Silicone & Fabric fins - Progress pictures

[Mermaasai]

"This video contains content from WMG, who has blocked it in your country on copyright grounds."

???!?!?!?!??!?!???!?!?!?? wtf you tube?!

can you upload on some other host site? I'm eager to have a looksie

[Spindrift]

Yeah I'm in Florida right now and it's blocked for me as well.

[Taniwha]

Working fine here in NZ (and it looks amazing! Lovely how the fins move) which is weird as I'm fairly used to getting the "move somewhere else to see this!!" messages.

[ShyMer]

Not letting me see it either... ?

[Alveric]

Same here. I guess all North America is blocked?

Alveric

[digitalSELKIE]

It seems to work fine from Canada!

It looks amazing Moonflower! That's a really ingenious way to make fins, and it's quite simple as well. The movement is quite flowing as well when you move underwater, and the clear effect is something you can't really do if you cast the entire thing, I'm guessing.

[Moonflower]

The link is fixed. I know now to never use clips from obscure Madonna songs... Like she doesn't have enough cash already, she can't afford letting an intro to one of her songs up on YouTube...

[Nim]

wow….It looks a.m.a.z.i.n.g.

[Kanti]

Wow that looks pretty awesome :'D
They stand up really nice~
Are they cumbersome at all or are they pretty flexible? They're keeping the shape of the fin very well!

[Moonflower]

They're very flexible, and not cumbersome at all. I barely noticed they were there, especially the main dorsal. The front fins would even stick up out of the water a bit when I'd swim on my back, if I wasn't too close to the surface (they'd lay to the sides if I was floating).

[Kanti]

What about when you're outside the water? Can you sit on them and they'll be okay?
It seems like when you get out you'll be like whoooops xD

I had a dorsal fin with wires in it and it wasn't too bad but it was still worrysome whenever I'd have to sit on it.
Can the plastic bend and bounce right back?

[Moonflower]

Yes, I can sit on it and not break it. inside each of the spines are zip ties, which are very bendy. The dorsal can easily be pushed to one side and sat on.

[Kanti]

That's really handy~
Very cool idea!

[Azurin Luna]

Looks very nice!
I'm going to try and make some for myself too

[Prince Calypso]

how did you get the two sheets of fabric to stick together and did you put the sheer fabric on top or underneath between the two pieces of fabric.
honestly this an ingenues idea and quite beautiful in the water
i wonder if the same process could be used to make a fluke?

[ShyMer]

I was wondering for a fluke as well- I guess I wonder how much the fabric and the silicone block colors from coming through. What kind of fabric is it, anyway? It looks like the zip ties flow, but they like to hold their shape for the most part. It might be interesting to try it out

[Moonflower]

This is the fabric I used:
http://www.joann.com/pearlized-sheer...rs/xprd728512/

The fabric is on the outside of both sides, so the silicone doesn't "block" any colors coming through. I think, as so many are interested in the technique, that I'll post a tutorial soon ^_^

[Prince Calypso]

great!!!!

[Mermaid Sirena]

THOSE ARE AWESOME! -drool- Tutorial please this has just made the hopes and dreams of an important part of my dream tail become reality and I can't wait to see how you do this in detail.

[melbel1023]

Wow, I'm so glad someone else had a chance to experiment with zip ties for fins! I had been wanting to for awhile, but never had the time.
I use zip-ties for my bodices and corset making (its cheaper and MUCH more comfortable than steel boning), and had an idea for a tail with thick "veins" in them.
It looks so good!