Doll Repainting Practice & Experiments

 1:6 scale Dolls & Action Figures, Customs & Re-stylings, Something to share  5 Responses »
Jul 202011
 

So yesterday I sat down for the first time in a long time (since January in fact!) and tried to do some repaints.  It took a lot to psyche myself up into doing it, and the results were mixed across the board.

Part of the reason why I was doing them was that I wanted to do an update on one of my characters (I’ll post about who on Friday).  I needed some practice before giving it a go–and I always know when it’s been a while that my painting skills seriously deteriorate. And this time was no different.

Anyway here are a few photos:

1st up is “experiment boy”

His face painting isn’t too hot (it’s rather mediocre) but I do suck at painting guys, and it is a pretty girly head. I wish I’d had one of the obitsu-03 type heads since that works (IMO) better as a guy.  I’m not sure if I’m going to bother to repaint him, or just keep him as is.  In case you’re wondering, the experimental part is the fact that he is on a Liv doll body that I flattened down the chest on (I know you totally can’t tell from the photo, but next time I’ll try to snap a better pic). It’s mostly because I have a few Liv bodies and no use for them that I decided to give it a try. (Also the fact that there is a massive imbalance in the male-to-female ratio in my student body. For Background guys I don’t see why I can’t do that…?

2nd up is blonde girl:

Initially, I liked her. However, after looking at her for a bit, and then taking her photo I realized I just didn’t find the face gelling for me. So off it went. If I feel up to it I’ll try again tomorrow to give her a new face.

3rd Up is Parker

Parker was kind of the dark horse out of the repainted heads.  When I’d tried last time I couldn’t get a face on the head that I liked and that was going to fulfill the niche I needed it to.  Now however it does. And she looks pretty good too!

So there you have it. the repaints so far except for the one I’ll be showing off Friday…..In a Friday Monologue! (I bet you thought I forgot about doing those, eh?)

And maybe tomorrow I’ll have another new face or two to share. This is proving to be a good week “off” without me feeling forced to do anything according to my self imposed schedule.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Posted by corset_kitten at 6:29 pm

Ishani gets a Hot Toys Female body! *plus a few comments*

 1:6 scale Dolls & Action Figures, Customs & Re-stylings, QC: character info  6 Responses »
Jul 142011
 

Yay for friends who support my 1:6 habit, and understand & appreciate my driving need for dolls who are 1) articulated and 2) relatively close to matching in head and body skintones.

You might remember Ishani from a while back…. She was my Fashion Royalty Rare Find Isha. As you can see–even on her default body it’s not a perfect match.

Ishani is a former fashion royalty Rare Find Isha

Since she was repainted she’s been shelf-sitting & waiting for me to assign her a part in my photostories.  Like the majority of my FR dolls she was waiting for me to find suck it up and shake it off– and accept the fact that she has limited posability.

But my good friend Will came to the rescue and volunteered to give me a Hot Toys True Type Cuban Female body.

I’d really been hoping for a skintone match for my Perk Collette (but not a match) so that left me with PG Natalia and RF Isha (Ishani) as possible matches.  Natalia was a decent match (her head was a tiny shade lighter) but Isha (Ishani) has a rounder face/head shape and it just seemed to fit the general look of the body.

  • To get her to look right it took  a bit of minor surgery but Ishani’s head fits on and looks (IMO) good! (I’m fussy so other people might just be happy sticking her head on the body)
  • My only real complaint about the body (other than the fact that the upper torso is rubber/latex) is that she is very long waisted and she looks a bit out of proportion. Finding clothes for her in my collection that fit has been a challenge…She needs me to sew clothes specifically for her, I guess.
  • The plus sides of the new body (aside from the increased articulation) is that she has IMO a more natural looking “thick” body. It’s nice to see someone who isn’t stick-thin or built like an adult movie star. Also, the articulation in the neck allows her to tilt her head, etc and really give her some expressive poses.

So…Yeah. Ishani’s the RD for two of the dorms. She lives on campus, and is pretty mellow for the most part. Can I just say how amazing it is that when I got her onto a decent body, and set her up in the roomset—-just how many ideas and thoughts, and yes–details suddenly came into focus about her???!!

