Volks Super Dollfie - SD, SD13, SD16, SD17, SDGr, SDGou & FCS - XXI

@Moria_ash That's such sad news; I've only been to that store once or twice but I was hoping to visit it again sometime this year. The staff was so friendly there!

 

Whoa! Closing the Korean store? I thought it was doing quite well? And especially with all the other doll physical shops in the city, it seemed like hub of activity. That's really sad news! I hope the staff will be able to find other work quickly.

 

It does seem like Volks is putting a lot more effort for the US store. Let's hope they use the resources to expand outside of Japan

 

Thank you, everyone, for the compliments. Yes, it is sad to hear of another Volks store closing. I miss seeing the photos of the dolly displays they used to do in the US store.

 

Maybe they're just moving to a mostly online presence. It's expensive to maintain a physical store, and perhaps they're happy with how VolksUSA has been going since closing that store?

 

I was under the impression (perhaps incorrectly) that the Korean store was doing stronger than the USA store. While VolksUSA has had dolpas, here and there over the years, I thought the Korean store had smaller and more steady stream of things going on like the Japanese Summikas. From what I recall, they used to get the limiteds? I'm sad I'll never get the chance to go visit before they close. I guess we can only speculate the reasons for closing. Really unfortunate for the staff.

 

Sad to hear about the Korean store. Hope the workers land on their feet.

In less sad news, I got my F-59's proper wig yesterday. She looks so much better and happier now. It's a Crobidoll wig in Mellow Cream in the 8" size. Eyes are Enchanted Doll Milky #74.

 

She's stunning! The wig matches her eyebrow-color so well, and contrasts beautifully with her eyes. The black blouse looks very good on her too: it brings out the vividness of her eyes and hair.

 

They might have closed it because of the looming threat of war from N. Korea, I would hope that would not be the case but whose to say. Another store on the east coast like NYC would be nice!

 

I wonder if they're going to offer an online FCS to Korea now that the physical store is closed. They did replace the in store FCS with the online one for the US after all. Of course, this is just wishful thinking but moving to a more online presence internationally could mean an online FCS for the rest of the world too. I think Volks is a little too overly cautious to actually do it but I can still dream!

 

Another Volks store on the U.S. east coast? Whoa, folks, give us people in Europe a chance! *lol*

 

Just got the shipping notice for my June FCS order. So excited.

 

I also got my June FCS shipping notice! I didn't think he'd get shipped this early in August as I got full sanding. His wig arrives tomorrow so it's perfect timing.

 

Japan, China & SK have been having little spasms over those islands - which has caused China to stop importing dramas (meaning KDrama companies are making a bigger push in the US) & I expect this from Japan is similar - but if it produces more Volks stores in the US I'll be happy! Like East Coast? Atlanta would be lovely....

 

I got Seema's shipping notice as well. Tracking says she should be here Monday.

 

I think the US is very lucky to have one store, never mind a second. If the US store was doing so well, VolksUSA would not have closed the old public store down and essentially become a US based online store. I suspect, the only reason that there is a VolksUSA in any form, is so that it is a place from where Volks can use the warehouse as a storage base to travel to different conventions in the US and promote other areas of their company like model hobby item, figures, planes, kits, etc ... not necessarily their resin products. They also seem to be doing a real DD push which I suspect is to bridge the gap for anime fans to transition from anime figures to DD. Plus they don't have the recast problem with the DD like they do with the resin.

As to the Korean store, time will tell but maybe the Korean store will become something like VolksUSA and just be an online store? Maybe it just wasn't cost effective to keep a brick and mortar store open? It could be that the store saw a decline in revenue because there are so many more companies and individual artists putting out dolls. Counterfeit dolls can't help the situation either. And ordering online has also really improved. I thought I had read that some other Korean companies had also shut down their store fronts?

I know a store in Europe would be awesome for those over there and I hope someday it happens. I think it becomes a tough question of, if they open a store, which country to put it in that makes the most economical sense with the best foot traffic? It might be just too expensive in the end because they might have to really increase the prices of their products in order to bring them in and keep a store going. And then people living in Europe may just decide to order online and take the hit in custom fees and shipping?

My guess is all of this .. VolksUSA, Volks Korea and any sort of future for a European location is all about economics, after all, they are a business.

 

@Melaidhrin @KeiCai_Ayan

Congratulations on your shipping notices from the June FCS! Do you mind me asking what you both ordered?

 

Thank you! I ordered an SDGr f-57 in sunlight with the beefy forearms, natural faceup, and full sanding.

