My First Latex Neoprene Tail (slip casting)

[Mermaid Zipora]

Hello!! This is my 2nd tail my first tail I made from swimsuit fabric. I made it specifically for a trip I took to Israel. It was an amazing experience. Sadly it got destroyed pretty bad...oh and I swam with it in the dead sea...everything including mermaids die in the dead sea...ooops! Anyways I'm ready to bump up my creativity a bit. I am an art student drop out (sad...had to for health reasons and never went back). I have experience with molds but only in art studios. I'll save the mold making for another time.
This is my design:
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I went with a wave monofin because my feet are too small for the rapid even with the neoprene socks.






*my fins are crossed I hope this works.

[Mermaid Wesley]

Oh you're gonna want to take those plugs out or else it's gonna float ;)

[Mermaid Zipora]

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I just have to trim it and boult it to the monofin. I'm feeling a lot more confident about this. ^_^


EDIT: I deleted some of my older posts to avoid confusing anyone trying to make fluke expansions. I originally had expanded the fluke with gorilla tape and didn't like the feel of it in the water. Many mers have had success with duct tape but not me so I went back to the drawing board and used mermaid moonflowers technique for the fluke expansion.

[Imogen Finnly]

Go go go!! 😀😀😀

formerly jayy

[The Harlem Mermaid]

great job! i never heard of shark plugs before im still in learning process of tail making my hubby has it down pat with our fabric tails, now we need to move up and learn latex and silicone thanks for posting

[Mermaid Zipora]

Thank you!!!
Cookie: Wesley mentioned above that the plugs are no good. She was totally right, it made the fluke impossible to swim in...it was an interesting concept but unfortunately didn't work and I do not reccamend plugging the tubes.

[The Harlem Mermaid]

aww Your welcome dear , great idea though im sure you will be successful with your next concept :)

[Mermaid Zipora]

Thank you! It's taking me forever to save up for the supplies...but in time I'll have it. In the mean time here is the link to moonflowers thread with extending the monofin. This is the new concept I'm working on. Make sure you scroll down to watch the test videos. The flukes end up looking amazing!!

http://mernetwork.com/index/showthread.php?4750

[Mermaid Zipora]

Slowly making progress. I had a hard time finding the binding posts at Home Depot and ended up having to order them. But I finally got them and I'll be binding the fluke this weekend. && the neoprene is on it's way!! Stay tuned!
https://fbcdn-photos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpf1/v/t1.0-0/10626564_10202721418664813_7422913103453142428_n.j pg?oh=17fe789d7a771b50e329540d20b9bdd3&oe=546601CB&__gda__=1416097460_4de1da3593cd99b3405324c2b406c49 c

[The Harlem Mermaid]

Good Luck dear im wishing and hoping for your success this time around i know you will succedd and its going to be epic :)
Thank you! It's taking me forever to save up for the supplies...but in time I'll have it. In the mean time here is the link to moonflowers thread with extending the monofin. This is the new concept I'm working on. Make sure you scroll down to watch the test videos. The flukes end up looking amazing!!

http://mernetwork.com/index/showthread.php?4750

[Mermaid Zipora]

Please ignore all the craziness on the fluke! The green line is where the monofin is inside and the red lines is me trying to visualize how the latex will be shaped. I sewed the edges and x-stitched the bottom. I'm debating on whether or not I should cut in the channels.
https://fbcdn-photos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpa1/v/t1.0-0/10698503_10202750136542742_1054334769745420421_n.j pg?oh=526a9d3d5f69ebad926689c391a7b421&oe=549D81F5&__gda__=1418511587_dc3b492d87f1930c16e8b00e44c29a5 c

[The Harlem Mermaid]

That is going to be a awesome big fluke, love your design cant wait to see it finished :)
Please ignore all the craziness on the fluke! The green line is where the monofin is inside and the red lines is me trying to visualize how the latex will be shaped. I sewed the edges and x-stitched the bottom. I'm debating on whether or not I should cut in the channels.
https://fbcdn-photos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpa1/v/t1.0-0/10698503_10202750136542742_1054334769745420421_n.j pg?oh=526a9d3d5f69ebad926689c391a7b421&oe=549D81F5&__gda__=1418511587_dc3b492d87f1930c16e8b00e44c29a5 c

[Mermaid Zipora]

http://youtu.be/SlV7TZ0Penk

I'm such a dork lol but here it is. I'm going to try and swim with it this week.

[Imogen Finnly]

Haha that video is cute. I love how big it is

formerly jayy

[Mermaid Zipora]

https://fbcdn-photos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpa1/v/t1.0-0/10660171_10202814011819584_3806821094304864735_n.j pg?oh=f6000163dc0be36ff62079e43e3396d0&oe=54CDE6C8&__gda__=1422058206_c58d336da1cc3d222e40ed192d39582 4 I finally got my neoprene! I set $$ aside for latex which I'll order on Friday.

[Mermaid Zipora]

Haha that video is cute. I love how big it is

formerly jayy hahaha thank you :)

[Mermaid Wesley]

Have you swam in that monofin yet? I'm curious as to how it's going to hold up


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[Mermaid Zipora]

Yes I did. And sofar it is holding up very well. I only swam a few laps though. I'm feeling confident in it. :)

[Mermaid Wesley]

Cool! Thank you!


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[Mermaid Zipora]

UPDATE! I got my latex!!! Ive been really busy getting ready for my sisters wedding and saving up for the holidays is holding me back a bit. Also...I'm procrastinating a bit due to the anxiety of messing up...but I'll just have to get over it and work on my swatches. Wish me luck :)

[Mermaid Zipora]

I really want to put a zipper along the side and hide it with fins. Anyone know if i should have the tail decorated first or should I sew the zipper, then decorate, then sew it all together.

[Mermaid Wesley]

I would put the zipper first so you can decorate accordingly. That way you can make sure it works first and not have to worry about messing up dcoration


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[Mermaid Zipora]

Good point :) Thank youuuu Wesley!

[The Harlem Mermaid]

Mermaid Zipora (http://mernetwork.com/index/member.php?4209-Mermaid-Zipora) wow this is so big i love it! you did an amazing job, love your design on fluke and your tail design is gorgeous good luck dear cant wait to see it all done and you wearing it