introduction New to the hobby--hi there!

Hello! I'm Kani, an IT guy (or gal, whichever) and I'm very new to this hobby.

Forewarning that English is like my 3rd language, so please excuse wonky grammar that you may encounter...

I found this place while looking up some info about 1/6 size Obitsu heads, but in the process ended up going down the rabbit hole that is 1/4～1/3 Volks dolls, lmao. I live in a dingy lil apartment in Tokyo though, so that's one thing stopping me from buying one... At the moment.

Initially I started from customizing Nendoroids (both OCs and official characters; Sophie in my pfp is my favorite Atelier girl ever), then putting them into Nendoroid Doll bodies, then frankensteining them with other 1/12 bodies... Then I found out that with the right faceplates, they look good with 1/6 bodies. I love my little plastic children, then I went to Doll Show in Hamamatsucho to hunt down clothes/props for them, and then my eyes were opened to the wonderful world that is 1/4～1/3 size dolls.

I frequent the Radio Kaikan almost weekly (to my GF's dismay), so it's not like I'm unfamiliar with bigger dolls, it's just that I've never seen one that clicked and has made me go "this is it!", but going to that event for the first time has made me realize that hey, I can just customize one myself! (Which is stupid that I only realized it NOW, since I've been customizing nendos in the first place... Half a braincell moment)

I know the hurdles of construction boy dolls though, so right now I wanna try to do a custom of a girl before I really dive into another rabbit hole that is boy/masculine dolls.

So, here am I. Currently my ongoing project is to construct a DDP (insert clown emoji here) of my girl OC! Recently bought my first head--a DDH-10 to try my hands to do some mods and face-up (insert another clown emoji here). Thanks for having me and I'm looking forward to learn about the dolls and their community!

Hello! I'm an university student! Welcome to the community! My partner, @rudebuster, and I also live in Tokyo! We frequent Radio Kaikan as well, almost as often as you do! Haha.

We're both actually very big on customizing Dollfie Dreams, and we've been doing them for over a decade, so if you ever need any pointers—just ask us!

Our first attempt was actually an Obitsu head as well, although it went badly. Then we also discovered the wonderful diversity of DDs, and we were hooked... it's looking like forever, at this point! 😆 I enjoy photographing them, and @rudebuster is the customizer. She's very shy though (I mean, she has, like, six posts on these forums in total), so I can relay any tips from her to you!

I hope you enjoy your stay here! 😁

Edited October 8, 2024 by chupakiba

On 8/21/2024 at 3:59 PM, chupakiba said:

Hello! I'm an university student! Welcome to the community! My partner, @rudebuster, and I also live in Tokyo! We frequent Radio Kaikan as well, almost as often as you do! Haha.

We're both actually very big on customizing Dollfie Dreams, and we've been doing them for over a decade, so if you ever need any pointers—just ask us!

Our first attempt was actually an Obitsu head as well, although it went badly. Then we also discovered the wonderful diversity of DDs, and we were hooked... it's looking like forever, at this point! 😆 I enjoy photographing them, and @rudebuster is the customizer. She's very shy though (I mean, she has, like, six posts on these forums in total), so I can relay any tips from her to you!

I hope you enjoy your stay here! 😁

Hello!! TYSM for the warm welcome💕 Nice to see fellow Radio Kaikan goer; I certainly have less inclination to go there during this season, but… Somehow I just want to xD (I’m sure you understand the feeling!?)

That’s really cute of you two, enjoying the same hobby and doing collaborative works🥹🩷 but WOW a decade?? That’s amazing! Thanks for the offer, I’ll be sure to hit you up for tips sometime (either here on in the group, hehe).

Ohhh, actually we originally wanted to do some “test-run” with Obitsu heads, since they’re cheaper than Volks’, but I ended up with Volks anyway since I fell in love with one of their sculpt; while my GF bought a ZaZ head instead. Do you think doing customs are easier on Obitsu? How do you feel they compare to Volks’, if you don’t mind me asking? :0

Edited November 2, 2024 by Kanime

A fellow DDP enjoyer, nice to meet you~! If you ever need advice on doing your own mods or faceup, the forum is full of great resources!

OMG fellow DDP enjoyer!?!?🙌🙌🙌 Nice to meet you too!! I looked at your dolls and Polaris is super cute omg😳 and thanks! I def looked at customization tips religiously when I was in the middle of constructing mine, hehe.

Aww, thank you! Maybe if we like DDP enough we can make them release more parts for them, lol

REAL LOL we're here Volks!!! Give us official bust parts already😭😭😭

6 hours ago, Kanime said:

Hello Kyrie!! TYSM for the warm welcome💕 Nice to see fellow Radio Kaikan goer; I certainly have less inclination to go there during this season, but… Somehow I just want to xD (I’m sure you understand the feeling!?)

That’s really cute of you two, enjoying the same hobby and doing collaborative works🥹🩷 but WOW a decade?? That’s amazing! Thanks for the offer, I’ll be sure to hit you up for tips sometime (either here on in the group, hehe).