 

@KeiCai_Ayan That sounds utterly divine! I cannot wait to see him when he arrives! I can't believe he is coming home so quickly with all of those options selected, how extraordinary!

That gives me hope that my girls with full sanding and faceups selected will come home quickly, too. I expected all of those options would add one or two months to the arrival date.

 

@Rikka_Mika I was very surprised the sanding and faceup didn't seem to add extra time, I fully expected it to! Hopefully all your girls can come home swiftly too. This is one of the shortest waits I've ever had for a doll so I'm very pleased.

 

I ordered a F16 boy in normal skin, without a faceup. I was planning on giving his faceup the ol' college try, but then it got hot...and there are wasps..so he'll be headed off to the faceup artist pretty much as soon as I open him.

 

Well, as for where to put up a physical store over here in Europe, my suggestions would be either London or Paris - however, London might not be located within the EU for much longer (what with Brexit and so on) so if they want to specifically target the EU, Paris sure would be a better option - and Paris is also that "fancy" high fashion city with that artistic flair.

To be honest, though, as far as I'm concerned, a physical store wouldn't be necessary. I mean, I'd LOVE to go to a physical Volks store here in Europe, just grab some stuff, pay and then have it in my hands right away, without weeks or months of waiting. However, I'd be totally content with a European website, like Volks USA, where I could buy Volks stuff without exorbitant shipping and customs fees (since there's no customs fees when you're buying within the EU), where I could get online FCS every now and then (limited as it may be) and maybe with a European Dolpa once in a while. Fact is, the one thing stopping me from buying from Volks more often is that, unless I order stuff for at least 100 USD, it's just not worth it because when you add shipping and customs you'll end up paying just as much for shipping and customs as the actual item you want.

 

Seconding - I too would be content with a website and FCS. Even some event once in a while, where you could buy things directly would be nice. You guys have no idea how much you have
I think Paris would work, but Berlin could be an option as well.

 

London, Paris and Berlin are all lovely cities but from my understanding, expensive. However, that's a question for Volks and maybe for those living in Europe, you should organize a group email to Volks with a polite request?

I appreciate that we have a VolksUSA but I still find I order 9/10 from the International site. In Canada, we also have to pay custom fees regardless of where it comes from.

I would really like to see an International FCS, so that everyone could do online FCS and no one gets left out. There are Volks fans all over the world that would love to have FCS options and will never get the chance unless they buy dolls secondary.

 

This is probably off topic, but for Europeans, do any of these cities have a large Japanese population/community? I think one of the reasons Volks opened a US store is that the city of Torrance (and California) has a large Japanese population that can provide support and familiarity to Japanese Volks employees. In addition to Honda and Toyota, numerous Japanese companies have branches located in Los Angeles. Also, the west coast of the USA is closest to Japan (barring Hawaii).

 

*Snoopy-dances*

Seema arrived this afternoon... and looks just fine with at least one of her counterparts. Not that Justinian seems thrilled to be the first test subject. (He *is* the grouchy recluse of the group, so no shock there. Necromancer, Winter's huntsman and all that. And I posed him with Summer's priestess. Poor guy. )


(Quickie snapshot in poor light with a pair who drive my light meter straight to crazy-town, so excuse the less-than-stellar image quality. Tomorrow I want to try getting all four of the Huntsmen together for a few good group shots.)

 

@Brightfires Seema is GORGEOUS!! Please post more of her. I crave more Amethyst photos.

I'm anxiously waiting out the last hour of work until I can go home and see if my FCS arrived. USPS tracking has been down all day so I haven't been able to stalk the tracking #.

 

i think this would be Dusseldorf in Germany, if i am correct. W was told they had the largest Japanese community in Europe, but this was years ago for the first (or one of the first) German meetings, i was so excited a meeting was close by i also went there even though i am Dutch. )so it was 10+ years ago) Although Paris also has a large amount of truly Japanese shops, so i am not quite sure.

 

Which would be pretty ironic since, by this point, I got pretty much all the Volks dolls I can accommodate in my tiny apartment and that I ever wanted (safe the odd limited here and there, or one-off) ... All except two of them second hand, most of them on Mandarake and the rest here on DoA ... For someone who started in this hobby thinking Volks was way out of my price-range I sure got a lot of them (something like a third to half of my dolls are Volks) ... XD

 

Yeah... I think this gang all look pretty good together.
Especially since I put Justinian back in his darker wig to spare my light meter's sanity.