Yea, color me a happy bunny! Thanks again Will! :D

 

 Posted by corset_kitten at 9:51 pm

Terry Redux: partial make over for him

 1:6 scale Dolls & Action Figures, Customs & Re-stylings, photostory stuff, QC: character info, Quinlan Chronicles  12 Responses »
Jun 222011
 

Last year sometime I created Terry (aka Terrence Waterstone III).  I’d tried twice to get him to come out right but it wasn’t until the 3rd go round that I was at least partially happy with him.

He’s visible here in the (old) class photo. He’s #4  (and as usual click the photo for a larger image).

Anyway, as I said I wasn’t completely satisfied with him. His face was ok but his hair…well. No. Who ever had had that head before I got it must have done some kind of magic to it because no matter how I boiled it and tried to re-set it, it refused to be tamed and just continued to stick out at his head at angles (and it only got worse at the months went by).

I debated wiping his face and re-rooting him, but I decided instead just to give re-rooting him a go. I don’t like re-rooting that much but why not? Especially if it meant not having to re-paint him too.

I took the mohair I had left and decided to use it. It’s not great and the stuff actually began felting itself while I was rooting it. Talk about a major annoyance and irritation.  This is the worst I’ve experienced in the whole time I’ve worked with mohair and I’m probably not going to use it again.

I decided at that point that if I got it in I didn’t care if he looked like freakin side-show Bob from the simpsons—it would do.  And maybe be better since it would add to the sense of “whatever”ness I wanted Terry to have.

This is how it looks after rooting, and after 3 go rounds with a scalpel knife and hair goop. Still not fantastic, and I might eventually thin down the hair some more. I’m fighting to keep from making it into dreads lol…

 

 Posted by corset_kitten at 2:08 pm

Giselle gets Mean!

 1:6 scale Dolls & Action Figures, Customs & Re-stylings, fashion royalty, photostory stuff  13 Responses »
May 122011
 

You can probably guess by the photo above that that means I’ve finally begun the task of re-rooting Private Goddess Natalia!

Along with working on Natalia’s head I’m doing a few other things which includes sewing some simple outfits for FR girls to go in my Etsy shop (one for me, one for the shop….2 for me…one for the shop LOL), AND working on the last couple of props I need to get in place for shooting photo stories! YAY! (right, that’s a Yay, isn’t it?)

 

 Posted by corset_kitten at 9:59 am

Do you ever dream….

 1:6 scale Dolls & Action Figures, Eh, what?, QC: character info  4 Responses »
May 092011
 

Of your dolls?

Last night I had the strangest dream…

I dreamed that I was in Quinlan, and that I kept running into my dolls—except they weren’t dolls.  They looked like were people–but I could tell by looking at them which of my dolls they were (if that makes any sense at all?) It was really interesting to see how they translated, and how clearly their personalities came right across. I ran across some places and things that I “knew” from my writing and it was all just really interesting (even if at times a bit spooky & just waaaay out).

There was some sort of murder mystery and stuff going on too–but I was more interested in the people/ characters! LOL. It was weird– or maybe I should say bizarre– interacting with them 1-on-1. I think the strangest part was reassuring one doll that she was fine, and that she had a lot going for her even if she was being picked on by her roomate! So has anyone else ever dreamed like that? Or is it just me?

 Posted by corset_kitten at 6:00 pm

Yes, I bought a Barbie! Seriously! *pics*

 1:6 scale Dolls & Action Figures, Customs & Re-stylings, photostory stuff  11 Responses »
May 022011
 

I know, y’all are saying:  “Wait…Did You say Barbie?!! I thought  you only buy volks dollfies,  cy girl/ ttl action figures  & over-priced fashion dolls? What gives??”

You’re right! In the general scheme of my collecting & kit bash fodder I do tend to shy away from barbie dolls. But there has been one doll (actually there are a few other barbies I’d like–the heads of–but I refuse to pay 80+ for just a head) and that was Kenzie, from the Mystery Squad batch of Barbies.  I can’t help it–I really do have a weakness for dolls with that uber curly/ tight curl hair!  Of course, getting her was a different story (*I’ve been looking for a reasonably priced one for more than 2 years now*) and at last one came up on feebay!! YAY I thought!

