Dolpa 2 in New York City Discussion

Schulze and Maria are MSD kits. Rock and Margaret are also MSd kits. You get unpainted head and have to string body together. They are Dolpa exclusives. You can buy MSd kits at SATO painting classes. The SD painting heads are School A, B and C.

 

I thought I had read that School C was the same as the Rock head, maybe as usual I'm confused. I'm hoping that I can get a body with my School head. Even if I have to buy it as a kit and make you and Rose help me put it together, heh heh.

 

Maria and Schulze are the ones that inspired School A (I believe they came first, since they're oldskin, and I haven't heard of any oldskin Sch A's, but I could have this backwards), and Rock and Margaret were based on School C.

 

The Rock/Maragret head mold has a look somewhat like a small version of School Head C.

But not really that close in my opinion.

I don't know if the SD bodies they sell for School head A, B or C comes with a put together body or not.
But either way I can help you string whatever you end up with.

 

Err, I'm not sure where you're getting your information? School A has been around since 2002. It was the first school head. It is a variant on the old F-28.

Maria and Schulze were not released until 2005.

And Rock and Margaret were released at the same time as School C but I'm not sure anyone ever said they were based on them...

 

In addition, to clarify: Maria/Schulze and Rock/Margaret are MSD sized. They are sold as kits and come with both the head and body, but you have to put them together from scratch.

School A, School B and School C are SD sized. They come as heads only.

Occasionally Volks also sells bodies separately to those who buy the A, B and C heads. They do this at some Dolpas and are starting this at Sato soon, so thay may offer it for the USA Dolpas, but that can't be known for sure until they announce more information. These bodies come already fully strung. For the record, they generally only sell SD13 boy bodies and SD10 girls, so if you want SD10 boy or SD13 girl you'll probably have to get it elsewhere.

 

When was the Kyoto 3 Dolpa? How can they still be making oldskin in 2005?

 

It was in March, 2005. Nonetheless their info pages say they were made with the old resin, at that time. I don't know why Volks did that, but they did.

 

Another example of dolls being released in oldskin even though pureskin had been available already are MSDs Nagisa and first version Midori. Pureskin had been available since 2003, but they were released in October 2004 in oldskin, much to some people's surprise and disappointment. I myself didn't end up trying for Midori since she was in oldskin on the older type MSD body.

We've never been given explanations as to why some dolls were released in oldskin when pureskin was available, but my guess had always been that maybe Volks had a large backstock of older MSD parts or older type resin that they wanted to use up.

To further make Cassiel's point, the original School A is so old that back then it was called simply the "School" head, since there were no other painting class heads. Besides the fact that the original was only released in oldskin resin, the School head differs from the current School A in sculpt as well; it was much less symmetrical and could be recognized by the extremely down turned corner of its mouth.

 

Yay the date is set I can make sure my cousin's shower isn't set on the same day

 

I hope I can make it to this.
I'm a new collector and this will be my first time.

If I can't get a pass I hope I can be someones guest.

 

Hurrah for the set dates! *runs off to review flights*

EDIT: Flights seem to have gotten more expensive in the last two to three weeks, looks as though I'll be taking the train o_o

 

Awww Thank you s2kitty, you were an absolute sweetheart yourself, and I really hope you can make it again this year... I'm sure anyone would love to be your guest.....



A Date has finally Been Confirmed!!!!!!
This is Amazing News Can't Wait!!!!!!
~Anthony

 

Now that the date has been set I'll definitely, definitely have to mark my calendar. Oooh I really hope I can go!!

 

That's exciting! It's alot less expensive for me to go to NYC and try to order my FCS there, but I'm worried that I will go all the way there and be unable to order

It's either NYC dolpa or A/X in LA (where I will then order FCS one of those days). I really want to order him myself, but LA is just so far away..

But I'll be so dissapointed if I don't get to order an FCS if I take the chance and try to get one in NYC.

 

Boy oh boy! I think I'm finally gonna try to go to this one. I've never been to a Volks event yet, but since I'm putting their kids through college, I guess I should start attending. I haven't bought an Olivia or even touched FDQ, but I've got a little Volks ID card, so I'm gonna hold them to it.

The FIT location is SO much more fun than my sister's apartment in the Upper West Side. So screw family! I'll spend money on a hotel instead! And I'd best get to the airfare; it gets brutal if you wait too long.

I sure hope they plan for everybody in the entiiire Dolpa wanting to attend the makeup-classes, instead of only allowing 15 slots or something... sure sounds like almost all of us are clamoring for it! I know I sure am. School C, yeah, be nice to have as a practice thing, sure enough. ^^

And finally, a professional stringing doctor appointment! Maybe someone can finally make Rowan sit up on his own. W00t! Can't wait to meet everyone there in person.

