Show Me Your Flukes!

[Mermaid Wesley]

Ok heres the janky gorilla tape method rundown!

First I made a paper template of my fluke shape. I temporarily taped it to the monofin.

Then i glued the thick industrial zip ties to the monofin, radiating out almost like bones. I trimmed them to line up with the edges of my paper pattern, then removed the paper. Now i had a monofin with a zip tie skeleton attached to the end (The glue didn't stick but it doesn't matter in the long run.)

I took long strips of gorilla tape and covered the "bones" while being careful not to get it stuck to my table. Then i flipped the fin over and covered that side in tape, sticky parts of the tape together. It creates a sandwich tape, bones, tape. Then i trimmed it to shape.



uhhhh heres a picture. Yellow is monofin, blue is ziptie bones, grey is gorilla tape strips, black is where I trimmed.


I did a few layers of tape and wrapped all the edges with tape too, but this is the basic idea.

I hope this helps!

(edit: Then I put it in a fabric tail, ofc)

[MeliPixie]

Wow Mermaid Wesley, that's awesome! I do duct tape crafts in much the same way. How long has this held up???

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[Mermaid Wesley]

Wow Mermaid Wesley, that's awesome! I do duct tape crafts in much the same way. How long has this held up???

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well its been 4 years (of abuse) and its about time for me to fix it up.

[MeliPixie]

well its been 4 years (of abuse) and its about time for me to fix it up.

That's quite impressive!

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[Mermaid Lieke]

Here are a few pictures in which you can see my fluke. I made the tail myself. In the second picture my scales and fluke aren't attached jet. That's why the scales look a bit frumpy.

The monofin in my fluke is black and you can't see a thing.

Hope you find the shape you like soon

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[Mermaid Lilija]

This is the fluke on my tail first is the front, second is the back. My tail is still on the way (will be arriving soon). The fluke I got was the Renée from SeeThroughSea!

[MeliPixie]

Here are a few pictures in which you can see my fluke. I made the tail myself. In the second picture my scales and fluke aren't attached jet. That's why the scales look a bit frumpy.

The monofin in my fluke is black and you can't see a thing.

Hope you find the shape you like soon

Wow, you did such a great job! May I ask what the tail is made of and how did you attach the fluke to the body of the tail? Very pretty fluke shape ^_^

This is the fluke on my tail first is the front, second is the back. My tail is still on the way (will be arriving soon). The fluke I got was the Renée from SeeThroughSea!

Beautiful! I was looking at something like that myself

[Mermaid Lieke]

My tail is made out of silicone. The fluke and body are attached with strong snaps.

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[MeliPixie]

My tail is made out of silicone. The fluke and body are attached with strong snaps.

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Interesting idea. Do you unsnap it for rinsing or something? Do you find they puy any strain on the silicone?

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[Mermaid Lieke]

Interesting idea. Do you unsnap it for rinsing or something? Do you find they puy any strain on the silicone?

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Indeed, I do that, and I also use so I can go swimming with only my fluke. It will always put some strain on the silicone, even if you glue it down there will be some. But you need to use enough snaps to devide it. I've been swimming regularly in this tail for almost a year with no signs of that this method would bring to much tension

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[MeliPixie]

Indeed, I do that, and I also use so I can go swimming with only my fluke. It will always put some strain on the silicone, even if you glue it down there will be some. But you need to use enough snaps to devide it. I've been swimming regularly in this tail for almost a year with no signs of that this method would bring to much tension

Interesting! I've never heard of attaching like that, what a good idea

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[Marinus Mortimer]

Just going to post a pic of my future tail because it shows the fluke and fins. However, it IS kinda seethrough and I plan on making it without a monofin, but if you didn't want the membrane parts seethrough I think you'd be good to go.

As always, if someone uses my art or design without my permission, I'll be unhappy. XD

I personally wouldn't have a fluke without a monofin but if your just going for translucency I'd recommend that you make your self a monofin with lexan / polycarbonate sheet, it is translucent and it will not brake under the pressure of swimming many Mers have tried it and it works like a charm PearlyMae makes her tails or monofins with this material and I've seen a video of her from under and her fluke was slightly translucent bet it's because of the colors she used with your colors it would deff be translucent but not see through because silicone gets cloudy with thickness. Your fluke and mine are alike!




Now here's my fluke I'm still sculpting it so it's not at it's full gory!



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[Slim]

I already posted one picture of the same fluke but I'll post one with that tail underneath the water.

[Marinus Mortimer]

I already posted one picture of the same fluke but I'll post one with that tail underneath the water.

I absolutely love that place I know I'll take my extended tail for a swim there once it's finished


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[Slim]

I absolutely love that place I know I'll take my extended tail for a swim there once it's finished


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I'll be happy to join you if you like. That spring is such a beautiful place. I'm currently trying to figure out where to find a cheap wetsuit top to go with the tail. My lack of body fat gets me really fast in that spring


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[Marinus Mortimer]

I'd love ❤️ to have another Mer around it's been years seance I swam with a fellow Mer


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[MeliPixie]

Wow you guys! Keep 'em coming! <3

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[Slim]

I'd love ❤️ to have another Mer around it's been years seance I swam with a fellow Mer


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A group of us from Lakeland are planning to be there on the 29th.


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[Marinus Mortimer]

Unfortunately I will not be able to join you guys then my tail won't be finished until a few months


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[Slim]

We will wait. Maybe you'll be here in August in time for the Sandy Fins gathering. I'm not having much luck inspiring mers in Bennington, Vt. Here fabric tail to keep on topic.




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