Thanks, guys!
Started the tail tonight. I'm gonna go with an S shape and make sure it's secured not only at the start of the tail but up towards where it would get close to the spooge tubes. Again, 6 year old. Needs to be close to his body.
Took pipe insulation foam and estimated the S shape I wanted.
Then cut wedges out to facilitate the curve. Hot glued the gaps to keep the bend in place.
Had a short PVC pipe laying around and used the heat gun to bend it to shape. Since I'll be gluing more corduroy and foam to the tail, it'll need some support at the base.
Cut a pattern for the tail ribs out of craft foam. I've seen this done with 1/4" or 1/2" upholstery foam for better depth, but I'm trying to use what I have laying around and also to keep the tail light in weight. The gist of the tail is what I'm going for apparently. lol.
Gonna glue the corduroy on first. Then the rib pattern.
I slit the corduroy so it would go around the bends, then cut small darts to fill in the gaps. Hot glued to the foam.
Hot glued the ribs on and then used the interlocking portion of the EVA mats as the spine tips. Scraps for the win!
If I have time and some foam left over I can later the rib pattern for some added depth.
I'll minimize the rib spacing and spine tips as it gets closer to the tip.
It's late. Probably lots of late nights coming up.