[Adopted] Raccoon Doll Discussion

@JinCIncy That nude lipstick suits your Lucy really well
@vermont chick i like what you say " if money were no object"!! Because if so, I d'get Sia, Laetitia and Nina
I really like Laetita because I have always liked and admired such glamorous dolls, like Iplehouse ones, but they were too big! And Sia I like her expression, it can be seen as cold, but also soft on some pics...

 

@Phoenixflower383 not to worry, my early BJD experiences were not bad... Just a little expensive, lol. I learned several valuable lessons that serve me well now . Thank you for your encouragement... I'm hoping my canvas experience will help some too.
Changing The look of the doll is the one of the best things about BJD for sure. I went overboard with getting wigs and eyes for both my girls . Carina has 10 wigs and Gene has 6 wigs and they both have at least 10 pairs of eyes each. The more possibilities the better . I'm glad your friend appreciated the hobby .

@boudica you're very welcome for the hand picture . And thank you for your encouragement... I'm hoping my canvas painting experience will help some too. If you do decide to try acrylic the use of mediums can help if the paint won't go on smoothly. I don't know if that applies to doll painting but it has helped me when painting a small picture. So just in case it could help I wanted to share the tip. Best of luck with your face ups and I look forward to seeing how they turn out.

@vermont chick thank you much for sharing your face up experiences. I was concerned about the contours giving me trouble and knowing that going in can help . I bought some cheap vinyl heads to practice painting and practice spraying msc too. Hopefully they will be here by mid May. Now I just need to figure out the best time of year to spray the msc outdoors. As you know, New England weather can be fussy and I'm assuming dry, overcast and mid temperature weather would be best for spraying outside ?
I'm with you on waiting for the men dolls. Adding to the "if money were no object" convo... I would get Laetita and that new pant suit outfit. I'm going to have to hope for a second release in the future.

@JinCIncy very lovely photo of Lucy

 

I had to laugh at your "New England weather can be fussy" statement, because the weather turned on me yesterday as I was working on a head (not a Raccoon but the same size). One second I'm spraying the head, the next second the wind kicks up and my expensive MSC is coming back at me. I have sprayed in temperatures just above freezing, although I wouldn't recommend it. I'm going to retry the head today (I overworked it yesterday and ended up wiping it clean) now that the morning fog has burned off and it looks like the sun might stay around for a few hours. I don't trust cloudy conditions because around here they can turn wet quickly. I don't stay outside long enough for direct sun to cause any harm.

Once I finish the doll I'm working on, I'll share a photo of him with one or more of my Raccoon girls. He's a Lumedoll. He's actually tall enough next to Raccoons and his head is the same size as theirs.

 

My hat is off to those of you doing faceups for this size doll!
I just can't imagine doing the lower lashes.

I can't wait to see the results!

 

Just discovered these perfectly proportioned lovlies a few days ago, and I'm sooo smit!! The photos of everyone's girls in their outfits, has my jaw dropping!! I'm almost considering reshelling my girls..
However that's where I need some help. Was thinking of hybrids to possibly just make them more mature?
I already have some NS JID girls with head sculpts I can't quit (Violet and Isar). Reasearched this thread for lighter skin comparisons. They seem close with the new JID hands, but as for the lighter skin.... Are raccoon doll girls more white pink? Any photos of their lighter skins in comparison?
The possability for mature Jid heads on RD bodies was brought up earlier in the thread. Concerened that Asa's head was so round and thick, where as Lisa fit more even still with a rounder face. What about a LB glamour body? Those glamour body hips are to die for!!!!! Photos and all help is appreciated :

 

I finished the face-up on my Lumedoll Meissa elf. It's not entirely to my satisfaction, but I'll wait to redo it after I live with it for a while. He's not as tall as I thought he was. Without the head on, the body looked like he would be taller than the Raccoon girls. The head must be sitting low on the neck because with his head on, they're about even. Proportions would look better if my girl was wearing flats. (Haven't found any flat shoes that fit.) Anyway, he'll do as a placeholder until Raccoon gives us real men.

 

The proportions are good! They're the same height but it can happen in real life ...
You can try make him stand on something, for pics like that where we don't see the feet, so he seems taller.
Great clothes btw.

