Completing a Character: How long did it take you?

I ask because I finally just broke down and bought a random black wig for Nai. I've been searching for months for a short, layered wig in my price range and could find nothing suitable for her. It either wasn't the right color or it wasn't choppy enough or it was 50 bucks lol .

Though to be honest it was usually the color that turned me away. I would only accept platinum blonde to white, medium brown to black, or an "out there" color (like carrot orange or purple or green, etc). SWITCH muffin and tart cut were my ultimate grail wigs for her and nowheerrrree to be found!

 

Seriously it was way harder than I thought to just find a wig for her! D: If you have a DD character shelled, did it take you a long time to complete her? Was it hard to find all the right pieces? Did you want to/did you give up??

 

P.S. I hope this is in the right section, please be gentle with me ;-;

This ended up longer than I would like, but here goes:

 

Did it take you a long time to complete him/her?

It normally takes me 3-6 months to complete a custom character doll. This includes a refaceup, 2+ outfits, eyes, wig, and props. It really depends on your budget and the amount of free time you have. If you found the perfect wig but want to find something cheaper than that could drag out your time.

 

Was it hard to find all the right pieces?

Nope. The most challenging would be the outfit because I have to find the right experienced tailors. They normally takes 1-2 months to complete 1 outfit, which brings down my completion time to about 1-3 months. The rest of the parts are easy to find. I know exactly what I am looking for and I keep a big list of vendors to look through when searching for a specific item.

 

I tend to have a huge budget saved up for custom works before hand to make the process easier. If Volks had the perfect wig for my character I would throw that $50 at them. Faceups are easy for me to do and the eyes are easy to find. If I can't find something, I will most likely make it myself or hire a professional outside of the hobby.

 

Did you want to/did you give up??

I never wanted to give up or ever did. I have to love a character a lot before I decide to spend money to make a custom DD. I spent way more money on custom works than a fullset limited doll from Volks. Once you start and have thrown in a lot of time, money and love, you would never think of giving up.

 

Tips on making a custom DD

*from personal experience

 

1. Try to get the basics out of the way first (head, and body).

2. Contact your tailor and get commissions started right away while you hunt for other stuff

3. Have a budget saved up before you start any custom projects

4. Stick with that you have started, don't just start making something else.

5. Start the project (have items on hand). Don't just think about it and announce to everyone your plans when you have nothing. Sorry if this sounds mean to some. But I can't stand people announcing a project, then 6 months go by with no update. I want to see interesting WIP photos, not blocks of text and photos taken from vendor sites.

6. Willingness to spend a little more for the better results. Hire the experienced tailor that always put out good work, buy the heat resistant wigs that have a higher quality fiber, buy the higher quality paints, etc. You won't regret it later.

7. Don't be scared to try making things yourself. It might just save you money and time.

8. Pick a character that you really love. Seriously, pick your dream character. They should still be your dream character 2 years later.

For me it has changed a bit from nearly full to not finished at all.

 

Error: from 90% to 3% where I only have the wig and maybe the eyes.

Izzy: from 60% to 2% only have the eyes.

Isolda: from 40%to 45% body to body and eyes.

El: 0% to 0% only looked at things for this guy.

 

I guess it's harder for OCs since there is no fixed itms for them YOU need to put them together from scratch.

 

All the % are what I feel it's at not exactly accurate.

The wigs are super hard for me too. I'm still in the process of finding a good wig for my custom Ukraine, but I just can't find anything that is right! orz

 

I also find that deciding the right head mold is hard too... At least for me. For my Ukraine, I'm still switching back and forth between the 06 head, and the Milhi head. For me, it's because characters can have so many different expressions, that picking a head for one is really hard! orz

Agatha is forever an ongoing project, so she'll never truly be complete. I suppose if I finally made her at least one outfit of hers from Girl Genius then she could be considered complete after that, since she's got acceptable faceup, glasses, eyes, wig, and body.

 

However, there's *always* going to be something to work on with her. Even if I stuck to just making her outfits from the comic she's based on, that's easily two dozen and counting since the comic is still ongoing. I actually changed her faceup last year and while I think the one she's got will be good for quite some time I can certainly imagine changing it again in the future. Her wig is a bit worse for the wear and a little too thin on top to make her distinctive cowlick in the back, so I'm casually hunting for a replacement/upgrade. I've kind of been toying with the idea of making her new eyes too, but I'm not sure how much is that I genuinely want something a little different for her versus just really liking to make eyes.

 

And that's without even considering the props I want to make and/or find for her. Oh god, the props that girl asks for. . .