I saw her pic: (She looks bleh, right???!)

and I thought: “Huh. I remember her looking better than that. I guess the seller just didn’t bother to take a clear picture. Heh. That’s to my advantage since folks won’t know how nice she looks in real life! Mwhahah!”

So I watched the auction for a week.  I won her (for under 5.oo  and I can call myself a happy bunny)!

She had (still has) a few issues. They included:

  • her hair was actually matted at the ends and the hairnet that she had on was trapped in it. The only way I could remove it (and do anything at all with her hair was to cut about 1cm off it all around.
  • She has a mystery streak on her cheek where something (??) removed her factory blush.
  • Her body…ugh. So not articulated!

They’re not major issues and all are fix-able.  I decided to re-body her and I had to choose between one of my Volks Dollfie bodies or a Takara CG body.  Initially I was leaning towards putting her on the volks but she just ended up looking too spindly & weird.  So she’s been popped onto a CG body (this is a midori washio body for anyone who’s curious)

Here she is re-bodied: (these were quick snaps)

The blush streak isn’t too important since I’ll more than likely repaint her (I really did just buy her because I love that hair!!) and get a look that’s more in keeping with my 1:6 folks.

Over all I’m pretty pleased, and I think she’s going to be one of the more laid back & mellow professors at the university.  I see her as the sort to hold classes outside, in cafes and wherever else she feels like it.

Anyway, I just wanted to share!

 

 

 

 Posted by corset_kitten at 10:46 am

Merrit’s Mom: Janet Daniels

 1:6 scale Dolls & Action Figures, Customs & Re-stylings, QC: character info  10 Responses »
Apr 172011
 

Okkaaaay! I finally finished her!  :D   I have to say that overall I’m pleased and feel that she’s come out better than I hoped for even if she doesn’t look as tired and worn down as I’d mentally envisaged her.

I chose not to paint on lines or wrinkles. After all, Ms.Daniels is only 39 and she’s not exactly a dried up old husk yet!! (Ok, maybe to Merrit she is, but c’mon, 40 is the new 30 right?)

Her hair is a little longer than I’d planned on, but I’m kind of loathe to cut it shorter.  I was tempted to try to give her a pageboy cut but really, I don’t see her having that style. So….

She was rooted with restoredoll saran. I’m not entirely sure which colors they were (2 different ones though, a darker brown & the lighter reddish brown)

I tried to paint her with a fairly neutral expression.  That was mostly so that when I use her in the photostories I can have a somewhat easier time of altering her expression in photoshop.

Finding a body that her head matched was something of an issue. Visually, (as in my eyes & mark’s) her vinyl head was a good match for the Takara  CG 2.0 (the pale catwoman body) and a close 2nd to a TTL pale body.

Putting her on a volks isn’t an option at the moment simply because none of the bodies I have look like a close match skintone-wise. BUT….having said that, when I took her photos it became really obvious that she didn’t match either body well enough for me to get away with little post production editing. :(   I cursed a bit, complained a lot and dug through my bodies again, wondering if I’d find anything that would work!

Funnily enough,  although not a close visual match,  the standard cg 2.0 seemed to photograph best with the head. It’s  not perfect, but at least it’s not so yellow. Ugh.

Anyway,  we’re not going to be seeing lots of Janet’s bare skin so it shouldn’t really be an issue. The big issue at the moment is the fact that she’s a teacher and I have absolutely zero clothes that would be work appropriate! (I think anyway?)

So! Now Merrit’s got a Mom!!! :D

 

 Posted by corset_kitten at 7:27 pm

Rooting…ugh.

 1:6 scale Dolls & Action Figures, Customs & Re-stylings  4 Responses »
Apr 142011
 

I’m sure you all know how much I looooooooove rooting doll heads, right?

Yea, it’s right up there with getting a root canal. Yep. But like the occasional root canal it’s just something that you just have to do. When it’s done you can go “ahhhh” and just relax (and take a few aleve and just sleep).