 

Thanks, @Poulette. He's wearing the Misty Swan set from Iplehouse for JID boys and girls. It's funny, the set is too tight for my JID boys (model body). I can't tuck in the shirt and the stockings barely go on. The pants are actually too loose for this guy, but I was able to tighten them by pulling on the laces at his hips. He's wearing JID shoes, too. They have a bit of a heel, which helps make him appear a little taller. Here's what it looks like in full:

He's single jointed and doesn't stand up when I remove the doll stand.

 

@vermont chick Meissa seems to fit in pretty well with the Raccoon girls; the proportions look good even if he's a bit on the short size. I think they look great together! Well done on the faceup too

According to Sia/Laetitia's announcement thread in the news section, Sang Yoon plans to release 1/3 scale dolls at the beginning of next year, starting with female dolls. (I hope that means the male 1/4 dolls will be released fairly soon.) It really will be interesting to see the comparisons between Raccoon Doll and Iple then, seeing as how similar some of the current RD sculpts are. I wonder if it'll be a completely new body design or essentially a bigger version of the 1/4 ones.

 

I hope the big girls get the glamor hips.

 

Thanks @Zaliayn. I like the faceup for the most part. Unfortunately my paint blobbed in the corners of his mouth. I tried to fix it and only made it worse. So he'll get a re-do at some point.

Thanks also for pointing out Raccoon's plans for 1/3 dolls. Once I've looked at his announcements I forget to re-check them for further news. I sure hope he will debut his 1/4 scale guys before he moves on to 1/3 scale. I would expect the 1/3 body to be essentially the same as the 1/4, only bigger. His 1/4 is basically Iple's nYID as it is. Of course, I could be totally wrong...

 

I'm not sure about the thread...
Maybe somebody tried Minifee head on Raccoondoll body? Just for fun.
Or maybe you have a photo of nude Fairyland and Raccoodoll dolls together?
I'm interested in skintone and size comparison and I thought about buying Raccoondolls body for hybridization.
You may PM me to avoid off topic or answer in another thread. :3

 

I have MiniFees, but switching heads would require modding. MiniFee heads attach by means of a resin key system. FairyLand sells a connector that allows switching heads with their ChicLine dolls, but I don't know how you would mod a Raccoon neck to accept a MiniFee head connector. Also, the resin colors do not match. Raccoon's normal resin is whiter than FairyLand's natural skin. I don't have a tan MiniFee to compare with Raccoon's sweet mocha skin, but I get the impression based on other people's photos of tan MiniFees that the colors are quite different.

The height difference is not quite this extreme. Mika is wearing high heels while Shushu is wearing flats.

 

Thank you! It's very useful!

Raccoondoll bodies are so gorgeous. And faces are so adult for msd. It's perfect idea.
My friend is selling Nina now but I think I should wait for new releases. I didn't find my ideal Raccoondoll girl yet.

 

Oh no @vermont chick ... I'm sorry to hear the wind shot your msc at you instead of your doll . i will keep your tips in mind for sure. I hope you don't mind my asking but roughly How long can you stay out in the sun before it can harm the doll? The face up you did on Meissa turned out great! Thanks for sharing.

Oh thank you... I didn't even look there on his site. The larger size could easily be an even rival to Iplehouse and I can't wait to see what he comes up with. I hope the male dolls come before the larger line too. Fingers crossed.

Welcome to the group . I'm afraid I can't help with much except with skin comparison. The Raccoondoll NS is slightly lighter and a little less pink than Iplehouse but not terribly noticeable ... They really are almost an exact match . Here is a link to a hand comparison of Iplehouse and Raccoondoll in normal skin that might help. JID Rd hand comparison.

 

Thank you. I'm warming up to Meissa's face-up. He might even get to keep it.

As for how long a doll can stay in the sun without coming to harm, I'm afraid I don't have an answer to that. I would imagine it varies from company to company depending on the resin recipe they use and whether or not the doll is sprayed with a UV inhibiting substance. I think MSC comes in a UV protecting formula, but it's more expensive than the regular stuff and I've never tried it. When it comes to doing face-ups, I tend to spray and run. I don't stay outside a second longer than absolutely necessary. I'll admit that's not strictly for the doll's protection. I look a sight in my messy art apron and protective mask. Basically I don't want the neighbors to see me!

