It may also have something to do with the basic tails vs performance. My tail is a performance tail and my fin is pretty much one solid piece...and I haven't noticed a line like you have. I'd be interested to see if the line is more pronounced in one type of tail than the other.
I think basic vs performance have always been different, I think having a competitor monofin makes a difference.
Thank you all very much for the lovely comments (:I'll have to buy some hockey tape till I can get neoprene socks. That will help out today because I don't think any of my normal socks are thick enough, even when doubled a few times.Oh and you can kind of see the end of the monofin in my fluke too... I don't think as much as Selene's though.Hmmm...... I think the tail coloration may have a small part to play in. Selene's tail is so much darker so maybe it makes that line pop out a little more ?
Sorry, not in my tail, not at all. Because the monofin is cut and the silicone doesnt go past the monofin like in his. I still think merbellas look better because the lines in the basic tails are closer to the end, the silicone doesn't run much further. I wouldn't buy a tail from anyone where you could clearly see the outline of the monofins in the center of the tail like that (also, not sure why you'd quote me from a different thread in different context, or why this is an issue for you to begin with) it looks too much like how you see monofins inside of fabric tails. I think if you're paying that much for a tail, it shouldn't be so obvious.I would not make such a harsh statement. I would take the more objective stance that you WILL be able to find where the monofin cuts off if you search for it.
You honestly can't tell me you can see a line in my fluke, because there is none. My entire fluke is stiff, because the entire thing is monofin. The monofin doesn't end in the centre of the tail.
Monofins make a difference, here's an example:
On the left is my mermaid creations tail that I didn't buy. It has a foil monofin, very small, only takes up a small space of the fluke. while it gives the floppy look, you can very clearly see the monofin unless I photoshop it out. Now, if the fluke was made to only be the size of the monofin, you wouldn't see it.
On my tail on the right, the entire fluke is solid except for the tiny tips on the end which are only silicone with nothing inside them, and intended to be floppy so the stiff fluke has a semblance of flow.
My fluke, straight up:
SO here's what I'm saying, let me make it clear so it isn't misconstrued. Monofin makes a difference. If you're paying 2k+ for a tail, I think you should get a competitor monofin inside your fluke. Cheaper smaller monofins are fine if you know that's what you're getting, and you understand that if the fluke is bigger than the monofin, you'll see monofin lines and the monofin will be more apparent. You're trying to compare a 2500$ mertailor tail, to a 1000$ neoprene and silicone and smaller monofin merbellas tail. They aren't the same tail, by a long shot, so it's pretty unfair to compare them. And while Merbellas are constantly improving their tails, it's not like they photoshop them and hide the differences. I think the issue with merbellas is that she puts the same amount of work into basic tails as she does performance, so too often people can't tell the difference. So I stand by my statement, I wouldn't spend that much money on a tail from anyone, where I could see he monofin like that. Hence option for the performance version from merbellas.
Basic VS Performance:
A basic tail:
An oceanika monofin with silicone not extending past the monofin
One of the very first basic tails she's ever made, notice how ever since then she's made the flukes to match the monofin size instead (this photo is over a year old, and the tail is older than that, again basic, 1000$ tail, told upfront the monofin you're getting)
I must watch too much H2O, I didn't even know Selene had an accent until I read this comment, lol. Then I was like... "Oh yeah, she DID have an accent."Originally Posted by Mermaid Melaina
It felt kinda weird hearing an Aussie accent on here, Selene xD
Your tail is amazing!
Also known as Salina Tideglow
Dunno why but I really loved this post, haha. It was just a nice post. :PSorry, not in my tail, not at all. Because the monofin is cut and the silicone doesnt go past the monofin like in his. I still think merbellas look better because the lines in the basic tails are closer to the end, the silicone doesn't run much further. I wouldn't buy a tail from anyone where you could clearly see the outline of the monofins in the center of the tail like that (also, not sure why you'd quote me from a different thread in different context, or why this is an issue for you to begin with) it looks too much like how you see monofins inside of fabric tails. I think if you're paying that much for a tail, it shouldn't be so obvious.
You honestly can't tell me you can see a line in my fluke, because there is none. My entire fluke is stiff, because the entire thing is monofin. The monofin doesn't end in the centre of the tail.
Monofins make a difference, here's an example:
On the left is my mermaid creations tail that I didn't buy. It has a foil monofin, very small, only takes up a small space of the fluke. while it gives the floppy look, you can very clearly see the monofin unless I photoshop it out. Now, if the fluke was made to only be the size of the monofin, you wouldn't see it.
On my tail on the right, the entire fluke is solid except for the tiny tips on the end which are only silicone with nothing inside them, and intended to be floppy so the stiff fluke has a semblance of flow.
My fluke, straight up:
SO here's what I'm saying, let me make it clear so it isn't misconstrued. Monofin makes a difference. If you're paying 2k+ for a tail, I think you should get a competitor monofin inside your fluke. Cheaper smaller monofins are fine if you know that's what you're getting, and you understand that if the fluke is bigger than the monofin, you'll see monofin lines and the monofin will be more apparent. You're trying to compare a 2500$ mertailor tail, to a 1000$ neoprene and silicone and smaller monofin merbellas tail. They aren't the same tail, by a long shot, so it's pretty unfair to compare them. And while Merbellas are constantly improving their tails, it's not like they photoshop them and hide the differences. I think the issue with merbellas is that she puts the same amount of work into basic tails as she does performance, so too often people can't tell the difference. So I stand by my statement, I wouldn't spend that much money on a tail from anyone, where I could see he monofin like that. Hence option for the performance version from merbellas.
