Fabric Tail Appreciation Thread

**Mermaid Galene** · 05-14-2014, 12:07 PM

Caltuna, that sums up my feelings, too!

**MermaidSasha** · 07-08-2014, 01:33 PM

Really glad I found this post! I'm going to be ordering my very first tail hopefully within the next month. Its going to be a fabric tail and I'm looking forward to it :-) I will admit I really want a silicone but I'd rather start with something that will be easier for me to swim in my first time. Plus its easier on money then buying a silicone.

**Aquarianne** · 07-08-2014, 09:14 PM

I'm actually starting on my fabric tail this week, my first tail!

Although the base is a spandex body, I will be sculpting a latex fluke for it, since I've been using mask-making latex for years and I'm comfortable with it. I was also going to do the fishnet-painting technique, but just as a painted guideline for the scales. Then I'm thinking i will remove the net after drying and handpaint little latex scales onto the spandex body...just a TIIIIINY bit, some small raised scales to give it some texture, with spandex space left in between each one so the body still has a bit of stretch. Has anyone here tried this? I know lots of people who paint liquid latex over spandex catsuits to create latex suits, so I think it will work out fine.

I've painted latex on spandex before, with good results...the latex seeps into the fabric threads and bonds with it, so it won't peel off any time soon. And if i just do it in small dots as scales, without actually coating the whole tail in latex, it'll presumably keep some stretch and be easier to move in. I really value the movement of a spandex tail over the realism of a silicone...I'm just looking for a tiny bit of raised texture, so when the kids at parties run their hands over my tail, they'll feel some kind of scaling, not just flat spandex.

At any rate, I will do a progress thread with pictures when I start it, so hopefully if something is to be learned (or avoided!), people can see it!

I actually have used a technique a lot of puppeteers use, which is liquid latex over sheets of upholstery foam (just the green or white foam from the craft store), which I considered for this. Done right, it can create a skin that's as thick as silicone and waterproof, and then you'd cast your scale sheets separately and add them on top. The main bonus is that it's not HEAVY like silicone, nor too bouyant like latex over neoprene. The weight of the latex balances out the bouyancy of the foam. I considered this, but I'd rather have the stretchiness and ease of a fabric tail.

For anyone who is interested in this technique for other applications (I'm not sure if this method has already been covered in the forums, I looked but didn't see it!), the trick is that the latex will always seep into the foam and be useless UNLESS you spray it first with Foam Fast, which is a tricky kind of foam glue. CRAZY strong, and very messy, but very effective. You lay the foam sheet out and spray a coat of Foam Fast over it. Then you wait for it to dry and it creates a waterproof barrier on the surface of the foam, as well as an easy surface for latex to stick to. A lot of industry puppeteers and special fx guys do this for large creatures like dinosaurs, animals, etc. It makes a great skin and has a thickness and weight to it, so it's realllly tough to rip or tear. I was actually a finalist for the new Jim Henson Creature Shop tv show during casting last winter, and I was flown out to Burbank to compete in the finals to be on the show, and one of the challenges we had to do was creating puppets exactly this way...with foam sheets and 3M Foam Fast. (and yeah, I didn't get on. They said they loved me, loved my personality, I'd be great great great...for season 2, not season 1. Womp woooomp, oh well!)

Here's a video of a horse head puppet I made, that was made this way, with a sheet of green foam, with Foam Fast sprayed over it, then latex brushed on, then painted. The head itself (not the neck) has a separate layer of molded latex fitted over it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vIKVGctG1Tg

(Don't mind me, it was a spur of the moment idea to take a video for my folks of this thing I made, my hair's all messed and I'm chatting with my roommate XD Also note that when I say "this thing is so heavy" in the video, I'm not referring to the latex or foam skin making it heavy, but to the structure inside the head, which has a plastic-cast skull to support the face, plus wooden supports for some mechanics inside to cable-control the ears and eye blinks!)

ANYWAY, I think fabric tails can be just as awesome as molded ones, if not better, with a little effort in technique! The painted ones I've seen on here are AMAZING and if they have a natural advantage of being cheaper, more comfortable, easier to move in and repair and DEFINITELY a lot more forgiving for people like me, whose weight goes up and down constantly! I gain weight very fast, but I also lose it very fast, so my waist size can yo-yo up and down by a few inches throughout the month. I need something that will stretch and fit me all the time!!