 

Hi all! I'm new to the group but I have enjoyed reading and learning with you all. I just ordered Laetitia. I've been looking at the other sculpts for months. All lovely but nothing really moved me until Laetitia. I ordered her in sweet mocha with large bust on the glamorous body (yeah, she's gonna be super luscious). I emailed them and requested the Modern Gene mouth instead of that dark color. Sangyoon was super sweet and accommodating. Her character was never going to be able to wear normal BJD clothing anyway so I don't mind the crazy proportions. Super excited! I'll keep you posted when she arrives and will post a pic. Now off to find a wig!

 

It's nice to know they will accommodate small makeup changes!

 

@vermont chick you're welcome and i am glad you are warming to the face up . Lol, the spray and dash explanation ... It made me laugh . I can totally understand the feeling. As for the sun duration I will just be mindful and I have some test pieces from Raccoondoll and Iple I can try out first. Thanks again for sharing .

@VitaPlastica welcome to the group . Oh good someone is getting Letitia! I wanted to get her but she is not in the budget right now and will be waiting for a second release.
Sang Yoon is awesome for sure. Gene's lip color should look super on Letitia and I can't wait to see the pictures of when she comes .

 

@vermont chick - your Regency dress is just gorgeous!!! and your Meissa looks great with her!

I wanted to share my Gwen (mocha Gene) in her new shawl - I am enjoying crocheting these - this was
the first smaller one I did up. I've been working on one for my RealFee Soso too - even smaller.

I finally repositioned her eyes this morning - I rolled them a little 'up' - and I'm much happier with her
look now. hard to capture in camera - but seeing her in person, she looks more friendly. Now her
eyes are positioned more like I do the Gumdrops in my larger dolls - with the upper edge of the pupil
touching the upper eyelid - rather than centered (as she was).

Having just finished a big commission for the DT Elf, I am getting ready to work on the gowns and
dresses that I cut out for Gwen's size again! I've got several patterns waiting to be tested.
And I really wish that the 'free shipping' option would come again - I would love to get a Nina now!

 

I love your shawl, @Robyn_in_WA! I've been debating whether to crochet shawls or to use ready-made lacy-looking fabric instead. (Much easier and quicker, especially as I seem to take apart my crochet projects before they're finished.)

Gwen looks so much better with her eyes positioned this way. I tried positioning my Gene's eyes the same way but for some reason they don't want to stay put. They tend to roll down again.

Looking forward to seeing the first Laetitia. Congratulations, @VitaPlastica!

 

Thanks @vermont chick !!! I haven't seen any lacy fabric to try - or I might have done that first!
And Thanks about the notice about the eyes rolling back down! I may just have to take them out
and use my normal - more firm - eye putty then! I am much happier with her look like this and if
I can get the eyes to stay here, I may forgo getting the 8mm that we chatted about. Altho that is
still a better look for her.....

 

@Robyn_in_WA I have a piece of stretch lace that I ordered online some years ago. I wanted it for doll stockings but when it arrived I didn't like the texture. It looks like it might work well for a shawl. I'll whip one up to go with Mika's Regency dress and post it here.

 

Raccoon posted another versions of face up for Laetitia and Sia.

 

Hmm, I could be tempted by Sia's new makeup, but I think Laetitia needs some color on her lips--something in between almost-not-there orange and her original black plum.

 

Sia's new make up and mocha skin turned out great! But I'm not fan of Leatitia's new one...
I think the current RDoll I like the most is Nina.

 

@Robyn_in_WA very nice job on the shawl and I agree Gene needs her eyes shifted up otherwise she looks scared. Are you using 6mm or 8mm? I personally found 8mm to look best on gene.

@boudica thanks for the message about new face ups .

@vermont chick i agree Sia looks great with her new face up and that new wig looks great too.. Laetita definitely needs some color on her lips.

 

Congratulations @VitaPlastica ! I can't wait to see Laeticia.

Thanks @boudica . The new face ups are great. He's very talented.

Hope everyone had a good weekend!