Today I started working on rooting Merrit’s mom, Janet. This is a project I started a while ago but put on the back burner………But now that I’m trying to make a push to actually start shooting the Quinlan Chronicles I need to have her so I can use her in a few spots.  So I figured I might as well get a move on!

So I got the majority of her head re-rooted today (finding it was another matter! You know when you put something “away” in a “safe spot” and you check that place and it’s NOT there?? Well that was me, today. I checked the place, then tore my workroom apart looking for it…..only to later re-check the spot (since I’d torn everywhere else apart with no sign of it) and voila! there it was!) *sigh*

Anyway, I’ll update tomorrow if I manage to do the boil perm & stuff. I’m not overly optimistic that I’ll start painting, but who knows, maybe I will and she’ll be done!? (yea, riiiiiiight)

 

 Posted by corset_kitten at 7:28 pm

Where did this week go?!!!

 1:6 scale Dolls & Action Figures, Eh, what?, Etsy-related  1 Response »
Apr 022011
 

I don’t know! I feel like it was Monday & then I blinked and “poof” it’s Saturday already!

Have I gotten much done this week?

Eh, not overwhelmingly so….but a few little things have been moving forward.  All of it is Etsy related at the moment.  Quilts, clothes & other fun stuff!!   No pics yet, but soon, I promise! :D

(I’m still doing some further organizing here & trying to get boxes for stuff)

 Posted by corset_kitten at 2:07 pm

Astrid & Karly’s Dorm Room Diorama *photos*

 1:6 Props & Miscellany, 1:6 scale Dolls & Action Figures, dioramas, Making Stuff, photostory stuff, Sewing in 1:6, Something to share  13 Responses »
Mar 222011
 

For the most part I’ve been kind of quiet about how making stuff for the dorm room was going. I didn’t bother much with photos & stuff.  I took a while off from the computer (more or less) and just concentrated on getting stuff done.

The main goal for me was that the different sides of the dorm room reflect the different personalities of the characters.  I think (IMO at least) that I’ve been successful in that. :)

The Desks & Dressers are via Mark and were My Valentines Day gift (no chocolate, but I can handle furniture instead!! LOL).  I gave him the details I wanted and made him paper models–and they came out really well.  All the drawers work (and the desks were designed so that the side drawers could be taken out and use the area as book shelves instead). PS Mark made the window & doors– email him if you’re interested in some (mhmodelmakingATgmail.com).

If you want more info on anything just comment (I’m sorry I’d give you a detailed, blow bly blow item list but it’s late and I’m utterly knackered!)

So here it is:  (As usual—click on the white “X” to see full sized image)

First: Looking at Karly’s side of the room: Karly is a neat girl, with a love of shabby Chic.

Karly’s Dresser and a view of her desk set up.  Her desk is the same basic model as Astrid’s except that I’ve taken out one of the drawers and used that as a bookshelf area instead.

I made her comforter (and there are matching sheets & pillowcases underneath made of blue-aqua fabric).

Karly’s tie-quilt/comforter and you can see her “jewelry board”. One of the necklaces came from Nat at Milkshake Melody & the rest are either my creations or faff from mattel.

Would you believe how long it took to pull this set together? And then once I had most of the pieces….how long to actually set it all up??!! Just say it took a while LOL (it’s less depressing that way when I knock into it and things fall)!

Can you tell that two completely different people live in this room?

Looking at Astrid’s side of the dorm room (from Karly’s)

I realized along the way that Astrid is learning to play guitar. That’s a 1/8th scale takamine guitar made by F-toys which I can get away with calling 1:6 scale (because, hehe, there are 3/4 scale & 1/2 scale ones made in real life for musicians)

View of Astrid’s dresser & desk-top stuff.

The bast/Cat statue is an old piece of Yujin, the Ankh is from the Hot Toys Wong Ka Kui figure, misc bottles are re-ment & Barbie stuff.

Here you can see a close up of her “desk junk” (not complete since I need to add some papers). Re-ment coffee cup, bratz mugs (white ones), re-ment office stuff, colored pencils I made (you’ll see more of those soon), books (I made) and 2 more wonderful little egyptian statues from Yujin.