Anyhow that's my crazy ramble about fabric and latex. XD

**Mermaid Tula** · 07-08-2014, 09:24 PM

I've only had my fabric tail. <3 I love it to bits.

http://mernetwork.com/index/attachme...6&d=1371277979
http://mernetwork.com/index/attachme...6&d=1370930261

**Raayvhen** · 07-08-2014, 10:26 PM

I'm going to be redoing my fluke. It's currently a holographic printed fabric but I don't like the way it looks. Too reptilian. I'm going to get a similar colored plain spandex and paint gold details on it. I'm thinking of covering the whole tail in silicone....

**SINicallyTwisted** · 07-08-2014, 10:30 PM

ALL of my tails are fabric. I prefer fabric. There is just SO many different possibilities! I dream of having a room FULL of different fabric tails.

**Raayvhen** · 07-08-2014, 10:38 PM

-bows before Sin in awe-

**Aquarianne** · 07-08-2014, 10:44 PM

Originally Posted by Raayvhen

I'm going to be redoing my fluke. It's currently a holographic printed fabric but I don't like the way it looks. Too reptilian. I'm going to get a similar colored plain spandex and paint gold details on it. I'm thinking of covering the whole tail in silicone....

Does silicone stick to the fabric well? I haven't worked with silicone before, so I know nothing about it :3

**Aquarianne** · 07-08-2014, 10:45 PM

Originally Posted by SINicallyTwisted

ALL of my tails are fabric. I prefer fabric. There is just SO many different possibilities! I dream of having a room FULL of different fabric tails.

OMG that rock skirt is GENIUS!!

**Grey Gambit** · 07-08-2014, 10:55 PM

Originally Posted by SINicallyTwisted

ALL of my tails are fabric. I prefer fabric. There is just SO many different possibilities! I dream of having a room FULL of different fabric tails.

I really like that Sugar Skull tail, and the idea you've got going for your Egyptian one!

**SINicallyTwisted** · 07-09-2014, 09:25 AM

LOL Oh my goodness, you guys are making me blush!

**SINicallyTwisted** · 07-09-2014, 09:48 AM

Originally Posted by Aquarianne

I'm actually starting on my fabric tail this week, my first tail!

Although the base is a spandex body, I will be sculpting a latex fluke for it, since I've been using mask-making latex for years and I'm comfortable with it. I was also going to do the fishnet-painting technique, but just as a painted guideline for the scales. Then I'm thinking i will remove the net after drying and handpaint little latex scales onto the spandex body...just a TIIIIINY bit, some small raised scales to give it some texture, with spandex space left in between each one so the body still has a bit of stretch. Has anyone here tried this? I know lots of people who paint liquid latex over spandex catsuits to create latex suits, so I think it will work out fine.

I've painted latex on spandex before, with good results...the latex seeps into the fabric threads and bonds with it, so it won't peel off any time soon. And if i just do it in small dots as scales, without actually coating the whole tail in latex, it'll presumably keep some stretch and be easier to move in. I really value the movement of a spandex tail over the realism of a silicone...I'm just looking for a tiny bit of raised texture, so when the kids at parties run their hands over my tail, they'll feel some kind of scaling, not just flat spandex.

At any rate, I will do a progress thread with pictures when I start it, so hopefully if something is to be learned (or avoided!), people can see it!

I actually have used a technique a lot of puppeteers use, which is liquid latex over sheets of upholstery foam (just the green or white foam from the craft store), which I considered for this. Done right, it can create a skin that's as thick as silicone and waterproof, and then you'd cast your scale sheets separately and add them on top. The main bonus is that it's not HEAVY like silicone, nor too bouyant like latex over neoprene. The weight of the latex balances out the bouyancy of the foam. I considered this, but I'd rather have the stretchiness and ease of a fabric tail.

For anyone who is interested in this technique for other applications (I'm not sure if this method has already been covered in the forums, I looked but didn't see it!), the trick is that the latex will always seep into the foam and be useless UNLESS you spray it first with Foam Fast, which is a tricky kind of foam glue. CRAZY strong, and very messy, but very effective. You lay the foam sheet out and spray a coat of Foam Fast over it. Then you wait for it to dry and it creates a waterproof barrier on the surface of the foam, as well as an easy surface for latex to stick to. A lot of industry puppeteers and special fx guys do this for large creatures like dinosaurs, animals, etc. It makes a great skin and has a thickness and weight to it, so it's realllly tough to rip or tear. I was actually a finalist for the new Jim Henson Creature Shop tv show during casting last winter, and I was flown out to Burbank to compete in the finals to be on the show, and one of the challenges we had to do was creating puppets exactly this way...with foam sheets and 3M Foam Fast. (and yeah, I didn't get on. They said they loved me, loved my personality, I'd be great great great...for season 2, not season 1. Womp woooomp, oh well!)