 

I just read in the Iplehouse Waiting Room that Iplehouse is planning a new size of MSD. People are speculating that the dolls will be mature minis like Raccoon's. I think it would awful if they entered into direct competition with Raccoon like that.

 

Do they really intend to do this I wonder..? It would be awful indeed. But even though Iplehouse and Raccoon seem to be sharing a common group of fans, I don't think the fans love them both because they find the exact same things in their dolls, what do you think? I mean, there must be other differences than simply the size, that make people love Raccoon. I've been thinking about this frequently, but it's kind of hard for me to figure out since I was never into Iplehouse. Strange isn't it? Well I can't say that they're not alike at all of course, but I've seen something in Raccoon that I don't in Iplehouse, and it's not the advantage of having mini dolls with mature features. I find the style of Raccoon's maturity to be very different from Iplehouse's, too.

By the way, hasn't anyone fallen in love with Sia's first face up here? Actually it was that faceup why I desperately want her now Those matte, downward lips and cold stare... Anyone to share my misery..?

 

Awww, I hope not. RD is special. There's enough room for all the dolls.

I share your misery. I like Daisy and Gene. I'm still saving for my first BJD. At first I only looked at Iplehouse but RD has definitely impressed me. Not only is he a great sculptor but his face ups and styling is very nice.

I hope you get Sia. I'd love to see the Raccoon Dolls.

 

Well, in my opinion it seems like they had competition clause signed and it's about to expire. Did not Raccoon announced that he will release SD sculpts in a few moths? It seems to me that Iple will at the same time release new MSD scuplts. If I count properly it will be a year in August since Raccoon left Iple - so it would match. I may be wrong of course. I think it's just business no personal feelings included, both of the companies are trying to earn the money, so there is competition. I am really curious about Raccoon male, his SD line and Iple MSD line too, as there will be differencies for sure.

Regarding the similarity of style - it's inevitable if they try to achieve mature realistic look.

And here is my first attempt to do Cinderella's hairstyle wig for Sarah. It does not have crystals applied yet, I need to decide if I try to do a new one, so this just may be her casual hair style. Still can't decide if she will be redhead with freckles or blonde? If I give her freckles it would look strange with blonde hair most probably.

 

@aquabliss I was into Iplehouse for a long time before Raccoon left to form his own company. At first what I loved most about Raccoon's dolls was the size, because Iple's childlike JIDs never quite worked for me. But I also love Raccoon's sculpting style. Being on his own frees him from following the company style. It's funny, but I find that the new sculpts from Iplehouse since Raccoon left don't appeal to me at all.

@boudica You're right. If there was a no-competition clause, it would likely expire this summer. That means the gloves are off and everyone is aiming for the same pool of buyers.

On the other hand, Iple's new MSD size is a matter of speculation at this time. It could be realistic mini mature, or it could be a new size altogether. People have commented before that there seems to be a size missing between Iple's JID and nYID. In other words, if JID is a pre-teen, then the teen size is missing. Maybe something in the 50-55cm range?

I love your Cinderella wig! It was blonde in the movie, so I would probably stick with blonde. You could still do freckles, just make them lighter than you would with a redhead.

 

Lucy's photo on the site is so different! i would change her face up but i like her sculpt

 

@boudica oh the wig you made is lovely . Beautiful job.
A no competition clause makes a lot of sense.

@vermont chick i bet your speculation on a size between JID and nYID is where they might go .

@Phoenixflower383 i share your misery as well. Sia's new face up suits her sculpt perfectly . Laetita is on my wish list if she comes for a second release in the future.

 

Hi @PennyDes! Hope you are feeling well. I'd love to have a whole squad of Raccoon Dolls. They are unique and his face ups are creative. I can't wait to see what he releases next.

@boudica that wig is gorgeous!


Hi everyone I don't have a bjd yet. I first was introduced to BJDs by a friend who has an iplehouse bjd. I was thinking I would get an Iplehouse bjd first but I was drawn to the raccoon doll. I love the size and looks of the doll. Do you think raccoon doll would be a good first doll or should I go with my first choice which was Iplehouse? Thank you for your time. These dolls are so wonderful. I could keep talking about them and looking at the pictures over and over again.