 

Please comment! :)

*edit: I’ve added the diorama page to the main website with some further details about the roomset. You can find it here:  http://www.corsetkitten.com/dioramas/

 Posted by corset_kitten at 11:22 pm

Customs in Progress

 1:6 scale Dolls & Action Figures, Customs & Re-stylings, Making Stuff  3 Responses »
Feb 122011
 

Just to prove it–I am actually doing something! Really! (Ok, other than trying to gather up the stuff for the Student Lounge, and making blankets & chairs & crap for the Student Dorms)

These are the heads I managed to root yesterday and earlier last week: (the pics suck but I don’t really feel motivated to take better ones right now)

This is an old Obitsu head I had started rooting the year before last. I ran across it in my little box o’ heads and was wondering WTF I was thinking since I’d started the head off with a lot of bright pinks…. Dunno.

Anyway I used the last of my blonde hair up and it’s come out ok.  Once I paint her face I’ll cut her hair (I’m thinking just above the shoulders)

This is an old style volks C head–she already had the light purple hair.

I didn’t like how flat it looked so I rooted in the darker purple.  This reminded me why I don’t like rooting into pre-rooted hair because it always ends up looking off to me. But whatever. It’s still ok and useable.

And this is the last head for now: I’m not entirely sure what she is, it’s a volks SH-18 or SH-16 (I couldn’t quite make out the numbers) I thought when I’d done a trade for it that it was a newer C head but once I got it in person I could tell it’s not.

The lips are way more developed/sculpted, and the eyewells are deeper and the nose is sculpted with more detail.  I don’t know if you can tell from this photo but the head has been damaged (gee, would it have hurt to have told me that?) there are a few scratches in the surface of the vinyl, one of the ear has chopped bits (??) and there’s something that looks like a pin hole above the top lip where the philtrum is. Anyway she’s going to be one of the professors at the University.  Herr skintone isn’t a great match for any of the bodies I have at the moment but I’m sure I’ll settle on one of them. I’m thinking of the J body she’s on in this pic and maybe sanding the boobs down to a slightly smaller size.

If I manage to make decent/good headway on my chairs tonight I’ll try to post the how-to tutorial tomorrow. :)

Share




 Posted by corset_kitten at 3:20 pm

Steampunk Cy Girls – the customizing begins!

 1:6 scale Dolls & Action Figures, Customs & Re-stylings, Making Stuff  9 Responses »
Feb 022011
 

Yea I guess it was only a matter of time until I came back to make another custom in the genre. I like it, I think it’s nifty. So why not, right? Anyway, I’m not really swimming in 1:6 action figures to use as bases but I did some digging and these are what I came up with:

Option 1:

The head’s not the best choice but she matches the knock off Takara 3.0 body pretty well.  Not perfect…but does anyone care about that as much as I do anyway?

I can’t tell if this is an original Kat head but I suppose it doesn’t matter to me anyway. I’ve wiped the paint from her face and whoever had her prior to me must have tried repainting her lips since the brownish red “lipstick” has bled into the vinyl. I’ve applied some Twin Pines of Maine to see if it helps any—if not I’ll just have to find a work around I guess.

Option 2:

I’m not as happy with this one since I don’t really have a body that’s a good match to the skintone between the body & head. The plus is that it’s already been repainted. The minus is…of course….that she is missing her chest-plate.  Which is kind of good and bad. I’m beginning to envision some sort of leather covering with tubes & wires and stuff instead. Not sure how much that would appeal to other folks though.  That and I think I might have to re-root her. Don’t know at this point.

Option #3


This is an eve body with the Takara Doronjo head. The head’s been floating around since I bought doronjo a couple years back. She lost her body because funny enough her original body didn’t match her head.   I’m not a fan of the hair but depending on how the custom went it might or might not get a re-root. The skintone isn’t a bad match in person and the head is the best I have and manages (*slightly*) to avoid the stumpy neck syndrome that I think these bodies are prone to.

