Show us your tail designs!

[PearlieMae]

My monofins aren't 100% ready for prime time, but the few that are in the wild are coming back with rave reviews, so far. I'll keep everyone posted...



Skip ahead to around :45 seconds to see my Ariel fin in water. The foot pockets/strap system has been updated since this video was taken.

[Echidna]

How do the pocket/straps look now?

The non-diaphanousness of silicone is a deal-breaker for me when it comes to realistic-looking fins.
Most real fins are diaphanous.

I'd love to make a tail with translucent fins and fluke around this fin or even a hydra, although the hydra footpocket is ginormous.

I have too many tails already sadly

[Lotus the Mermaid]

How do the pocket/straps look now?

The non-diaphanousness of silicone is a deal-breaker for me when it comes to realistic-looking fins.
Most real fins are diaphanous.

I'd love to make a tail with translucent fins and fluke around this fin or even a hydra, although the hydra footpocket is ginormous.

I have too many tails already sadly

If the pigment is added to the silicone itself, it can look very diaphanous if the creator is careful not to make the silicone fin too thick. And if you just dip fabric in silicone, you could probably make it very thin without making it too weak. But that's just a suggestion! I'm still learning.

[PearlieMae]

Thank you, Lotus.

Echidna, very much like a sandal. Two simple straps.

[Lotus the Mermaid]

Thank you, Lotus.

Echidna, very much like a sandal. Two simple straps.

I hope it helped a li'l! <3

[Echidna]

Echidna, very much like a sandal. Two simple straps.

Sounds perfect!
I'd gladly rework all my snake tails to fit your fin if it gives more propulsion.

Please keep us updated!

[Luna Dreamtide]

Sounds perfect!
I'd gladly rework all my snake tails to fit your fin if it gives more propulsion.

Please keep us updated!

I've got many tests and ideas planned for that look... Some one will get it eventually...
Echidna, Do your snake tails not normally have any sort of propulsion?

[Ophelia Finn]

My monofins aren't 100% ready for prime time, but the few that are in the wild are coming back with rave reviews, so far. I'll keep everyone posted...



Skip ahead to around :45 seconds to see my Ariel fin in water. The foot pockets/strap system has been updated since this video was taken.

PearlieMae, I think we need to talk That fin is beautiful and I'd be extremely interested in purchasing one once a few more are released into the wild :P
I've got a few materials to try, but I'm thinking of a design similar to the mirage fin, moulded as one complete piece. I have a friend who makes medical prosthesis and we're trying to improve the anatomy between the feet and fin. Our emphasis at this moment is designing something that creates a more realistic mermaid rather than propulsion. I've noticed a lot of people are interested in having an 'Ariel style' split fin, but most mono fins aren't designed for creating that look and are significantly weakened when altered to fit the fluke. There IS a design that would suit this purpose and offer propulsion but it's not easy to construct and i can't afford new materials until after christmas.

[Echidna]

@Leina :
due to the shape of a snake tail (tapered end), the propulsion is a lot less than of a regular fin.
If I use the tail without any device inside (which I do to get that undulating tail-end effect), the propulsion is indeed zero + drag from the fabric.

[PearlieMae]

PearlieMae, I think we need to talk That fin is beautiful and I'd be extremely interested in purchasing one once a few more are released into the wild :P
I've got a few materials to try, but I'm thinking of a design similar to the mirage fin, moulded as one complete piece. I have a friend who makes medical prosthesis and we're trying to improve the anatomy between the feet and fin. Our emphasis at this moment is designing something that creates a more realistic mermaid rather than propulsion. I've noticed a lot of people are interested in having an 'Ariel style' split fin, but most mono fins aren't designed for creating that look and are significantly weakened when altered to fit the fluke. There IS a design that would suit this purpose and offer propulsion but it's not easy to construct and i can't afford new materials until after christmas.

The stresses that monofins have to deal with have to be taken into consideration, the water pressure is greater than most people figure, and a cartoon-accurate monofin shape is going to have virtually no propulsion, and will be structurally weak at that deep cut in the center...but oh, it moves so beautifully with the right piece of polycarbonate! You have to consider what your end uses are going to be...being an Ariel in a fairly shallow pool hanging out with kids, or fighting ocean currents deep in a coral reef on a high end photoshoot. One monofin can't be all things to all situations.