 

Raccoon dolls are lovely and would make a great first doll. There are dozens of good BJD companies and you shouldn't go with Iplehouse just because that was the first BJD you saw. Take your time and buy the doll that calls to you.

 

Yes, I think there's no good or bad first Bjd. The more important is to choose one that you really like... do you like more mature or childish look for example.. . Both Raccoon and Iplehouse are good companies.
Try to look for galleries to see pics from the owners. The customisation can really change the way you see a doll.

 

Thanks for your responses and advice @nancy_schroeder_ca and @Poulette.

I'm pretty indecisive but that's given me a chance to save up to get my first BJD. My goal is to get one that is versatile looking so that I can make clothes and get different wigs for it.

I like the size and price and looks of RD. I like the looks of Iple. There are so other companies that I like but I'm not sure if I like them or love them. Does that make sense?

Thanks again for your time everyone and I hope I'm not taking up too much time in the RD thread. I know a RD is in my future at some point. They are just too cool!

 

Thank you , you are right about the freckles, I checked the internet for photos of girls with blond hair and quite a lot of them has freckles.

Thank you .

Thank you .

@Phoenixflower383 I totally agree with @nancy_schroeder_ca and @Poulette about deciding which BJD to buy, it's good to have a look around and take your time with the final decision - photos from other owners are great reference material - they can show you the versatility of sculpt.

I bought my first BJD after I was stalking her for almost two years (it was Iple's EID Carina I have in my avatar). Funny thing is that my sister was the person who persuaded me to take the "last big step" and push the buy button , she also persuaded my parents to contribute partially in her cost as my birthday gift. The most amusing part was that we were discussing which sculpt is the best one - me, my sister, dad and mum around one monitor, so she is member of the family since then as the vote was unanimous .
I once bought SD guy in a rush as he was limited - I sold him after two years of trying to bond with him without success.

And one more thing to consider is what size of doll you want - for example I own SD/EID girl and she is quite heavy, big but beautiful, she can stand like a rock but has issues with sitting without support (she is old EID body type). The amount of material for home made dress is 1/3 of what you would need for real person (so quite a lot). The MSD size dolls like those from Raccoon are compared to SD girls really small and easy to handle. My Raccoon girls sit without problem, hold hand or leg in the air, stand with flat feet without problem. But I have only Iple and Raccoon dolls at home, so I cannot compare their ability to pose with other companies. Well, I hope I did not make you sleepy with my long comment .

 

What sculpt is this beauty? It's hard to tell from your description.

 

Thank you for your reply! I definitely like to plan out my big purchases, so I've been looking at several Iple sculpts and the RD sculpts for about six months. I don't want to end up with a bjd that I got impulsively or because I thought it was a good deal. I want one that is versatile so that I can make different styles of clothing and maybe get different wigs that I can style. How long have you been sewing and making wigs?
I love how everyone in the RD group share the clothes that they made. I can hardly wait to get one and share it with you all. Until then I hope you don't mind all my questions and enthusiasm.

I'm not 100% positive but I think it is Nina.

 

@Phoenixflower383 Hi thanks for asking...I hope you are well too . I totally agree Raccoondoll face ups are amazing. I hope his next release will be some guy dolls. Fingers crossed.
@boudica @Poulette @nancy_schroeder_ca make excellent points about first BJD. Definitely go with the doll that speaks to you and customer photos are a huge help. I bought my first BJD (Iplehouse Eva) without looking at customer photos and I ended up selling Eva a month after purchase. I subsequently scoured Flickr looking at all kinds of BJD and landed on Iplehouse Carina. I have had her almost a year now and consider her my first and favorite BJD . I jumped the gun on Raccoondolls as they were limited and out of the three I bought I only ended up keeping my Gene. So your planning and patience is definitely a plus and will serve you well. Please feel free to ask any questions you may have . Best of luck on your first BJD and i hope you will share what you decide .

@boudica aww that is such a nice story you shared. Your family sounds so supportive.... what a great way to decide which doll to get .
I ask my mums opinion and we scrutinized the faces and features to pick the best one before I buy. It really helps and adds another layer of fun.