Here's a video of a horse head puppet I made, that was made this way, with a sheet of green foam, with Foam Fast sprayed over it, then latex brushed on, then painted. The head itself (not the neck) has a separate layer of molded latex fitted over it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vIKVGctG1Tg

(Don't mind me, it was a spur of the moment idea to take a video for my folks of this thing I made, my hair's all messed and I'm chatting with my roommate XD Also note that when I say "this thing is so heavy" in the video, I'm not referring to the latex or foam skin making it heavy, but to the structure inside the head, which has a plastic-cast skull to support the face, plus wooden supports for some mechanics inside to cable-control the ears and eye blinks!)

ANYWAY, I think fabric tails can be just as awesome as molded ones, if not better, with a little effort in technique! The painted ones I've seen on here are AMAZING and if they have a natural advantage of being cheaper, more comfortable, easier to move in and repair and DEFINITELY a lot more forgiving for people like me, whose weight goes up and down constantly! I gain weight very fast, but I also lose it very fast, so my waist size can yo-yo up and down by a few inches throughout the month. I need something that will stretch and fit me all the time!!

Anyhow that's my crazy ramble about fabric and latex. XD

I love your horse head video! You're adorable and I so want to snuggle you! LOL

Your fabric tail idea sounds pretty epic if you ask me! I'm sorry you didn't make it on Creature Shop! I think you would have made an awesome contestant! I geeked out when I saw the commerical for it and loved watching it. I'm currently reading the novelization of The Dark Crystal! *skesis & gelfling love* <3

My pirate group, New England Brethren of Pirates, is really good friends with Bill Diamond Productions.
Here's pics of some of us with Bill and Gorgo. Super nice dude!
https://scontent-a-lga.xx.fbcdn.net/...65820334_n.jpg

We gave him a birthday cake at that same convention.
https://scontent-b-lga.xx.fbcdn.net/...43582325_n.jpg

Ack! Now I'm rambling! LOL
Anyways I can't wait to see your progress! I'm sure it will totally rock!

**MermaidSasha** · 07-09-2014, 10:25 AM

Omg Sin I LOVE your tails! Those are all very amazing.

**SINicallyTwisted** · 07-09-2014, 10:26 AM

Originally Posted by MermaidSasha

Omg Sin I LOVE your tails! Those are all very amazing.

Thank you!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

**Mermaid Galene** · 07-09-2014, 11:27 AM

Fabulous horse puppet, Aquarianne! I'm a 25-year professional puppetry veteran, myself, and I do appreciate a well made puppet! And wow, Sinically, your tails/costumes totally rock!

I love fabric tails and neoprene tails and sequin tails. And also silicone tails. I have two fabric tails currently, both of which I adore, and I'm excited about my plans to make some neoprene/sequin models. I'm getting a FinFolk silicone tail, which I know I will love unreservedly. But in general, I think sequined tails are actually the most realistic and beautiful. Viva tail diversity! It's all good!

**Mermaid Belluine** · 07-09-2014, 11:58 AM

Aquarianne, that's SO COOL you were a finalist for the show! It was a lot of fun to watch, I'm sure you would have been an awesome contestant. Also, I totally love your ideas.....

What I was thinking was fabric with modifications and shaping underneath. You could use quick-drying foam on the inside of the tail (such as Dacron foam) that you could use to hide the bumps of your knees and the bumps of your heels....along with keeping the fabric from showing any leg-shapes in the front or back. It wouldn't be a lot of foam, just enough to retain flexibility and alter shape. You could use a marine adhesive (3M 2500) to fuse the two. Fursuits use a ton of shape padding, I feel like it would be even easier on a mermaid tail!

I think your ideas for painting latex on for scale patterning is spot-on too. You could build up some really nice scaling with a little time and effort so long as the spandex is stretched out a little first.

**Mermaid Galene** · 07-09-2014, 12:09 PM

I've just finished a mod on my FinFun fabric tail: added fluke fins to cover the edge of my Finis Rapid monofin, and hip and dorsal fins. And I made my first sequined top to match. Also got a scarf and belt to cover the tail's waistline, which tends to roll down on me.

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We're taking this costume to a weekend getaway on the North Shore of Lake Superior this weekend. I'm hoping to get some nice underwater swimming video in the resort's pool.

**PearlieMae** · 07-09-2014, 12:13 PM

Nicely done! I can't wait to see it swim!

**Raayvhen** · 07-09-2014, 12:22 PM

I'm kind of cheating and using silicone caulk. It does the same thing as latex where it seeps in a bit. If I go ahead with this plan, I'll wear swim leggings under my tail to minimize contact.

**SINicallyTwisted** · 07-09-2014, 12:33 PM

Love it!

Thread: Fabric Tail Appreciation Thread

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