"Settling" for an easier-to-find head for a character...

Recently I've found myself in the position of looking for a certain limited head for a character I want to make as a DD, and after a couple months, still haven't found said head on the market (except for the really-marked-up-from-auction-price ones). This particular head (Lucy) matches some of my favorite illustrations of the character really well, much better than any of the non-limited sculpts. But I've found myself wondering if I shouldn't just get a DDH-09, which is fairly close to other illustrations of the character, and stop hunting.

 

I probably won't stop for a few more months at least--but I'm interested to hear if other people have had similar experiences.

 

If you found yourself in a similar boat, what did you decide to do?

 

How do you feel about the outcome?

 

I think this is one of those situations where one size does not fit all, so I'm not really looking for a 'right answer', but rather I am really interested in hearing other people's stories and experiences. ^_^

Sometimes I wonder if I should settle on a "close enough" for one of my OCs, because I CANNOT FIND A MATCH FOR HER. Seriously! I've looked at EVERY limited DD, I've looked at probably over a hundred resins by now. . . . not one of them has made me go, "That one. That's it. That's her."

 

At this point, it's down to picking up a "close enough" head (which, sadly, would still be limited, as the closest matches are Kos-Mos, Alna, and Sheryl), or 3D modeling the head myself and getting it 3D printed, then dying it to match a DD body. Both options are an expensive pain in the ass, so I haven't really committed to one or the other.

 

In your case, I'd say since the head you want actually *exists*, it may be a good idea to save up, and then stalk the Marketplace/Mandarake/DoA/the Jungle/YJA on a regular basis until a decent deal comes up. That's what I did for Nanoha, the one fullset limited I got on the aftermarket so far. It took patience, but it paid off, so that's what I'm going to do for Fate T. Harlaown when I get the budget for her.

I'm strongly in the camp of "save up and get the doll you really want" because every single time I've "settled," I've never quite been happy and ended up selling the "settled" head and going out and buying the doll I originally wanted in the first place.

 

Especially since the doll you want is Lucy, who is really quite cheap as far as limited DDs go! She's had two releases, so she's not that rare, and she's not that popular, so her price isn't that terrible. If you keep poking around, maybe post a few WTBs, you're likely to find her at a reasonable price.

I found a lucy head. She has some light staining and a small stain on her nose but I think you can get it off.

https://order.mandarake.co.jp/order/detailPage/item?itemCode=1042536195&ref=list

I also found her full set but it looks like they re-did her eyebrows

https://order.mandarake.co.jp/order/detailPage/item?itemCode=1044040555&ref=dos

I would definitely not settle. You won't be happy with the results. I know it's hard but you'll eventually find a deal on the one you want and it's so worth it.

 

I recently purchased Asuna (1 of 2 of my grail dolls) from Mandarake with stains on her feet. Because of those stains, she was 50k yen off. I think I will treat those feet or buy new ones. But I'm so much happier with having the girl I want. ^^

Well, if you really know what you want and you cannot get it, why not get a the closest posible and then modd it? There's some artists sculping whole new mouths now, and it's not even that expensive.

You could get the 09 or some other with similar eyes to what you are looking for and send her to get Lucy's mouth sculped on it.

Personally I tried some substitutes for my expensive grail doll, and it didn't work out in the end. Now that I have her she's still my absolute favorite and definitely the last one who I'd let go (unless maybe there's a re-release some day ^^)

 

But since you're looking for Lucy, I would encourage you to stick it out. She's not very expensive for a limited head, and if you keep checking the marketplace patiently you may even find one for less than $200.

 

My only caveat would be that if you don't have a DD and aren't sure you want to spend $$$ quite yet, a standard head could be a cheap way to feel out the hobby and see if it's something you could invest in for the long term. Doing a full custom doll is a lot of effort and expense, so you've gotta really love them if you're going to make it happen!

I would wait for sure, the only time I would "Settle" for the lesser version of the real deal is when it is extremely rare/ the Price is ridiculous.. For example, the Saber Alter ver1 out fit.. I settled for a non-official version (including stockings, pantsu and corset) for 5000YEN.. The original set would've been 20,000YEN upwards if anyone is selling it separately, although I havn't even seen one out on the market for recent months.

 

I'd suggest just be patient, it is a big investment, even if you decided to settle with the 09, it won't be cheap unless you do the make-up yourself.