The Huntsmen... Protecting New Amsterdam from assorted eldritch horrors since 1788.
(Well, the Order had been in business since 1788... This particular batch of initiates were all relative newbies at the point their story started in a gaslight fantasy version of 1900.)

(That would be Justinian the Claude, Seema the Amethyst, Kallenan the Hijikata and Ceredyn the Alain... the Necromancer, the Priestess, the Sorcerer and the Soldier each representing one of the city's four major mystical and/or political organizations.)

And... I think that's the most I've said about any of my crews' characters in years. o_0

 

Yay to all the new arrivals!

My F16 boy arrived today at almost 8 p.m., heh. My dad for some reason was taken aback that he was bald...I suppose it's possible he's never seen any of my dolls without their wigs.

I did order a wig and some clothes but since I thought I had until "late August" I choose the slowest/cheapest shipping option from Taobao. Which only shipped yesterday. Based on my tester eyes, I might try 14mm or 16mm with a smaller iris for him. This is my 13th doll and I don't think I've ever been so unprepared for a new arrival, lol.

 

Aww hell. Volks just posted the one offs for the Tea. I wasn't regretting not going until the Williams; he's exactly one of the characters I'm planning. Really should have tried for a Williams back in May (I'm not as keen on the romantic version) but I just didn't have the funds.

Funnily enough, my FCS boy arrived yesterday. But I can't open him until Sunday, since of course he would show up when I'm out of town.

 

I rescued my f-57 from the post office on Tuesday and I've been staring at him ever since. He way exceeds my expectations and I'm so very pleased. I got the sanding for him too and it was SO WORTH IT. Barely any discoloration and he's so smooth. 10/10 definitely recommend.

I've mostly just got phone photos from his box opening atm but I've been excited to share him.

 

I've been waiting for good photo light, but it's been rainy, windy and cold as the Witches' proverbials recently, so I took an inside shot. This is my Jo March ver. Lorina, that @Isenn helped me adopt! I'm so happy to have a Lorina back home again, and this one won't ever be leaving (lesson learned!). Her name is Lily, and I haven't figured out her style yet so she's still in her fullset gear for the mean-time. Her outfit is absolutely stunning, I've never seen so much detail in a fullset before!

 

I love her! She looks fantastic. That fur shawl is killer.

 

So many FCS orders showing up!

@KeiCai_Ayan The F-57 mold has got the most beautiful eyes and especially noticeable on yours with that lovely blue eye color of his. Sunlight skin, I presume? It's good to see that there's not much discoloration when Volks sands their tan skins. I'd probably jump for that option too and not just because I hate sanding.

@Chobittum Always good to see more Lorinas! Especially the pouty Jo. Your Jo looks great in her fullset and the added fur is a nice touch!

 

I recently got my Dreamy Williams, Grimoire, back from getting his amazing face-up. Just in time for Dolpa!! There's more on my flickr because he's just too gorgeous and I'm in love and couldn't stop with the pics xD

 

Love your Grimoire! That close-up on your flickr .... argh, my heart, that LOOK!

 

Hello, guys, I apologise to barge in like this but I was wondering if some of you could let me know the ankle measurement of a SD13 girl body! I really can't find this info anywhere! Thank you!

 

@Khell Thank you! Yes I know he's killing me!

 

Just stopping by to share a quick photo of my boys. I can't seem to decide on a name for blondie.



I kind of like the height difference here... Too bad that'll disappear the second I put shoes on him.

 

OH WOW Ravenwolf. He is soo beautiful! I was torn on the dreamy eye Williams at first, but the more I see him the more I love him. His mold reminds me of an Amano character, and the way you styled him brings tons mystery and elegance to the sculpt.

 

Uh... Whoops?



(That wig needs to die in hellfire, but it was the only spare brown wig I had and the one he came to me with was just not working.)

Next project: Chipping out ancient hot glue because side glances are not my thing. XD;

 

I'm sorry for the blurry pic. I don't have a good camera but here is my girl in her new dress from Lovesprung. She looks like a princess

 

I just brought home my Williams Romantic Glance Version from the LA Dolpa and he's huge! I don't have any guy dolls (just too many girls) and I had to sit him down in a chair so he wouldn't tower over all the girls, haha. Now I'm thinking I need 2 or 3 more guys around to really round out my collection...but my wallet is screaming no (for now.) I'm so happy I snagged the Volks x Elements, H outfit for him too! I loved it when it came out but I didn't have anyone who could wear it.

Please enjoy a quick photo of him with Shige-chan.