 

There's a customer survey up on the Dolpa NYC page. It asks if you are interested in going and what state you live in...

 

That was a quick survey...

 

Thanks for the heads up, maybe Volks is trying to get an idea of the number of people that are planning on attending.

 

dechanique, I know how you feel.
Looking at airline/hotel packages it might be cheaper to do it in LA for me, but it's just so far away. I'd really rather do it in NYC but if I go and don't get the chance to I know I'm going to be upset.

 

I'm planning on going, it would be my first big event! (I hope I can get an invite...^^; )

I was wondering, though, how many dolls do people usually bring? Would it be inconvenient to bring more than one SD sized doll? I'll have 3 SD13 boys by the time of the event (and my Yo, but he's so portable anyways so he's definitely going) and I'll feel bad if I leave any of them at home. Any advice?

 

I was thinking about this too... I'm worried that if I bring to many it'll be uncomfortable trying to lug them around, and I would be worried that I wouldn't be able to keep an eye on them as easily. Maybe 1-2 SDs and an MSD or Yo-SD would be okay.

 

Well, they can't ALL go...! And they know that, deep in their empty little hearts. So if they don't get picked to go, then they'll just have to live with it. Pick the ones you like to show off most; flip a coin; draw straws; etc.

I have 10 tallboys (60+cm each), so they have to take turns on outings. It depends on what's your usual threshold for carrying dolls around... How strong do you feel, and how many can you track at once? I'm used to lugging 3 or 4 tallboys on the bus for local meetups, but for plane travel & a busy dolpa, I'm limiting myself to 2. Maybe even only 1, so I can carry him without a bag at the dolpa. (Plus the little SDC... he needs that stringing-doctor!)

I just noticed something else you all mentioned in passing: Invitations? I thought that we could attend if we met any one of those criteria (i.e. having a Volks card). Does it turn out that we have to be invited? I've had my Volks card for awhile now, but they have never sent me any invites to events before.

 

Oh I don't think they're limiting attendance by what state you live in. I think they are just seeing how many people wish to come, and where they live.

Maybe, if a lot of people from the east coast attend, Volks will make a Tenshi-no-Sumika there!

 

For the last NYC Dolpa you had to fit the criteria and fillout a form of sorts online to get an invitation. Hope this helps a little.

 

I'm definitely going to try to go to this one! I'm super excited, if I do end up able to go, it'll be my first ever big event. I've only got one Volks boy, so it won't be hard figuring out who to take xD

I have a question though, for any native New Yorkers or Dolpha veterans - Where are the best places to stay in the area? I've been to NYC once, and I never stayed in the actual city, so I don't know anything about hotels or any of that, so any help with be much appriciated!

 

As for which dolls to bring, you might also consider if any of them need to see the doll doctor. Which Kohana did last year but I was too busy yakking. Quelle suprise!
Obscurity, you should wait till closer because people will post threads about hotels and so on, so you can stay with all the dolly folk. Last year we had a lot of fun hanging around the hotel lobby with a bunch of dolls LOL.

 

Last year a bunch of people stayed at the Gershwin which is quite close. Good reports all round I believe.

 

I took the survey. I don't have much of a decision as I would have no doll to bring

 

Awesome! Thank you - That looks like a really cool place~

 

I was thinking/hoping the same thing ^___^

Question: What exactly does the doll doctor do? -curiosity-

 

The doll doctor does hot-glue sueding, re-stringing, fixes magnets... all kinds of things. He *doesn't* paint or fix paint, but if your resin child has a mechanical problem, he may be able to help! I hope Matsuo-san comes again--he's super-nice, too & very patient with my poor Japanese!

 

Er... Not to imply that you need to speak Japanese to talk to him! They'll have translators there!

 

I guess I'm leaning more and more towards taking all 3 of my Volks boys (of course I'm not bringing all of my dolls, that would be silly and none of the others would even be allowed at the event) and, depending on the day's events, take two of them on one day and one on the other. Plus the Yo, of course. He can't be left out.

About hotels, I've already gone and reserved a room at the Gershwin for Friday through Monday by myself. ^^; I'm hoping to find someone to share a room with for one or two nights at least, but only one person as I'm not too comfortable staying with a whole lot of people - which leads me to another question:
Are there going to be any other people traveling alone? Or is everyone going in groups and with their friends? I'm kinda nervous about not having anyone to go there with, and I've never been to NYC before. Is this something that usually gets sorted out closer to time?

 

I live near there (and work right around the corner) and last year I came and collected everyone at the Gershiw and walked them all over.

I should get a restaurant guide worked up before too long.

 

Donna is the official NYC doll meet tour guide

 

^_^ I'm so excited! I just made my mother and I some placeholder reservations at the Gershwin - the hotel looks so cool!