Heh, wow! Thanks for the great answers! Nai is the first doll I have that I knew her character before I got her, so this building into thing is new to me. And I had a fixed look in my mind, what she looked like so if the wig wasn't perfect I kinda felt like "Why spend so much money, wig is not absolute perfect?" Of course from your comment juu-yuki, I realized I should've looked at wig commissioners! *facepalm* Oh well, I can always save up again I will keep in mind everything you said!!

 

@Error-chan, ah yes I am learning that now. OCs to dolls are so much harder to put together than building a character as you see things you like on the marketplace (which is how my resin ladies personalities started coming out).

 

@fujico ah good luck! It's too bad DDs dont have faceplates huh?

 

@poofiemus OH my :0 That is definitely dedication to your girl! Sounds like a handful eh? xD But anything for a girl you care about. Makes me feel new determination for getting Nai her things! =)

 

Yosh! I don't feel as down about copping out and getting that wig anymore. Seems to me that we're in it for the long haul right? Just as I will get older and change so will Nai! Maybe she feels like a short wig now. Maybe she'll feel like an ankle-length wig later. No amtter what htough I'm gonna try my best to give her what she wants! *hugs Nai*

 

I would still like to hear more on shelling characters and the ups and downs so don't be shy!

I took around 9 months, around 1 year and something to get it completed (I never had enough funds to pay off the body). I started in June 2011, I finished in Sept 2012 (I mean I was able shooting pics of the completed doll )

It's been about a year for the one I'm working on and she's not done. First I had to wait to get Rise, now I'm struggling to find eyes that are the right color.

I've only built or designed 3 of my girls.... Mamimi, Reiko and Minako. And all of them were kinda done on the low low, just because I like surprising my friends.

 

Mamimi was the first girl I built up from scratch. From start to finish I think it took about 2 months to get her body, head and everything all together and ready to present.

 

Reiko took a bit longer because she was kind of one of those "If I get around to making a Rei twin, I will but it will be a while." But I got her body from a great friend, then waited for Volks to get a head back in stock. After that, she had to get sent to LB for her faceup. So all in all, she took about 3 months to get finished. Oddly enuff, I had her wig before I even got her body!

 

And for Minako, I had her in the design stage for a LONG time. But I didn't get her body for a few months and when I finally did, I had to wait on a head again. Then she had to go to LB for her faceup. I think she probably took a little over 2 and a half months to complete.

 

 

 

Billy

Oooh, I'm having the hardest time just finding the right wig for my character. I need a peach-orange or a peach-pink colored wig that's roughly chin length but with a clip on pony tail. Leekeworld has a peach pink wig (the kind with clip on twin tails, there's also one with a small pony tail that looks good too), but it's a little more pink than I'm going for. So I've been looking everywhere to no avail. Whenever I find a wig that's the right color, the color either changes in other lighting or it doesn't come in the right style. I just ordered a wig from Coolcat, but it's probably more brown than I was hoping

 

I think it was in December that I decided a DD/anime BJD might be the best doll incarnation of my character... I've decided on a head and a body, but I'll have to buy both an Obitsu 50 and an Obitsu 45 to obtain a male bust piece.

 

Hopefully I'll be able to buy the parts and complete him in the spring/summer.

I heartily 2nd what Juu-Yuki said. You really have to want the girl/boy DD that you are aiming for when you are done. If not, they really won't matter enough to get them finished because you will always hit a lazy point and wonder if the effort is worth it, especially when finances have to be considered.

 

I'm a tiny bit confused though... are you talking about just custom DD, or like a custom DD character from a specific anime? Perhaps it's all the same question.

 

Either way, I do not have any stock/limited/character DD. Tamayuki, Naiomi, Yuriko, Rainie, and a surprise girl (completed very soon) are all custom kids. Bree still needs her own body, 07 boy is barely started, two 01 heads need bodies, Kos-Mos and Momo have been preordered (but each will have some changes), and a character that needs an 05 head has been planned for 6+ months now. (Clarification: Yuriko and Momo belong to Ravendruid but they are my daughters too.) What can I say, I just have to mod things.

 

Tamayuki is my first and he took 6 months to complete because I kept stalling on his faceup, everything else came in a single shipment from Volks. Rainie who's head was in the same shipment is nearly complete a year later. Another girl has fallen together in maybe 2 1/2 months. The time it takes just really depends on the complexity, funds, determination, availability, and how much work needs to be done.

 

The hardest part is starting with a character you will still love just as much, if not more, than the day you decided that it was worth your time and devotion. One way I do this is I will not consider a DD, no matter how wonderful they look, if they cannot fill a void in our DD family. It's all about back story and how all the past tales and future ones intertwine. There personality has to be defined enough in my head that they start bossing me around and telling me I'm wrong when I try to get them to do something. (What can I say, I'm a writer.) Then after that they seem to be able to stand enough on their own to get bossy and remind my why they matter when I easily get distracted by all the other lovely dolls out there.