So here’s a shot of them all together. Kind of makes me feel like they look like Charlie’s Angels  :D   LOL

I’ve also been thinking about the fabrics & dohickeys I have on hand that I can use for the outfit. Right now I’m thinking I’ll probably use some linen, cotton, leather and silk. I guess I should try sketching out some stuff and see what happens. Maybe. LOL.

 Posted by corset_kitten at 1:33 pm  Tagged with: , , , ,

Back with stuff to share—soon!

 1:6 scale Dolls & Action Figures, Customs & Re-stylings  Comments Off
Jan 242011
 

At last I’m feeling ok and the pain in my jaw is subsiding enough for me to start working on things again! Ugh!

I haven’t got many photos to share at the moment (not much going on until tomorrow when I hope to start a few projects) but just to tide you over you can see how Merrit 3.0 looks now that I repainted his eyebrows again!

Remember this is 3.0 before:

And here he is now:

I know it’s not really fair giving you a side view shot but eh, that’s just for now! Tomorrow I hope to have more interesting things (ha ha) to blog about!

 Posted by corset_kitten at 9:18 pm

Top 10 Toys of 2010…#1 [at last!!!]

 1:6 scale Dolls & Action Figures, Customs & Re-stylings, Something to share, Top 10 Lists  4 Responses »
Jan 142011
 

So, here we are… at #1 on the list! I have to say that over-all 2010 was not really a big year for me as far as getting action figures, dolls & accessories.   But I think it was a big year for me as far as making things & doing things.

My #1 toy for 2010 …..isn’t a single toy.

It is the combination of different customs I’ve created during the year.  These were predominantly volks 27cm dollfies but also a few Fashion Royalty dolls were included too.

(Click the image and then click white [X] to see the image larger)

This might seem like a cop-out. Like I should have picked my favorite out of the lot and called it a day…but no.

So why did they make my list?

Although I like some of them better than others they’re all pretty important for one reason or another.  Specifically, having them is getting me a couple of steps closer to doing the photostories I have planned. And ANYTHING that gets me closer to shooting stories is a gooooood thing!

Downside to it: (yes even at #1 there’s a downside!)

The biggest downside is of course the fact that it seems that Volks has (apparently) decided that they are not going to produce the Volks Excellent body dollfie figures any longer. I know there was talk of a re-tool & re-boot but that was supposed to have happened in the spring 2010 and it’s the new year 2011 and still nada on that count.  I assume that that line is now dead in the water. :(

General Comments:

If we were going to talk favorites of favorites then I’d have to admit that Bianca, Claudia, Raven & Rupert are my faves of the lot.  I enjoyed making Steampunk Natalia but the whole IFDC BS really made me glad that I sold the outfit to someone who really wanted it.

Ok, so there you have it! My top 10 Toys of 2010! If you missed any of the previous entries you can find them below:

#10

#9

#8

#7

#6

#5

#4, 3, & 2

Thanks everyone (and anyone) who bothered to read & keep up with my list!!! :D

 Posted by corset_kitten at 6:36 pm

Top 10 Toys of 2010… #’s 4, 3 & 2

 1:6 Props & Miscellany, 1:6 scale Dolls & Action Figures, dioramas, Reviews, Something to share, Top 10 Lists  5 Responses »
Jan 112011
 

Yessss! It’s a 3-for-1 post! Threeeeee tastes of the Top 10 toys of 2010! Are you guys lucky readers or what?!  Ok, I want to get this list done and dusted by tomorrow evening so here we go!

Top 10 Toys of 2010……#4

Description of Toy/Toyline: 1:6 scale Large Sash Window.

Like many of the cool things I have this window was made to my specific request & requirements. Mark was particularly patient and although he hated putting it together (it was very fiddly) it looks great.  It is a working sash window.

So why did it make my list? It’s just cool! It’s very detailed and  I needed a window that would fit in my smaller roomset. I’d pretty much wanted it for use in the various student Dorm rooms but I’ve realized I can also use it for some other rooms in the university set up (provided I change all the decor).