As for foot-to-fin molding...I have something very promising in the works!

[Ophelia Finn]

The stresses that monofins have to deal with have to be taken into consideration, the water pressure is greater than most people figure, and a cartoon-accurate monofin shape is going to have virtually no propulsion, and will be structurally weak at that deep cut in the center...but oh, it moves so beautifully with the right piece of polycarbonate! You have to consider what your end uses are going to be...being an Ariel in a fairly shallow pool hanging out with kids, or fighting ocean currents deep in a coral reef on a high end photoshoot. One monofin can't be all things to all situations.

As for foot-to-fin molding...I have something very promising in the works!

I don't want to go into too much description, mainly because the sheer amount of work that has been done in research alone is enough to make me consider patenting the design if tests are successful (which I'm sure you can appreciate given the amount of work you put into your designs ). The construction isn't the same as a regular mono fin for the exact reasons you have mentioned yourself. Its purpose is to improve the swimming experience specifically the mermaid swimming experience, so not something suitable for pool parties and the such.

Can't wait to see what you have in store ^_^

[PearlieMae]

I don't want to go into too much description, mainly because the sheer amount of work that has been done in research alone is enough to make me consider patenting the design if tests are successful (which I'm sure you can appreciate given the amount of work you put into your designs ). The construction isn't the same as a regular mono fin for the exact reasons you have mentioned yourself. Its purpose is to improve the swimming experience specifically the mermaid swimming experience, so not something suitable for pool parties and the such.

Can't wait to see what you have in store ^_^

Which is why I have applied for design patents!

[Hydra1337]

I just finished this design an hour or so ago in Photoshop CS6. I haven't been able to do anything art related in a long time so there were a lot of cobwebs to brush off when I made this. I'm pretty happy with how it turned out. The inspiration behind this tail is the Zora species from Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.

Sorry that each side is individual. The original actually had all four sides in one file but due to the size I had to scale (te-he) it down then split it up. Also, I purposely left out the pectorals and the fluke with the side views so that the design on the tail itself could be seen better.

The scale texture I used was actually a brush created by pixelstains on deviantART (http://www.deviantart.com/art/3-Phot...ales-519241154). Everything else was done by me using various tools and filters in addition to the original being hand drawn.

Please tell me what you guys think. Any kind of feedback is appreciated since this is my first mermaid tail design.

[Mermaid Saila]

I just finished this design an hour or so ago in Photoshop CS6. I haven't been able to do anything art related in a long time so there were a lot of cobwebs to brush off when I made this. I'm pretty happy with how it turned out. The inspiration behind this tail is the Zora species from Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.

Sorry that each side is individual. The original actually had all four sides in one file but due to the size I had to scale (te-he) it down then split it up. Also, I purposely left out the pectorals and the fluke with the side views so that the design on the tail itself could be seen better.

The scale texture I used was actually a brush created by pixelstains on deviantART (http://www.deviantart.com/art/3-Phot...ales-519241154). Everything else was done by me using various tools and filters in addition to the original being hand drawn.

Please tell me what you guys think. Any kind of feedback is appreciated since this is my first mermaid tail design.

Not sure if it's just me, but the pictures don't work, they show a broken image...

[PetLoverSpy]

I'm in the process of nailing down a color scheme for my tail and think I'll settle for golds, but before I start sketching out patterns I want to decide on the extra fins. I know I saw a topic about this last month but I can't seem to find it again. What are the best and worst placements for extra fins? Where are they basically safe and where are they most vulnerable in moving and taking the tail on and off?

[Hydra1337]

They're the right image type and size so I only have one guess. Are you using a phone or computer? A lot of times my phone will show them as broken images but they're fine on the computer. Is anyone else having issues seeing them?

[MerEmma]

Yes, I can't view them either. What kind of image are they and how did you attach them?

[PearlieMae]

Take screenshots and post them!

[Hydra1337]

Hm...that's weird. I'll fix it and see what happens.

EDIT: It looks like I fixed it (that's how it looks from my POV at least). I attached the pictures to the post itself instead of inserting them with the text.

[Mermaid Neri Elvina]

Hydra! Oh my gosh! It's gorgeous!

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