 

There is so many factors involved that it is really hard to pinpoint the amount of time it takes, because each owner, creator, and DD are different.

 

~Sister Kyoya

Gosh...I am one of those people who has a lot of ideas, but never executes them.

 

I purchased Mikuru second hand to model a few of Key's characters, went as far as purchasing a wig, but just haven't had the motivation to making any costume patterns.

 

I have only really been interested in making my own costumes for a long while, but once I finish mine then I'd love to get started on her.

I would not even know where to start answering this question...

 

Some of mine come together almost immediately as soon as a wig/eye combination are put on a doll - the character comes to 'life' so to speak. Others that I have a preconceived idea in my head, well those have been a pickle. I get what I think I want and then I am not satisfied. My husband laughs at me. He comes in and sees me on the bed with heads, wigs and bodies all over the place and calls it a "body-swapping" day.

 

I have tried a few characters and they keep escaping my creative clutches. I have wanted a 'Kuroneko' for a long time and have tried many faces for her and none have been right for me. I don't want one that is just like someone else's. My Takane is not right, but I think I know how to fix that. Mizuho isn't working for me yet. I finally got Hina the way I want. It tends to be half the fun for me, it seems.

 

Wigs for Chihaya and Azusa have been a nightmare, but thanks to some kind direction from some folks on the forum - I think they may have the right looks soon.

 

I shall second what Juu-Yuki said as well. No matter what, when you're making a doll of your characters, dollfie dreams included, you must love that character. If there's no love for the character my "relationship" with a doll always ends in heartbreak. Happened twice so far but I've learned from my mistakes.

 

Now onto the dollfie dreams. I'm a very particular person when it comes to a lot of things. I can be picky to the point of being irritating (often happens with wigs and even more often with eyes when I can't find the exact shade and pattern I want for them).

 

With my first Dollfie Dream, my Aoi 1st edition, I was extremely lucky. Around the time when I received her Obitsu 60 body, Leekeworld was having theit summer limited sale, and it so happened that one of the colors released was their Royal Carrot. Now, what is so special about Leekeworld Royal Carrot is that it's not too carroty and it's not too brown either. It's the exact blend of auburn I needed for my character. On top of that Leeke offers a long, wavy hime-cut wig which was, again, perfect. And to top it off, Twin-Snow was having their custom eyes event at the same time which completely solved my problem with eyes as I could get the exact shade, exact style I wanted without having to worry about if I will like it when they'd come home. On the other hand, six months later I still haven't purchased her outfit despite spotting one that is spot-on on the market. It's definitely pricey and things have gotten in the way but I plan to receive it within the year. All in all, if I had hurried with the outfit it would have only taken me a couple months.

 

My second character who will be my DDS Momo and is still nameless, is still on preorder but will also be a custom. I've settled on her style and am already slowly building her a small wardrobe both by sewing and buying, as her character likes to play dress up a lot and a singular outfit would only make her miserable. I'm on the fence about the eyes I want to get her again, and same goes for my third character, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed for another Twin Snow custom event this summer. As for her wig, I've still not settled in one style and might take a couple wigs to try on her so I can decide when she gets here. All in all, she should be ready as soon as she makes it home.

 

As for my third character I'm in the stage where I've planned for everything but I'm lacking the funds to pursue him. His name is Yagate and he's going to be a Saber head on a Lovelydoll 65cm body which I chose for being broader and far more muscular than the normal modded dollfie dreams and obitsus. His outfit will not pose an issue as I can probably get most of the items from various web shops as long as I get to looking, his wig is a fairly simple deal as I know where I can commission it which leaves me -again- with the same problem as Momo... eyes. He's not scheduled to be finished asap, but I am committed to pursuing a Saber head to the end of the world as soon as I can afford it.

My Panchita is going to be one year old soon and she still a work in progress. I haven't found the perfect wig for her either so I feel your pain. She has the clothes, shoes, and face-up I wanted her to have but not the 2 braids wig that will complete her.

Well, to stop hinting around and let the cat out of the bag, I'm looking for a third girl myself.

It's no secret that I've liked Billy's Mai, her face is just the total smexy! (all Mai's are, TBH)

But, aside from financing keeping me from getting even her head, I'm still working on body types..

Do I get a Dynamite body for her, and {censored censored censored censored censored} for Tana?

I dunno, I'll bash my brains on this for a while longer, I'm sure...

Well, for me, it'll be a while. A year or so at least. I have to find the head first! LOL, then I have to find someone to paint her, then at least commission the outfit. The boots will be hard to find, but the wig shouldn't be. I'm wanting to do Sailor Pluto. I know she wears more than the sailor scout uniform, so other clothing might be easier.

 

For my 04 head, I really just need her painted and get her a body. Still, it'll be a while.

