Ariel wanted to be part of the human world in The Little Mermaid, but I think more than a few people would trade places with her in order to be under the sea. Mermaid cosplay seems more popular than ever, and I imagine that greater accessibility to supplies and materials needed to craft mermaid tails makes a difference. If you’re interested in seeing what it takes to make a fin, Instructables user Rogue Siren has written a detailed tutorial. It’s worth reading even if you aren’t planning to make a mermaid tail just to see the intense process. Since making the tail is costly and complicated, it’s not exactly a beginner’s tutorial. But, if you want a fully swimmable tail…

Rogue Siren used clay, fiberglass resin, silicone, and many other supplies to make her monofin. It’s a complex build involving sculpting, mold-making, casting, and painting. Whew. You can see a couple of in-progress shots below:

Get the complete tutorial at Instructables.

via Fashionably Geek, tail modeled by Lopti