 

Ahhh @baby~mermaid your Williams is gorgeous! That suit is really nice on him; I grabbed the other elements H suit and regret not putting that one in my cart now too haha.

I've been enjoying seeing everyone's different faceups and how different they're looking. Mine has a really intense one (with some weird under nose blushing I'll have to figure out what to do with) but he's got a smirk that's perfect for his character. I'm hoping to take photos of my reunited twins soon!

Edit: Upon review in the lighting of my apartment (and accidentally scratching a little bit of it near his neck) my Williams also has a good deal of grey/blue contour blushing. Anyone else's Will get the full-consumption treatment? XD

 

Mine has a bit of a five o clock shadow as well XD, although he's already being prepped for a new faceup.

Link: https://flic.kr/p/Y9X9Th

 

Thank you! The other elements H suit was super cool too! I bet your Williams would look great in it.
I definitely notice some blue blushing on my Williams' face but I really like it. It makes him look almost ghostly or something.

 

Hey guys. Quick question.... what do you use to remove volks' makeup on PS white skin?
I am trying to remove default makeup on my Williams but after soaking him in W&N brush cleaner overnight, there are still pink-ish stains from his default makeup (around the eyes and on lips). I've try rubbing it with nail polish remover and it didn't work...

 

I've come to rely on Mr. Color Thinner, myself. They sell it on the Volks website (although it's currently out of stock, boo) and a lot of hobby shops carry it, particularly the ones that sell model kits or model trains. There's also a slightly thicker stuff called Strip Magic that I've had some luck with. (That's just the first usable link I could come up with. I also bought mine at a hobby shop.)

That being said, some faceups just take hecka time and effort to remove! The last faceup I had to remove required several days of alternately soaking and scrubbing and careful crevice picking and more soaking and more scrubbing and aaagh.

 

@lucyhayashi I usually jump straight for a soft toothbrush and rubbing alcohol and toothpicks for crevices although, as Gallye said, it takes a long time. I'm not sure about those pink stains though. I don't think I had trouble removing the default faceup for my PS white SD. At least not any more than usual. Though he was an FCS and not limited so maybe they're sealed differently?

 

That's where I find it odd tho. I never have problem removing default faceup from bjd companies including Volks. I even have remove default faceup from my 10 year old 4sister with no problem. It seems to me that Volks paint faceup directly onto the resin and seal it with sealent this time.. I always thought they put a thin layer of sealent first and paint on the sealent...
Anyway. Thanks for the tip and suggestion. I will try alcohol and scrubbing this time.

Edit...
Alcohol works! Alcohol works!! Alcohol works!!!
After scrubbing with 91% alcohol, the stains are 90% gone! Keep scrubbing!

 

What do you think of Cindy's face sculpt? I think she looks sophisticated. Let me know your thoughts on her

http://volksusa.com/event/2017dolpala/assets/img/thl_one06m.jpg

http://superdollfie.tea-nifty.com/photos/uncategorized/2009/12/24/vmb09403.jpg

http://img-cdn.jg.jugem.jp/928/382576/20110504_878906.jpg

http://pds.exblog.jp/pds/1/201105/07/07/f0199207_2139376.jpg https://scontent-sea1-1.cdninstagra...g?ig_cache_key=MTA3MjA4ODI2MTQ0MjE4Njg3NA==.2

 

I love Cindy. she has a perfect seducing cat face. she's one of my favorite folks mold.

 

Thanks for sharing your thoughts

 

Wow, your girl looks amazing! So happy to see another pretty DWC03 girl!

Here's a shot of Eve, my DWC03 girl in the royal blue version of Winnie99's Dusty Lilac dress.
I'm having lots of fun with textures on photographs!

 

Congrats to all the super gorgeous dolls coming home from dolpa & otherwise. It's been so much fun to look through and see such beautiful new additions.

@yoake Your DWC girl is amazing. Her sculpt is so fresh and beautiful, I hope we get to seen more of her in the future!

@baby~mermaid I loooove him! He is huge but also delicate at the same time. I hope we get to see a few pics of him with your girls.

@Winnie99 I think she looks so lovely and styled. She really is a princess!

@Ian-KunX Oooo. Mysterious cape & handsome fellow! Good luck with the hot glue... that stuff is a misery to work with.

I was also surfing the ebay in a spare moment and happened across a strange auction I had a question about? Someone is trying to sell what they call specifically a "Volks Super Dollfie" for 3k and, I could be wrong, I don't think this is any SD I've ever seen. I do not know nearly as much as other people on here so just curious to see what you guys think- what kind of doll is this? Thanks in advance!