Basic VS Performance:
A basic tail:
An oceanika monofin with silicone not extending past the monofin
One of the very first basic tails she's ever made, notice how ever since then she's made the flukes to match the monofin size instead (this photo is over a year old, and the tail is older than that, again basic, 1000$ tail, told upfront the monofin you're getting)
Although your tail doesn't have any monofin line, it does have the ridges (which I know Raven has since fixed) and I know those would bother a lot of people if she still hadn't covered those up. Your tail still looks amazing, though!
what do you mean ridges? the things in the front? Yeah, mine was the first silicone tail so she hadn't figured out how to cover them yet. She actually didn't cover them, she just painted it darker so it hides them better. I don't see the ridges in other tails. (if that's what you're referring to!)
Raina thank you for that explanation of how taking the monofin core all the way up to the end of the silicone will avoid their being a line of demarcation because they end at the same spot. And I can see in your tail how the monofin ends at the yellow part and the only floppy part is the small orange and black tip on each corner.
As you say, your whole fluke is stiff. I might add with the exception of the orange tips on each side. That being said I must say that I personally do not like a stiff fluke. I like the wiggly parts on the tip ends of your fluke that make it feel possibly alive instead of a hard board on your foot.
I LOVE how a long fluid part flows in the water past the stiff monofin
It's all about preference! Myself, I'm more fond of the stiff flukes than the flowy ones. That's the best part about monofin choices, haha.
I think MVD is the only one who achieves the "absolutely no monofin" look due to the fact that there is none (meaning that they don't have monofin lines in ANY of their tails--some of mertailors, some of raven's, etc. do or don't have them).
who is MVD?
Mike Dahl of FlipTails.
I already addressed this exactly in my post when I said,And I can see in your tail how the monofin ends at the yellow part and the only floppy part is the small orange and black tip on each corner.
Those didn't have to be there but that's the fluke style and my preference. If they weren't there, then it would still be the monofin filling up the whole fluke. They're an extra piece, just like my extra fins. And nothing like seeing two swim fins in the middle of a monofin.On my tail on the right, the entire fluke is solid except for the tiny tips on the end which are only silicone with nothing inside them, and intended to be floppy so the stiff fluke has a semblance of flow.
I know several people who own or did own a MVD tail and they all said it was awful to swim in and the foot pocket business instead of a monofin made it very hard to move in. A few of my friends tried on the MVD tails owned by others and said the same thing. Personally, I love having a competitor fin. The stiff fluke is lighter, I can lift it up, I can get a good tail slap out of it, in my opinion it looks more realistic, and its much much easier to swim in. I know a lot of people prefer the flowy look, and it's really just about your preference. I just don't get the constant need in the community to compare merbellas to mertailor. There doesn't seem to be any comparing of other tail makers this way. Why not talk about finfolk flukes which look beautiful when flat but clearly still have bunching and air pocket problems? Or all the other tail makers who still havent figured out how to actually glue the monofins down inside so they shift around damaging the fluke etc? I just feel like it always turns into a mertailor vs merbellas with some people. Go with what you like, but I'm not sure how you can accurately judge how a tail swims without swimming in it yourself. I've got 4 different tail makers I can compare based on my own personal experience swimming in their tails.
Raina: Amen to that!lol
@ Phoenix mermaid and Mer-Crazy: I love the swimming/unboxing videos !! And Phoenix; I'm also jelous of your 'look-how-easy-i-do-this' backfliphaha <3
Raina, once again, you never cease to amaze me with your posts. I love you
After almost a whole year of research and convincing , yesterday my mom emailed raven ,and I'm so nervous yet excited to know if she's taking tail orders yet , she hasnt responded but I hope she does soon. I'm getting so anxious to know
After almost a whole year of research and convincing , yesterday my mom emailed raven ,and I'm so nervous yet excited to know if she's taking tail orders yet , she hasnt responded but I hope she does soon. I'm getting so anxious to know
Good luck! :-)
I know, right?! She's just like, "Oh, let me go under the water this way! Easy as pie!"And Phoenix; I'm also jelous of your 'look-how-easy-i-do-this' backflip
Where as me, it's like. *stop. pause.* "Okay, I'm gonna do this..." *spastic half turn aborted by the fact that my body panics when water goes up my nose* *surface with hair all over my face, spluttering* "Okay, that did not go real well." XD
The tail slap was kind of hard actually lol When I did it my feet slipped almost all the way out... I think that's why it looked to good haha I wish it was caught on the cam a little better
I actually thought it would be a little harder to do. But it wasn't too bad. I have to get use to the fluke being so big in not very deep pool, it's a bit of an adjustment lol@ Phoenix mermaid and Mer-Crazy: I love the swimming/unboxing videos !! And Phoenix; I'm also jelous of your 'look-how-easy-i-do-this' backflip
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