So - low tide is 3:00 p.m.? Plenty of time for a paint session beforehand.

We arrived at the rock pool, painting completed. All those lovely detailed scales intact. Water level just below the rim of the rock-pool. What perfect timing!

And the carefully designed hi-tech mermaid tail. No worries there. All float-tested in the local model-yacht pond beforehand.
(There was a moment of drama when some child started screaming "Aaagh! He's drowned Ariel!!")

I attached a couple of lengths of fishing line to the tail - for steering purposes - and then collected the model from the warmth of the car, sitting in the sun.

... "just put your feet in the freezing cold water - and look relaxed."

Ooops - fishing line has become tangled in the wind. (Didn't I mention the wind?) Anyway - no problem. I'll just cut those lines loose - and replace them with another length of fishing line ... Ah! Well who would have thought the reel would run out just now. Anyway - how hard can it be to steer a mermaid tail in the wind with only a single line attached? Really?

Funny how each wave gets just a little closer - when the tide is going OUT!

	(Tides 101: Tide may be going OUT, but if the wind is on-shore, 
	the water is coming IN.) 

	So much to learn ....

At this stage we have a freezing cold model, with waves of ever increasing height washing over the carefully painted scales. (Did I mention that the paint is water soluble?)

The result

A progress shot

Earlier - back in the warm dry house ....

So what did we learn?

Outdoor shoots contain hidden traps. Tide charts tell you some of the story!

Thanks to:

• Bill Poon - photographer - for battling the elements with his camera, and for his patience.
• K for modelling in very cold, windy, and trying conditions.
• Fred & Jan for the loan of their house as studio.
• Many thanks to David Griffiths and his amazing Lake Applet for engineering the ripples.