Help with correct eye size

I'm trying to customize my DD into Chii from Chobits.

I've recently realized the EYES are too big for her, but am undecided which size would be better.

 

She has HDD-01 head / Eyeholes Closed (soft Head Cap)

http://www.volksusa.com/hdd01ec.html

 

She is wearing Animetic Eyes / A type/ Cherry Blossom (Sakura)metal in size 24mm,

http://www.volksusa.com/eyeani00a04.html

 

These are so big, you can't see the whites around the eyes nor the white spots/dots on the top and bottom of the eye.

 

I'm using these as references

 

I'm hoping more experienced folks can help me find the right size (and perhaps type) of eyes for my girl.

 

As for the PERSICOM EARS, I was leaning toward foam persicom ears attached to a headband or hair clips. My BF (non doll hobbyist) and a DD friend suggested clay instead. Another friend adviced to use sculpy or paperclay with white sticky tack to attach them.

I found a pattern online I can use either way, I think.

How would you suggest to make them and using what materials?

 

Many thanks in advance!

Edited October 18, 2012 by Guest

Using 24mm is not recommended for DDH-01s unless you open up the eyes a lot more. Generally most 01s tend to use 22mms, but I do believe in your case 20mm would work.

 

OMG! She is so super adorable! Not like I need another 01 head though... but that doesn't mean I wouldn't have a use for one like this... Don't mind me, I'm a DD addict and not ashamed of it.

 

As for an answer to your eye question, my Rainie is an 01 head and has the Volks Animetic Eyes (H Type) 20mm (Strawberry blond on the right) and Naiomi is also an 01 head and has Volk's Animetic Eyes (B Type) 22mm (brown hair on the left) Just ignore Tamayuki's unpainted face. He has glass eyes that photograph badly when over lit.

 

 

Size can be hard to get right because as I discovered with Naiomi, the way the outside of the eyes are painted can make a huge difference. Before her faceup was done her eyes creeped me out and looked like snake eyes. I was seriously thinking of getting her a different pair. But once her makeup was done and I put her eyes in, she was totally perfect for what I was hoping for. Even the shape of the colored parts of the eyes can make a huge difference, Naiomi's are round but Rainie's are oval making her look a bit more normal because the white shows on the sides and if they were a size smaller she might look weird.

 

As a side note, I really wish there was a photo database for eye styles and sizes based on head sculpts. I ran into this same issue when I was trying to decide on eye sizes when we got our first DD. Volks has a little info if you are lucky to want what they have in a pic that is labeled, but nothing consistent or through. All the eyes I bought were probibly one size too big (even after trying very hard to get the right size) but I think the big eyes affect is something I've really gotten used to and really like. That's not to say that you should get used to it, because that would just be silly on my part.

 

As for Chii's ears if I was personally making them, I'd get some white and pale pink chiffon, iron on interfacing to the back to help prevent fraying and make the fabric shift less, then sew and stuff them, finishing with sewing them to the Chii's wig (since they are supposed to be a part of her head.) My second option would be to do the same as above but leaving out the interfacing, using felt instead (it's much more forgiving and won't fray) and would give it additional structure once stuffed. I sew more than anything so I'm not any help on composite constructions, but I do wonder if the Sculpey/Fimo would be really fragile and might break if your DD was dropped (yes it does happen despite being careful.)

 

~Sister Kyoya

Edited October 18, 2012 by Guest

What an awesome project! I've thought about making a Chii since I first started the hobby. In fact, the resemblance to Chii is the main reason I picked the 01 head for Yuriko.

 

Your girl is super cute, so far. What I've considered for myself is making the eye holes just a tiny bit taller and then going with the 22s in F, G, or H animetic type, but you've done such a great job with that face that I'd hate to see it wrecked, so in your case I'd recommend the 20mm animetics, agian in F, G, or H, since her eyes tend to look more oval than round. I'd ideally go with the I type, but they don't have one dark enough.

 

As for the the ear things, if you have enough faith in your computer 3d modelling skills you might look into http://www.shapeways.com/ They do custom 3d printing in a wide variety of materials.

Awww thank you so much everyone, I was going crazy trying to figure it out on my own!

You all 3 suggested getting size 20mm eyes so that's what I'll get!

 

I'll look into the type of eyes, since Sister Kyoya & Ravendruid have given me food for thought; although honestly Animetic Eyes / A type/ Cherry Blossom (Sakura) seem to be the closest color & style-wise to CLAMP Chii's eyes.

 

Sister Kyoya: your girls are so adorable! Tamayuki is turning out a cutie, can't wait to see him with a faceup!

I hadn't thought of making the ears in fabric. That may be something I'll look into, since I've got decent crafting skills.

 

Ravendruid: I've never even heard of Shapeways! It looks awesome, but I have no computer 3D modelling skills otherwise trust me I'd try Shapeway

Sister Kyoya: your girls are so adorable! Tamayuki is turning out a cutie, can't wait to see him with a faceup!

