This is the tail I finished in time for FC 2013 modeled after my character Mirepoix. She's a dragon named (and designed around) after my favorite mix of aromatic vegetables.

The body of the tail is shaved down upholstery foam from Jo-Anns. I stitched on a layer of fleece to cut down the hideous green color of the foam, then stretched a sock of spandex over top of that. The belly scales are "spandex vinyl" from SY fabrics, and the green is airbrushed using Golden fluid acrylics and airbrush medium. The orange scales are all silicone (Dragon Skin 10), adhered on using Sil-Poxy from smooth-on. I made them the exact same way people make paw pads. (The silicone seeped through the fabric I backed the scales with, so I had to use a special glue. Don't use spandex, use fleece!)

It was designed to hang low on my butt and flow off my spine discreetly. This turned out to be a pain in the neck to wear! I kicked it with every step, causing some of the blue from my jeans to rub off onto it. Next tail will either be shorter, or be raised off my butt slightly.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask. I have some progress pictures on my FA, but I don't know if I'll transfer them here. I am always open about my techniques; I have no secrets.