Downside to it: (aka why it isn’t the #1 toy on the list!) There isn’t a downside to this piece.  It’s been slated onto number 4 simply because I got a few other things that I can get more use out of / expect to get more photo-time with. If I had to find something to complain about I’d say that it took a long time to get the window once I put in the “order”.  ;)

General Comments: I love this window.  Mark does really kick ass work when it comes to making architectural stuff for my dioramas.

=============================================
Top Ten Toys of 2010 Number ……3

Description of Toy/Toyline: 1:6 scale Wooden Book Cases

These (of course) were made by Mark.  I bet y’all wonder if there’s anything he can’t make! He made these out of some scrap wood he had in his workshed. I was amazed at how quickly he made them (the longest part of the process was the repeated coats of stain he had to give the wood).

So why did they make my list? Cool factor aside, they’re fantastic. He made them so I could use them in my “University Office”. They’re great and I can totally see them being filled with books & curios.  I can easily envision them in an office where students get into trouble & professors get into political mischief.

Downside to these: (aka why it isn’t the #1 toy on the list!) Can’t complain about these. The construction (which you can’t tell from my crap photos) is very high spec & really well done. They’re 3rd place only because I liked the other 2 things just a bit more.

General Comments: I think I might be a little insane…I can see a library using these bookcases…more bookcases…. ;)

=============================================
Top Ten Toys of 2010 Number ……2

Are you ready for these? It was a difficult decision placing these at #2 instead of #1.

Description of Toy/Toyline: White Shelving Units

Once more, something made by uber-cool Mark. Yes, I am seeing a definite up-side to marrying someone who is a professional model maker. :)

So why did they make my list? These made spot #2 on the list for a couple of reasons.

  • The 1st reason is that mark cranked these out at hyper-speed. I usually wait between a few weeks to a few months for an item so the fact that these were done in less than a few days really rocked it for me.
  • The 2nd, they’re awesome and completely what I needed for my student lounge.  I’d been struggling to get the furnishings I needed to be able to finish it.

Downside to these: (aka why it isn’t the #1 toy on the list!) There IS no downside! I love them. I could do with having some more!!!
General Comments: I love these to pieces. They are probably my most favorite pieces of furniture at the moment and for the foreseeable future!

=============================================

I’ll see you all tomorrow (unless my dental appointment ends in my death!) with number 1!!

 Posted by corset_kitten at 8:59 pm

The first customs of 2011: Astrid & Co.

 1:6 scale Dolls & Action Figures, Customs & Re-stylings, QC: character info  6 Responses »
Jan 092011
 

Ah, I’m happy to be able to have a few good things to say for the moment! Although dental-wise things are horrible I did get some good stuff done this weekend!

2 out of 3 of these repaints have before & after pics.  :)

First I’d like to introduce Astrid:

Astrid is a volks old-type C head that I’ve had for ages and have repeatedly re-painted over & over in an attempt to get out a look that felt “right”. This is what she looked like previously:

And this is how she looks now:

Astrid is a 2nd year student. I should mention that the facial “tattoos” are there because somehow (no idea how/where) her head picked up some dark stains in the vinyl.  I still wanted to use the head but the blemishes were not doing it for me. Hence the new face art.

And of course there’s Karly! She’s gone through a bunch of incarnations and the last one looked like this: She has a new Volks C-type head.

I wasn’t happy with her lips but I left them as they were until today. They’ve been repainted… and I’m not sure they’re quite right yet but somehow I do think they work. I’m still on the fence about them and may end up repainting them again…

Karly & Eff

And the last custom of the week is Holly. She is also a Volks old-type C head. I don’t think she’s particularly great, but she seems like she might have a personality. I don’t know if she’s a student or a teacher. Ideas?

I did also re-paint Merrit 3.0′s eyebrows but d’oh—I forgot to take photos before I did this soooo…maybe tomorrow along with some of the Top 10 list !

 Posted by corset_kitten at 9:29 pm

A long delayed project: Merrit 3.0

 1:6 scale Dolls & Action Figures, Customs & Re-stylings  9 Responses »
Jan 052011
 

I know a couple of you knew that I started working on a “revamp” of one of my favorite characters: Merrit Daniels.