 

No need to wait! It took me 6 months to figure out how I wanted to do his face so he didn't look like a girl, but he's definitely got one now. Here he is with his best friend Dolly who is looking remarkably tame in this pic. He may be little (since he is a Volks EB Mini) but normally he is a force to be reckoned with. Luckily Tamayuki can easily keep him under control with excessive hugging. (Tama-chan is an extreme snuggle monster.)

 

Hi Guys by Sister Kyoya, on Flickr

 

As for the fabric Chii ears, I don't think the pattern would be too difficult to figure out and seemed to be more straightforward and easier to deal with than something hard, even though ideally Chii's ears were probably plastic.

 

~Sister Kyoya

Sister Kyoya: Tamayuki is a cutie for sure!

 

As for the fabric Chii ears, I don't think the pattern would be too difficult to figure out and seemed to be more straightforward and easier to deal with than something hard, even though ideally Chii's ears were probably plastic.

 

Agreed, which is why I was leaning toward foam because it has that weightless plastic look and is easier to deal with. I do wonder if foam may be too flimsy though?

 

Ravendruid's Shapeways looks awesome and I would try, if I had computer 3D modelling skills.

Just so you can see more size variations on a DD01 head, here's my Manami and Mamimi. Manami on the left has 20mm Volks Madder Red animetics and Mamimi on the right has custom eyes in 22mm.

 

DSC_5803 by balldylox, on Flickr

 

You can see a lot more white on Manami than you can on Mamimi. So for Chii, you may like the 20mm best.

 

I'm happy to see you doing a custom of Chii as she's an adorable girl in the manga and anime. I hope your plans go smoothly and she comes together for you!

 

 

 

Billy

Thank you Baldylox!

Your girls are so cute!

 

I just placed an order for Animetic Eyes / A type/ Cherry Blossom (Sakura) metal in size 20mm as per everyone's suggestion.

I should receive them in 4days~ here's keeping my fingers crossed!

 

I'll surely keep you all informed

I'm sorry Baldylox, I can't quit giggling about that picture. Manami's head looks so small in comparison to Mamimi's, and she looks a bit disappointed about it too. Sprout may be uber adorable but Manami is still my all-time favorite of your girls especially when she is in braids.

 

~Sister Kyoya

Thank you Baldylox!

Your girls are so cute!

 

I just placed an order for Animetic Eyes / A type/ Cherry Blossom (Sakura) metal in size 20mm as per everyone's suggestion.

I should receive them in 4days~ here's keeping my fingers crossed!

 

I'll surely keep you all informed

 

 

Thanks! I look forward to seeing how they look in your Chii!

 

 

I'm sorry Baldylox, I can't quit giggling about that picture. Manami's head looks so small in comparison to Mamimi's, and she looks a bit disappointed about it too. Sprout may be uber adorable but Manami is still my all-time favorite of your girls especially when she is in braids.

 

 

Now look here, Manami's head is the same size as Mamimi's! I know it looks odd in that pic tho because Manami is leaning back and away from Mamimi who is closer to the foreground of the pic. It was the only pic I had of those two side by side where you can see their eyes nicely.

 

I better not let Manami see this because she'll tease Mamimi terribly about having a big head. I can hear her now too... "Mi-chan's got a fat head! Fatty! Hahahaha!" Silly girls.

 

I'm very glad you like Manami the best of all my girls. I'm flattered really. She's my number one for sure even tho I can't openly say it at home due to catching hell from her sisters. But I think they all know she's my number one due to how she owns me. And I love her in braids too, she's way cute and sexy at the same time with them.

 

 

 

Billy

If you're trying to make Chii look like your reference pics, I think you should go for 22mm eyes. The 20mm eyes will work, obviously, but I think they'll show too much white. Chii is only supposed to show a little bit of white. Those 24s are too big, but I think 22 will be just right.

 

No suggestions for her ears, unfortunately. I've never tried making that kind of thing. I suppose one option is you could attach ears made out of foam to a headband, similar to the Chii ear headbands that people make for dressing up in costume. You could use the wig to hide the headband.

 

Another option that wouldn't require attaching the ears physically to the head is magnets. Put magnets inside the ears (whatever you make them from) and have the other end of the magnet inside the wig.

One of her eyes just came off, so I put it back with one of the white spots showing and wow does that make a difference!

Now I'm really looking forward to replacing them with right sized ones!

My Dollfie Dream customized as a combination between Chii from "Chobits" & the twins Chiho and Chise in "Kobato" wearing a kimono (unfortunately too tight) I sewed.

 

DD are what got me into the doll hobby, but I never thought I'd be able to have one.

Years later, here is my 1st grail doll!

 

PS As you can see the new 20mm eyes are perfect!

Because foam is a smooth surface, only hot glue worked for attaching the persicom ears.

She looks great! I agree that the 20mm eyes worked out really well in her. Very nice outfit too! I'm glad things worked out for you on her, the ears turned out great too. Congrats!

 

 

Billy

Thanks to you and everyone's advice, she did turn out so much better than I ever imagined!

She looks great! I agree that the 20mm eyes worked out really well in her. Very nice outfit too! I'm glad things worked out for you on her, the ears turned out great too. Congrats!

 

 

Billy

She is so adorable! Congratulations!