This might be a stupid question, for anyone who went last year - Is there a cover charge of any kind to get into the actual Dolpha? I know you have to register/get invited, but aside from that is there a fee?

 

Yes there was, there was a $20 fee I believe.

 

The charge was $10 per person and a buffet lunch was included. You also got a copy of the FDQ special edition magazine. Alex

 

And everyone who didn't win something in the bingo was given a nice gift of jewelry and incense, too!

 

They really do go all out for everyone. I just recommend getting there (and into line) early. I was the last person in line almost and it was hard finding a place to sit and was like the last person able to visit the dolly doctor. I plan on getting there much earlier this year.

*EDIT* Does anyone have an idea of how much the FCS for MSD & SD will cost? Or an estimate of makeup class costs? I assume there is a class fee and a cost for the head you paint. I'm just trying to figure out how much money I'm going to need to save up for the event.

 

If I remember they had issues getting the place set up and it was an hour late to go in so if you get there to early and that happens you may be in line longer than an hour. Just an fyi for people who can't stand for very long. However the waiting was INSIDE the building not out on the street!

 

LA prices are $902 for SD13 boy, $845 for SD13 girl, SD10 boy and SD10 girl, and $484 for MSD. (That's before the CA tax.) I expect they would charge the same for it at the event? I can't compare to Japan as they've never really offered FCS at events in Japan.

Makeup classes in Japan cost 1,500yen for the class itself, and heads are 15,540yen. Convert to US$ and then add some for overhead, I guess.

 

I am really thrilled that this event will be 2 days, and would just love to go! The only problem is, I'm way out in Colorado and, like most people outside New England, I need to book a flight in addition to making reservations. I don't want to buy a plane ticket all the way out there if I don't get an invitation!

So does anyone have even a general idea of when we'll know whether or not there will be a lottery and, if so, when it will be held?

Thanks so much! I'd really love to make a weekend of it, and meet all of you!

 

This sounds really great and I want to go! I'd love to do the FCS and the PAINTING CLASS! I looked up airfares and they're really reasonable (it is JKF airport I'd need, right?); I just need to check into travel insurance in case there's a lottery and I don't get picked. I'd definitely want to stay with doll people and hang out with everyone. I haven't had a chance to go to a meet-up yet, so it would be my first time meeting other dolls and their people!

EDIT -

Oops, I forgot to mention this. It looks like the deadline for the lottery last year was only a couple of weeks before the actual Dolpa. I think you'd be better off planning your trip and getting travel insurance than waiting that close to make flight/hotel arrangements. Airfare would be crazy and the hotels might be booked!

 

Do you think it'd be a safe assumption to think $200 for the class then? I know Volks likes to do a 1:100 conversion that is teh annoying.

 

Are those FCS prices including the shipping?

Guys I'm so excited!!!! I hope I can save enough to go meet you all^^

 

Oh man I'd love to take a painting class, but I really don't know if I'll be able to afford it. X_x I'll have to be the lame person there who paid her way there and then can't buy anything - Though I know it'll be hard to see all the One Offs up close and have an FCS ordering system right there. xD I really don't think my mom will be up to just fronting me that kind of money~

Oh well, there's always bingo I guess xD

 

Don't worry, you won't be alone Obscurity! I'll most likely be the same way, after coming up from PEI, Canada, lol! The only way I'll be able to buy anything is if I get some unusally large amounts of birthday cash, hehe. Let's cross our fingers for that bingo!

 

LOL, you so aren't the only one

 

I have a Q myself, my friend got me an SD Sara, am I registered, can I come on my own terms?

 

No one knows the exact criteria yet, or the proceedure. They haven't been announced.

 

Just to be clear though... those that purchased that FDQ exclusive Volks SD16G outfit a month or two back are actually guaranteed entry to the Dollpa. That said, travel insurance is generally a good idea

 

Does anyone know how to get travel insurance on rail tickets? My parents agreed to pay for train tickets for my birthday present (if the trip takes 14 hours it's cheap!) but I don't want them paying for a trip I don't end up taking if I can't get an entry pass. I looked on the Amway sight but I didn't see anything that mentioned it.

Other questions: Does anyone know how close Penn Station is to, well, anything?

 

quite close to everything. where will you be staying?

 

Penn is about 5 or 6 blocks from the event from what I remember. It was Sweltering hot last time and it was too many blocks for me I should have taken a taxi, but this was because of the heat.

 

I wouldn't panic about not being able to get in. Just follow the threads and when it gets closer and people get invitations if you are not a Volks member you can ask to be someone's guest. I brought some one that I did not know last year, it was fun! He turned out to be a great guy, so happy we met.

 

I've bought from VolksUSA and the international site before, and have two of those little plastic cards they send out. Does this mean that I will automatically receive an invitation in the mail, or will I still have to apply to get one? How has this worked at the past US events like this?