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 Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2005 10:48 pm
Okay, so I'm going to do a basic FAQ on SD/BJDs. However I will refer everyone to Den of Angels for everything else.
Okie~ I'm not a BJD Guru or anything but I'm going to try to do do this. :3
Dollfies
Dollfies are highly poseable ball-jointed dolls. The term "dollfie", which means doll figure was coined by Volks, the first company to produce dollfies.
After a few years(?) Volks came out with a newer, more lifelike ball jointed doll, which they called the Super Dollfie. After the Super Dollfie came the SD-13, which has an extra joint in the waist for better posing ability.
Many other asian companies started creating SD-like dolls, called BJDS. They make up the majority of the "dollfie" population, however, Volks is still the most prominent company.
Dollfies are highly customizable. You can change their eyes, makeup, body parts (most of the time) and wigs. They can look like anything.
Q: What are they made out of?
A: SD and BJDs are made out of a high-quality resin. I've heard that the origional dollfies and dollfie dreams are made out of some sort of vinyl.
Q: How big are they?
A: Currently, the volks made Super Dollfies come in three sizes. The Mini Super Dollfie, which range in size from about 43-45cm and the SD and SD13s, which range in height from about 58-62cm.
Most other BJDs are the same heights, however a few companies make "tinys", the size which I am not sure of. (However I've seen some that will fit in your hands.)
Q: How much do they cost?
A: MSD-type dolls tend to range around $300+, however sometimes unfinished kits can be cheaper.
SD and SD13 type dolls start at around $500, depending on the company. Many Volks dolls can sell on the aftermarket for upwards of $2000.
Q: HOLY s**t they're expensive! eek How come they cost so much?
A: I cannot fully answer this question, as I am not completely sure.
Most doll companies do not make your doll until you order it. The resin has to be cast (and resin is both expensive AND hard to work with! They can't make dolls in the rainy seasons!) and then the doll has to be strung. Then the dolls are given facial makeup, eyes and a wig. The process seems to take about two weeks for the companies to get your order, make your doll and about a week or so to ship (by EMS)
Also, many dolls are limeted editions. They sell for much higher than the standard-issue dolls.
A lot of hard work and love goes into making these dolls, and I truthfully cannot put a price on any of my boys.
If you are not willing to spend large volumes of money on a "doll", then dollfies are not for you.
Q: Are they fragile?
A: Not really. They were made to be played with and posed. They can get kind of dirty, but you just take some soap and warm water to them and it should come off, unless something stains their resin. (then you'd need to sand it off unless the stain is very deep. )
They can probably survive a few falls from a short height, although you should be careful with them. If anything, the nose and the fingers would be the first to go.
It is said that their resin can yellow if exposed to direct sunlight, so I try to cover my boys when I take them outside. It is unknown weather coating them can protect them from yellowing or not. Time will tell.
Q: Where can I get one?
A: Many places. Most of the doll companies have international sites now, so you can order them online. eBay is also another good place to check.
http://www.domuya.net also sells dolls, and occasionally gets in limited versions.
I would reccomend checking Den of Angels' FAQ and Forum for links to the companies, as well as Gigglegeek for many known dolls and doll companies.
I think that's about it for main dollfie info.
Terms/Abbreviations
Dollfie/BJD owners use many confusing terms and abbreviations. Here are some of them. :3
AI - CustomHouse Ai
AR - Angel Region
BJD - Ball Jointed Doll
CH - Custom House
CB - Cerberus Project. By Luts.
DD - Dollfie Dream. Made by Volks.
DoD - Dream of Doll
FaceUp - Your doll's makeup.
Fair - AR's 58cm doll line.
FCS - Volk's special order doll line. You specify the headmold, body type, eyes, makeup and wig and Volks makes the doll.
Little Fair - AR's 45cm doll line.
Luts - Company that produces the Cerberus Project dolls.
SD/SD10 - The origional Super Dollfie. 58cm in height. By Volks.
SD13 - The Super Dollfie 13. Has an older, more mature body with an extra joint in the waist for better posing ability. They're about 60cm tall. By Volks.
SDC - Super Dollfie Cute. A doll a tiny bit shorter than the MSD (I think they're 41cm?). The SDCs have a few extra joints here and there and pose better.
Links
Helpful links... And stuff.
Den of Angels - Aimee's dolls. Aimee also runs the Den of Angels Forum and has one of the best dollfie FAQs I've seen. If you're intested in BJDs, I would definately join the DoA forum!
Gigglegeek - One of the most extensive lists of BJDs created. Also includes heads-only companies.
eBay - Great place to find dolls and acessories.
Volks USA - Volks's official US website and store.
Sources
Den of Angels, Gigglegeek and all of the wonderful dollfie people I've spoken to.
Anything I missed?Post it here and either I or other guild members will try to answer your questions! Also, if you have anything that I need to add to the lists just post it here and I'll update it.
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Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2005 10:49 pm
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Posted: Sat Aug 06, 2005 2:58 pm
Resrved, phwa! I shall sit in this reserved space! *sits*
And I shall pee in your sticky!
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Posted: Wed May 31, 2006 8:02 am
Maybe you could add http://www.volksusa.com/ to your list of sites. This is where I purchased my dollfie and their pricing is very fair and their shipping is pretty fast.
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Posted: Mon Jun 12, 2006 8:18 pm
Edward Lecter Maybe you could add http://www.volksusa.com/ to your list of sites. This is where I purchased my dollfie and their pricing is very fair and their shipping is pretty fast. I'll do that. :3 They weren't open when I first posted this.
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Posted: Mon Jun 26, 2006 2:49 pm
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Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2006 9:01 pm
I just noticed that you didn't place MSD in your Terms/abbreviations.
even though you mentioned it in your faq, i think it would be safe to place a definition there...
just a suggestion....
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Posted: Fri Dec 01, 2006 7:11 pm
"then you'd need to sand it off unless the stain is very deep."
Avoid this if at all possible with your resin-cleaning friend, acetone. Don't be afraid of the giant threatening tin of evil smelling liquid solvent at your local hardware store; there is no need for it. Most nailpolish removers contain acetone. Get a little on a cottonball and scrub at the stain gently. Wash with soapy water. VOILA!
Please note that you wouldn't want to do this with straight acetone unless you were in a really well ventilated place and wearing good chemical resistant gloves.
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Posted: Thu Mar 06, 2008 11:12 am
Mr. Clean "Magic Eraser" found in your local supermarket or drugstore works wonders for cleaning a doll if it gets dirty... just don't use it anywhere near the faceup.
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Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2009 8:43 am
I do have something to add about price of the doll. All casting resins start as liquids of at least two parts. These must be combined and then poured into the mold . The chemical reaction to make the separate elements set -up (get hard ) is extreemly sensitive to both humidity and temperature ( works only between 70-80 ferinhight). Also resin must be double mixed , mixed then poured into a seperate container and mixed again, and you only have 5 - 10 minuets between the time you add them and the time that you can no longer do anything with the resin. All things that touch the resing except the mold are trash after a single use ( ex. mixing bowls , stirring rods ...). And none of this includes the time and effort of making the first peice and casting it out of very expensive molding agents.
Also if done incorectly and the resin dose not set-up (get hard) the resin and mold are now trash and must be disposed of in an enviromenaly freindly way.
sorry its so long , its just a heck of a process.
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