Well, to stop hinting around and let the cat out of the bag, I'm looking for a third girl myself.

It's no secret that I've liked Billy's Mai, her face is just the total smexy! (all Mai's are, TBH)

But, aside from financing keeping me from getting even her head, I'm still working on body types..

Do I get a Dynamite body for her, and {censored censored censored censored censored} for Tana?

I dunno, I'll bash my brains on this for a while longer, I'm sure...

 

 

HA! I *knew* you were looking for a Mai! You hinted around enuff about her to be kind of obvious but still, I wasn't 100% sure you were actively looking for one or not. I hope you can find one soon that you can afford!

 

As for body types, I personally can't see Mai on anything other than a DDdy. Altho there is one MDD version here on the forum that is super adorable.... I still think Mai is best on a curvy and sexy styled bod.

 

And what's this about Tana all of a sudden? Or *is* it all of a sudden? Is she wanting an upgrade of some type? Full body or just bust? I MUST KNOW!!!

 

 

 

Billy

This is such a complex question.

 

For me there's 3 ways to "complete a character"

 

1. Buying a fullset doll and styling them into their own character.

This would involve leaving their default face up alone and possibly using their default eyes or wig, sometimes changing their name, sometimes changing their bodies or busts. Most of my girls would fall in this category. Some have very minor changes - for example Mio and Saber are with their default faceups, on their default bodies, and use their default eyes. Some have slightly more changes - Yoko, Nia, and my Alna twins fall in this category because they have their default faceups and bodies, but their eyes and wigs have been changed. Some that have had body changes would include Yuki and Mashiro, Airy (Amber) too.

 

2. Custom painted heads and building a character around that.

This would be for limited or standard headmolds, including the volks prepainted. Sometimes the doll is purchased as a fullset (like Asuka or Neris (Odette)) and their faceups are re-done, their eyes and wigs are changed, sometimes their bodies are changed. Sometimes (Like Maya and Maddie) they start off as a head and the character grows around it.

 

3. A project completely revolving around a character or idea!

My Rei and my Meiko fall into this category. The entire doll, including the headmold, is selected with a character already in mind and is built from the ground up.

 

 

It can take a long time to establish a character, regardless of which category it falls into. Some dolls are very quick and easy while others are significantly more complicated and tricky. >_<

Well, I finally feel like I completed my girl this week, thanks to the right eyes arriving in the mail.

 

It still took over a year though, just to find the right parts.

Congratulations DJStar!!

 

Yes, I know how that feels Plastic. One of my resin girls is a model and loves fashion/fashionable clothes. I don't really have the kind of budget for what she wants haha so I know it's gonna be a long while for me to feel I have her fleshed out.

 

Oh my Starfall! I love Sailor Pluto she is in my top 3 fav Sailor Scouts Wish you luck

 

MrFJ I hope you can find the 2-braids wig I have only seen two-braids wig in puki or MSD sized D: I hope it won't be too hard to find!

 

Ahehehe Misheru "body-swapping day" *chortles* Happy you're so close!

 

@Sister Kyoya I did mean a custom DD but honestly it's interesting hearing about all kinds! That's a real interesting way of looking at it, much better than the way I think of getting girls hahahaha

Sae was a mistake, but a good mistake

 

When i entered this hobby i wanted a YOKO, but could justify the price, so being a model builder, i decided to create my own character

 

Sae's full name is Akimoto Sae, and is taken from a mix of two members of AKB48. Her head was a yukino head and worked straight away. Her bust was "M" and looked OK, her hair was brown fluffy giving and urban look.

 

Sae had that tomboy look and went to japan with me in 2011. While there she met Aoi and having seen other DD's in the volks showroom and the Azone store, i played with her character a bit while on holiday and ordered a few things to be delivered while i was way

 

Those things were a two-tone happy camille wig in wine/black and some glasses

the wig was an instant hit with me and when i added her glasses, she finally delveloped in to an buisness like woman

 

Her role model is "Clark Kent", and thinks it is great that you can hide behind something so simple as glasses. The glasses make others think she is a nerd.

She acts a fool at times and does her clark kent pose (pushing glasses back on with her finger).

 

In all it took Sae about 4 months to develop into who she is today.

I made a custom dd character which I detailed in my own post here viewtopic.php?f=13&t=6381&p=97665#p97665

 

I physically started work on her initially mid november 2012, although I planned on making her much before that. I finished her early this month.

 

Obviously I didn't work on her solidly all day every day, I work full time so I could only really work on her during weekends if I felt up to it. I also had times were I was waiting for suppliers to arrive. There was also a long gap before I could start painting due to weather being unsuitable for sealing.

 

I honestly think that if I did another custom, it would take a similar amount of time.