I wanted to re-paint him numerous times but I learned my lesson a long time ago about wiping the face on a really “good” character. Don’t do it. Make a spare and use that one!! LOL! But….his face paint (if you look at it closely) is very sloppy & gloppy. I’m rather ashamed of it, even if he does have a lot of personality (maybe even because of it).

So it took me some time—and digging to find some similar mohair.  I made a Merrit 3.0  and although he’s painted much cleaner & more neatly (not a bit of gloppiness). I think he’s falling short of the mark.

Anyway A recap of the previous incarnations of Merrit:

Merrit 1.0

Merrit 2.0

and now…………

Merrit 3.0

I dunno. Maybe I’ve just grown attached to 2.0…. I think 3.0 seems maybe too uptight?

What do you all think?

 Posted by corset_kitten at 9:41 pm

Top 10 Toys of 2010…#6

 1:6 scale Dolls & Action Figures, Eh, what?, fashion royalty, Reviews, Top 10 Lists  3 Responses »
Jan 042011
 

I think it’s just not my week!! My filling fell out today among other things.  Anyhow–onto more pleasant things!!

Top Ten Toys of 2010 Number ……6

Description of Toy/Toyline: Fashion Royalty Dolls. Made by Integrity toys.

So why did they make my list?
The main reason they made my list this year was that there was something about their faces that drew me to them. I saw that inside of them there are good characters waiting to be unleashed.

Kyori:
Prior to getting Kyori I had been wanting her for more than a year so this year I did finally breakdown and get her. :D I think that so far out of all the FR dolls (and heads) I have that this one is my favorite (with Ayumi a close second). If I had money to burn I would totally get a second (and 3rd…and 4th) of this doll.

Natalia:
She was an unexpected addition: I loved how she looked in the promo shots & thought she’d be great.

Colette:
Was so cheap I couldn’t resist and I loved her coloring & thought she would be perfect.

Jordan:

was the best deal out of the lot & I bought her for the challenge of making her over into a doll someone would want to look at.

Eugenia:

She was another deal that I couldn’t resist. Eventually she’ll end up being repainted. I’m not liking the super light eyebrows and cotton candy pink lipstick.

Downside to these figures: (aka why it isn’t the #1 toy on the list!)
As usual the biggest thing that lets these figures down is their second-rate articulation. If Integrity would just improve the range of motion on the knees and elbows (like double joint them) I swear you wouldn’t be able to stop me from buying them!!! However, they have crummy articulation (the knees suck, and the legs/hip area you have to tweak it if you want them to sit up straight instead of slouching backwards, and of course, the elbows don’t bend enough to allow the doll to “talk” on a phone (cell or otherwise) without looking spectacularly stupid. :(

My second complaint is that the MSRP on the Fashion Royalty dolls is excessive.
When it comes down to it they’re using the same tooling to create the bodies & heads each time (the exception being when they introduce a new character with a new sculpt—not like introducing Luchia (Isha’s sculpt in a pale skintone) or Count Adrian (Takeo’s sculpt). So the rest of the expense is down to accessories, clothing & paying overhead & salaries.  I know a lot of people buy these dolls & want the “exclusives” simply because they ARE exclusives. And are happy to pay whatever the going rate is on the (primary or on the secondary “jacked up”) market. Good for them, and Integrity–I guess. But not so hot if they want more people to buy each new release they make. *shrug* It’s not my cash-cow so I guess I can’t recommend how I’d go about milking it, I guess…

General Comments:

Overall I’m pleased with the dolls. They each had various issues and I’m dealing with them. For example: Natalia’s promo shots made her skintone & general coloring seem different. Looking at her in RL I decided that she needs to be re-rooted with darker hair to really do something for her complexion (hence she’s decapitated and not in the photo for this). Jordan needed a complete repaint to be a decent looking doll etc. I think if I were a plain vanilla collector I’d be less inclined to buy some of them–but since I like to customise and “tweak” my dolls I am ok with it.

 Posted by corset_kitten at 6:51 pm
 Older Entries  Newer Entries
© 2011 Corsetkitten's Workshop: a blog devoted to 1:6 dolls, props, & photostories Suffusion theme by Sayontan Sinha