Personally I tried some substitutes for my expensive grail doll, and it didn't work out in the end. Now that I have her she's still my absolute favorite and definitely the last one who I'd let go (unless maybe there's a re-release some day ^^)

 

But since you're looking for Lucy, I would encourage you to stick it out. She's not very expensive for a limited head, and if you keep checking the marketplace patiently you may even find one for less than $200.

 

My only caveat would be that if you don't have a DD and aren't sure you want to spend $$$ quite yet, a standard head could be a cheap way to feel out the hobby and see if it's something you could invest in for the long term. Doing a full custom doll is a lot of effort and expense, so you've gotta really love them if you're going to make it happen!

 

I'm wholly in agreement with this! I haven't yet decided on who I want but I know whoever I end up deciding on it'll be an expensive girl, so I'm saving a minimum of £1000.

 

Personally, if I were you I would put up a WTB thread and then have a look on Mandarake/Y!JA because thankfully Lucy isn't one of those super expensive ones that everyone and their mother wants (looking at you Saber Lily).

I'm wholly in agreement with this! I haven't yet decided on who I want but I know whoever I end up deciding on it'll be an expensive girl, so I'm saving a minimum of £1000.

 

You know, that's not a bad way to go about it: that way, you have some buffer for proxy fees if she shows up on YJA, and if you come in under budget, then woohoo, it's time for extra wigs and clothes!

 

Actually, in your case, Swan, if you have a short list, what you can do is look for all the girls on the short list, and grab whoever comes up for a decent price first. That's actually kind of how I wound up with Nanoha: I had Nanoha, Fate, and Marisa on my short list, and checked the usual secondhand suspects for all three on a daily basis. By some fluke, Nanoha actually came up at a killer price first. Dolly Destiny at work, I guess. I had a similar approach when I got Agatha, but the "short list" was a lot more flexible as my budget for her was a LOT tighter. (Conversely, Miku and Homura I got via preorder, and Abby. . . is a whole strange story, lol.)

 

There's a few ways to approaching secondhand dolly shopping, but patience is always your friend regardless.

 

Don't stress if things don't fall together right away. They will eventually.

I'm wholly in agreement with this! I haven't yet decided on who I want but I know whoever I end up deciding on it'll be an expensive girl, so I'm saving a minimum of £1000.

 

You know, that's not a bad way to go about it: that way, you have some buffer for proxy fees if she shows up on YJA, and if you come in under budget, then woohoo, it's time for extra wigs and clothes!

 

Actually, in your case, Swan, if you have a short list, what you can do is look for all the girls on the short list, and grab whoever comes up for a decent price first. That's actually kind of how I wound up with Nanoha: I had Nanoha, Fate, and Marisa on my short list, and checked the usual secondhand suspects for all three on a daily basis. By some fluke, Nanoha actually came up at a killer price first. Dolly Destiny at work, I guess. I had a similar approach when I got Agatha, but the "short list" was a lot more flexible as my budget for her was a LOT tighter. (Conversely, Miku and Homura I got via preorder, and Abby. . . is a whole strange story, lol.)

 

There's a few ways to approaching secondhand dolly shopping, but patience is always your friend regardless.

 

Don't stress if things don't fall together right away. They will eventually.

 

Oddly enough Nanoha and Fate are on my shortlist! But yeah that was pretty much my thinking. I can start saving and then I will at least have a budget to work with if it comes to needing to pay proxy fees and customs. Then if whoever I get does come up for an incredible price then I don't have to worry too much and can get some other stuff.

Thank you everyone! It definitely helped me decide that the best thing is to go for Lucy.

 

So, payday was yesterday, and I just bought the head on Mandarake!

 

I want her to be on DDP so poor thing will probably be a floating head for a while, but I already have the eyes I want for her and I can work on finding the perfect wig and such in the mean time--so I can still take pretty portraits of her as long as they only show her head xD

 

Even though Manda is somewhat uppriced from what I've seen on auctions (which is what I meant by market price) I think it's worth paying the price of convenience, so to speak, since I can afford it and it makes me happy ^__^ and surely that is the point of a hobby! Reading over all your responses has helped me realize that that is more important (again, as long as one can still afford bills and food!) than necessarily finding the best price on anything.

 

I know the overall customization process will be long and expensive, but that's okay, because I like to feel that I am putting my money into a really beautiful work of art, and a creative project, instead of what I would otherwise blow it on, which is to say, expensive ice cream (to replace actual meals).

 

Anyway, here's to hoping Manda is not all like "lol srry but she sold in store 2 hours before your order" or what have you >____<