Oh I think freckles would look adorable ( my Carina has light brown freckles and dark brown hair and I love it . ) I agree with @aquabliss about the freckles being fine for a blond. My brother had blond hair and freckles as a kid...it was super cute . I can't wait to see how it all turns out .

 

Carina is a gorgeous sculpt. Good choice.
Which RD did you sell?
I enjoy reading about how you got started with BJDs.
If and when I get a RD I will make a box opening for all of you but only if I get a sculpt that hasn't been posted yet like Sia, Daisy or Laeticia. I would be so happy to share my happy news! Thank you for the encouragement.

 

@Phoenixflower383 is right, it's Nina in sweet mocha skin.

Well, regarding sewing and making wigs - the blonde wig I posted here is my second attempt . I have been sewing since I was a little girl - at first for my dolls (Barbies), then when I was teenager I sewed for myself and my family - shorts, shirts, pyjamas etc. I am self-taught seamstress. Unfortunatelly I do not have much time for it now, so my big EID Iple girl got only few dresses so far, I have got her 4 years ago, so it's less then 1 dress per year because of my time consuming job. Also I am perfectionist so it takes me quite a long time to sew something to be happy with result .
You are welcome to ask and share your thoughts with us, that's the main purpose of this forum - to share the joy and plans (not only) about our dolls.

It's always nice when you can discuss the different angles of dolls face with friends or family. My closest family is really supportive - they even help me with photo stories. My mum encouraged me to buy Nina when I wanted to behave like responsible adult and save the money instead (not mentioning my sister who would want me to buy half of the dolls from Iple and Raccoon if it was possible). My aunt on the other hand thinks that I am crazy to spend money on dolls and she does not know the real price or how many of them I currently own.
I will definitely try to do Sarah's face up with freckles.

 

TYSM!!

 

I feel like a lot of the porcelain doll makers do a similar size and smaller heads, so there's definitely a market for them!

I'm still waiting for Gene to be back! It's hard to be patient...

 

@morganatron You could be right that more dolls from other companies in this size might make Raccoon Doll more popular. I had a pair of Chic-lines that I sold because they didn't work with the rest of my collection. (Personally, I think that line went dormant because FairyLand tends to give the biggest push to dolls that are already popular. They've ignored their largest sizes for the same reason.) Currently there are some Russian artisans making realistic resin dolls, but they're smaller than Raccoon girls and priced at more than I paid for my first car. So it might help if Iplehouse goes in the same direction. There is still no word about their upcoming new size. I guess we just sit back and wait.

Meanwhile, I want some Raccoon guys!

Congrats on ordering Laetitia! Which version did you order?

 

I am all for more mature 1/4 sized dolls, and it'll be interesting to see how Iple's version fits with Raccoon Doll's - I think they should look pretty good together provided the proportions are similar. I also think that if a big name BJD company such as Iplehouse does branch out into mature minis and makes them really popular it could actually benefit Raccoon and other makers who already produce them. Besides I imagine a lot of people wouldn't say 'it's either X or Y' when looking at doll companies - we'd just go with both!

@vermont chick I actually had a dream last night that the Raccoon male dolls release date had been announced! lol I was fairly disappointed when I woke up and checked the website

@morganatron Congrats on ordering Laetitia! I'm sure she'll be stunning!

 

I'm actually hoping a company like Iplehouse makes a similar sized, realistic, mature mini, as that would most likely mean more wardrobe possibilities. The main reason I haven't expanded my RaccoonDoll collection from my one Nina is because I can't find much at all to fit her. Since I don't make my own doll fashions anymore, this is a major issue for me.

In addition, since my preferred focus is stories, having only a handful of female characters to choose from is way too limiting for me. I realize RaccoonDoll plans to release men - someday - but I'm thinking I will have the exact same lack-of-wardrobe issue with the men as I do with the girls already released.

Iplehouse has traditionally offered plenty of clothing options for their various doll lines - in various styles and price ranges - and if they did that with a new line that could share clothing with the RaccoonDoll girls, that would be a big plus for me.

 

@Zaliayn Just how prophetic are your dreams, in general? Should we be camping out on Raccoon's doorstep in anticipation?

@Jill in WV I'm all for Iplehouse entering this size market if it means more clothes! I haven't made anything new for my girls in ages.