Scales for Spandex?

[MerShellly]

I'm thinking about buying a spandex tail from the Mertailor. I feel that, for a cheap tail (compared to silicone, partial silicone, etc.), it's very realistic. I was hoping that to make it more realistic I could sew scales onto it. Do you think that would be possible? If so, what materials would I need? What type of fabric (neoprene, spandex, etc.) should the scales be? I'm very, very new to tail making, so yeah :confused: I'm just trying to make/buy a cheap tail to where an obnoxious 5 year old won't be like "You're wearing a costume!" -_-

This is the tail.
https://www.themertailor.com/cache/widgetkit/gallery/58/1_Spandex-503149b5e9.jpg

[Kishiko]

Why not just make your own tail? its going to be much cheaper and you can purchase scale print fabric. Magic tail also sells scale print tails

[MerShellly]

I would but I just don't trust myself yet with making one. I fear I might make a mistake that I couldn't fix. And I wouldn't really like the scaling of the tail to be smooth or 2D. I guess I'm just too picky considering my price range at the moment. :p

[Kishiko]

Realistic and cheap don't really go hand in hand. Its really either or. Personally I don't think fabric scales would look very good just because they'd get all floaty in the water. Also, especially if you want to cover the tail in scales, it would be silly to buy a really expensive Spandex tail since you wouldn't see it anyway. Also, making Spandex tails is so so easy. You just cut the shape and sew the sides basically. There's lots of resources to help you here! (:

[MerShellly]

Huh. Then I wonder why the Mertailor's spandex tails are so expensive :thinks:I guess your right. Thank you! :)

[Mermaid Lily_Pad]

I was honestly in the same boat as you. I was thinking of getting a Mernation cloth tail because they are supposed to use the super thick spandex and they mold really well to the body from what I have seen. Then I was going to try and add the scales. Truth be told I feel much more comfortable with having someone else do the sewing and I just add the details. Sort of like, coloring in a picture. I can't draw for crap, but I can color between the lines like a savant!

[MerShellly]

"Can't draw for crap." :lol: Haha same here. Did you end up buying a silicone tail?

[Mermaid Wesley]

Don't worry, little kids will think you're real no matter what. :) even once I took my tail off in front of one I told her that I she's them to get legs and she bought that. They want to believe in you for the most part :)


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[MerShellly]

Yeah I remember when I was 6 or 7 and I found out that the mermaids of h2o were wearing costumes and I refused to believe it lol

[Mermaid Wesley]

Last week I had a little girl throw a clump of sand in her brothers eyes for saying I wasn't real XD my tail is fabric with painted square scales. I was sitting next to silicone scaled mers and they believers we were all real :)


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[MerShellly]

Last week I had a little girl throw a clump of sand in her brothers eyes for saying I wasn't real XD my tail is fabric with painted square scales. I was sitting next to silicone scaled mers and they believers we were all real :)


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Omg that's crazy!!!! xD

[Raayvhen]

There are a lot of cheaper options when it comes to fabric tails too.

Check out out mermaidtails.net for a list.

[mer_believer]

I own spandex tails. Based on my experience, kids are easy to please as far as mermen/mermaid tails are concerned. I was swimming in my orange tail in a swimming pool at a private property with my friends. One of my friends, who's way older than me, brought her kids with her. They were age 11, 9, 7 and 6 years. The two younger siblings went gaga over me like they wanted to pet me. LoL. The only boy among them kept on pinching my fluke like it was a very cute puppy.

[Sherielle]

It's so funny how they pet you! lol. I had to gently chide one little girl because in her excitement, she kept showing the other little girls all the things about my tail (she was fascinated about the dorsal), so I laughingly said "I am not a thing! I am a person too!" She giggled and apologized.
I love my mernation fabric tail, especially the monofin. I plan on embellishing it up but only because I like it when the fluke has a more realistic look than just a solid color.

[Mermaid Jaffa]

Look for 4 way stretch swimsuit fabric. It has other names like lycra and spandex. I normally buy 6 m of fabric just in case I mess up the first one. I, too, suck at sewing. My only sewing attempts are my fabric tails. But once you get the hang of it, its quite easy.