PearlieMae's Silicone Tail Journey

[PearlieMae]

I was so happy that that's when the DJ played it! Other than that one song, it was all country or techno!

[MermaidMichelle]

You look wonderful, and I really like the fluke; it reminds me of a monarch butterfly wing!

[Mermaid Lily_Pad]

OMG Pearlie! It is amazing! I Love it! I wish I had more confidence to make this on my own, or maybe you might think about selling them? *big puppy dog eyes* Do you by chance have the "Pearlie Method" all laid out in a nice printable packet somewhere, I need a book "How to make a tail for dummies and the artistically challenged" LOL

[Grey Gambit]

Pearlie, your tail turned out AMAZING! It's really incredible!

[PearlieMae]

Thank you, everyone!

I might be selling them, but no, no Pearlie Method in an easy-to-decipher format.

[Seatan]

OMG Pearlie! It is amazing! I Love it! I wish I had more confidence to make this on my own, or maybe you might think about selling them? *big puppy dog eyes* Do you by chance have the "Pearlie Method" all laid out in a nice printable packet somewhere, I need a book "How to make a tail for dummies and the artistically challenged" LOL

Step 1: Get into a bathtub on the full moon.
Step 2: Cross your legs and chant "I will, I will, I will increase my tail" three times.
Step 3: Wait for the transformation to occur!

(Because this tail is totally real, right?)

[Chrissy]

WOW WOW WOW WOW WOW WOW WOW, you made a beautiful tail and I love how easily you swim in it!! The fluke is so majestic, I am so proud that you made it and the videos are great!!! LOVE LOVE LOVE IT

[Mizuko]

*stands up at work desk, applauding*
Just incredible, Pearlie! Its so beautiful and you swim magnificently!

[Mermaid Lily_Pad]

LMAO Seavanna, I am Soooo going to try that tonight LOL

[Mermaid Lily_Pad]

Hey Pearlie, I am curious, how much does it weigh?

[lasserine]

Pearlie, tail looks great. Looks like you had fun swimming in it.

[PearlieMae]

Seavanna! You pufferfish! You promised not to tell!

Fablecat, it's less than 20 pounds!

Thank you all so much for all the love! I'm going to summarize the last steps of putting this together, the maiden swim, and the subsequent failures of engineering and design...but first, supper!

[spottedcatfish]

Wow Pearlie Mae!! Just Wow! It was all soo worth it!

[Little_Orca]

You did a wonderful job. Congrats

[Mermaid Dana]

This is so unique, and the way the fluke moves is so magical.

[jukumerboii]

This is truly real magic! Like everything about this is like a fairytale. A women wants to make herself a mermaid, works her ass off to make it happen and BAM one of the most beautiful mermaids EVER! Love this! Hell if you do start to sell them I'll definitely get one!!

[Lostariel Telrunya]

My mind now feels at peace with the fulfillment of gazing at the dazzling beauty that is your tail. I have never felt a better feeling at the insanity slowly floated away, as smoothly as you glide through the water, like a tiny water pixie flickering about among children. My heart is now content, for you have satisfied my swimming video needs, and for that I am eternally grateful. Now if you'll excuse me, must now repeat this entire process on the next tailmaking thread that pops up in my feed...

[PearlieMae]

Ah, but there is more to the story...

My Lexan monofin, the prototype I've been crashing around since January, was put into the fluke halves and attached to the tail the night before this swim...and about 30 minutes after this video was taken, I felt it snap! Not from anything in particular, not from a fracture (that I could tell), not an obvious stress point...it just broke laterally, from the middle of the left side into the center. I could feel it inside the fluke as it would click against itself as I swam. I took off the tail and went back to the party (it was my sister's wedding reception).

The next day, as I was packing to fly back home, the sharp point of the broken fluke was poking out through the garment bag I had carried it in, so I cut open the silicone to take it out. Once I got the Lexan out, I was going to bend it until it failed - the usual way to ruin Lexan - and to my surprise, it snapped again and again, as though it were plexiglas! I am quite annoyed and will be contacting Lexan to discuss this further.

So, my prototype monofin and my prototype fluke casts (the cicada-wing tail) got an initial swim and it was wonderful! Although there isn't a good look at the top, yet, it is incorporated into the tail body like a halter-style backless gown. I had to tailor it some, as I had made it too long around the neck, and when I tightened it up, it got a bit daring across the bust. I will be adding more scales to my décolletage to avoid nip slips!

I have another, even more transparent, fluke in the works, and the monofin is going to be re-engineered to be a lot smaller and stubbier...floppier on the bottom half and not nearly as wide. It was 24" x 36" and quite unwieldy and potentially dangerous in a pool...and I want some more 'flow' to the fluke, and I think solid dragonskin, rather than a thin/wide Lexan monofin will do the trick. Once I get my Lexan consultation, I may try again with a thicker piece.

So, all in all, the Pearlie Mae Method is now 95% successful, and a new fluke and fin should be complete by this weekend!

[MarkF]

So this fin was 36"wide?
How thick was the Lexan?

[PearlieMae]

.093 inches

http://www.homedepot.com/p/LEXAN-36-...E-08/202038066