Ohhh, actually we originally wanted to do some “test-run” with Obitsu heads, since they’re cheaper than Volks’, but I ended up with Volks anyway since I fell in love with one of their sculpt; while my GF bought a ZaZ head instead. Do you think doing customs are easier on Obitsu? How do you feel they compare to Volks’, if you don’t mind me asking? :0

The summer season is the worst, with the heat and the... (sigh) tourists. You hear the stories. And they make the place more mobbed than a kids' playhouse, so although I like going, I also don't like going. It's a conundrum. 🤷‍♀️

As far as we know, Obitsu and Volks use similar vinyl, so the effect should be the same. But if you want to "try something out," I would try it out on the Obitsu first, because of the cheapness factor. Volks' heads are a lot more expensive and harder to come by, so save those for the perfected technique. The reason ours went badly was because it was our first attempt.  So when you start getting better at it, start moving on to Volks' heads.

Also, I just wanted to add (should have put this in my first reply), that I was going to get into IT myself. But, uh, to put it bluntly—technology makes me rage. So I'll just stick to graphic design. 

Edited August 21, 2024 by chupakiba

12 hours ago, chupakiba said:

The summer season is the worst, with the heat and the... (sigh) tourists. You hear the stories. And they make the place more mobbed than a kids' playhouse, so although I like going, I also don't like going. It's a conundrum. 🤷‍♀️

Oh god so much this. GF and I agreed it's one the most cursed spot in Tokyo because the combo of summer heat+cramped AF place+tourists+general crowd BO is HELL. I thought with Amiami opening up their own building just around the area will lessen the crowd. I was wrong. Now we're like 75% sure the main culprit for the overcrowding is the Book Off. I wish they'd somehow reform the place to make it a better experience for everyone :"(

12 hours ago, chupakiba said:

As far as we know, Obitsu and Volks use similar vinyl, so the effect should be the same. But if you want to "try something out," I would try it out on the Obitsu first, because of the cheapness factor. Volks' heads are a lot more expensive and harder to come by, so save those for the perfected technique. The reason ours went badly was because it was our first attempt.  So when you start getting better at it, start moving on to Volks' heads.

Ohh awesome! I hesitated with Obitsu 'cause I thought they use different material (being cheaper and all) and was afraid that all the practice would be for naught... Thanks for the info and next time I practice I'll be using Obitsu heads!

12 hours ago, chupakiba said:

Also, I just wanted to add (should have put this in my first reply), that I was going to get into IT myself. But, uh, to put it bluntly—technology makes me rage. So I'll just stick to graphic design. 

You're doing graphic design!? That's so cool! Are you working as a designer rn?? (You don't have to answer if it makes you uncomfy!) That's one of my dreams as a kid, before I found out that my skill in that department is equivalent to that "Graphic Design is My Passion" frog meme xD (Also DW, tech people hates tech too. It's me I'm tech people👍👍)

6 hours ago, Kanime said:

Oh god so much this. GF and I agreed it's one the most cursed spot in Tokyo because the combo of summer heat+cramped AF place+tourists+general crowd BO is HELL. I thought with Amiami opening up their own building just around the area will lessen the crowd. I was wrong. Now we're like 75% sure the main culprit for the overcrowding is the Book Off. I wish they'd somehow reform the place to make it a better experience for everyone :"(

Oh god, BO? I think I'm glad I don't have much of a sense of smell. And that Book Off is fail, it's not even accessible. 😐 Whatever. 🦈

6 hours ago, Kanime said:

Ohh awesome! I hesitated with Obitsu 'cause I thought they use different material (being cheaper and all) and was afraid that all the practice would be for naught... Thanks for the info and next time I practice I'll be using Obitsu heads!

There's different grades of vinyl, but I think you'll get the idea using Obitsu that you will want to do on Volks'. I think you can proceed! 👍

6 hours ago, Kanime said:

You're doing graphic design!? That's so cool! Are you working as a designer rn?? (You don't have to answer if it makes you uncomfy!) That's one of my dreams as a kid, before I found out that my skill in that department is equivalent to that "Graphic Design is My Passion" frog meme xD (Also DW, tech people hates tech too. It's me I'm tech people👍👍)

Unfortunately, no, I'm a university student at the moment. Though I self-taught myself graphic design for more than twenty years, my self-esteem's in the core of the Earth. I don't think I'm capable of selling my work.  (Hahahahahahahaha!)

Edited August 22, 2024 by chupakiba

On 8/21/2024 at 8:09 PM, Kanime said:

How do you feel they compare to Volks’, if you don’t mind me asking?

I'm not doing much head customizing myself, but with the Obitsu heads be aware that some of them are smaller than the 1/3rd scale Volks DD heads:

They can either be 1/4th or 1/3rd, depending on how mature they're supposed to look on the 50cm Obitsu body.

If you eventually want to display your Obitsu and DD together and are very particular about matching the scale, then best keep this in mind when selecting a head.