50–65cm Dolls Zeev the wolf (SD sized head) Casting!

Hiya folks.
This guy here's what's been keeping me busy



I'm using epoxy on him. At first I wanted to name him after the wolf dad in the Wolf Children's movie, then he doesn't have a name ugh I'm aiming for as pseudo-realistic as possible ~w-






And now comes the dreadful sanding and evening out part. Thanks for stopping by!

 

It's been quite a while without me posting here oops
Thank you guys!


I got the headcap to self sustain itself even without the magnets. He's sitting on my Ringdoll Frank's neck for reference.


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The heavy sanding is done for now but I haven't done much with the ears.

they can do this tho!

 

Sailor, I had fun with that gif, i should make more when I get the chance hah!

small update


So far so good, I've cleaned the sides a lot, redid a buncha stuff
The snout (still need more evening out and sanding), evened a bump in the right spot under the eye, but mostly gave a lot, like, at least 5 gos over the whole furs in the cheeks. I'm still not happy with them. The crappy primer I use creates uneven grays that make it hard to tell if its completely even with all the gradations



Re-aligned the magnet slots, cleaned the inside of the cap (not enough but welp)

before and now
>>>>>

I settled alternative places for the s-hooks for better adjusting to different necks, it may come in handy? And it helps if you want to angle the head specifically up or downways

Neck is still an uneven mess EGH

 

Long story short, I thought I was about 90% done with the main outside of the face/head
@du-hast gave me many helpful advice and critique to even out the assymetry with his face and define the eye wells/lids better











-Filled in the flater (right) cheek, carved the area that is usually black lidded in wolves and lifted the middle of the snout for a rounder effect
-gave more shape to the nose, and will smooth out the outside and the cracks following the bridge of the snout next

If anyone has critique, feel free to speak up.
Phone pictures are phony (sorry)

 

I did think about the crevices/slits on the corners of the noses.
I'm only going to suggest them on the front a tiny bit, but not going too deep. The slit on the side itself would be too troublesome for the owners, considering deep cracks always gather a lot of paint. And, idk, if the owners have a thing for realism, they can paint the slits on each side as well with very little effort?
(Thank you both for the reference/comments! I'm really excited to keep going now that most the assymetries are out of the way)

 

After getting a can of REAL decent primer , Zeev got a first coating and then a lot more sanding
(Seriously screw acrylic gesso, the thing peels off as you sand, it's more work then help)
you can get the idea of how HUGE his head is, I'll never find a facemask that fits ahhah





For some reason I can't show well in pictures but there's a dent in each nostril to suggest the beginning of the nose slits



More fixing to go!

 

Yeah, the polishing I did on the head's inside affected the position of the eyes
plus the cleaning I did around the eyelids brought... that effect...... ?... I'll see once he dries Y_Y It is tricky to leave room for the domes AND still get a nice shape

 

Eyebrows rounder now, added some strands of fur to balance the fp! No toppling over here. Also did the neck so the bottom of his mouth wouldn't brush against the table.




I'm redefining some of the fur on the other side of his face, since it seemed way less defined than the right. And also a bitty glimpse the wip of the ears there
Goddamn it I only saw the bump on the side of the snout after pictures
Anyhow you can spy one of my dolls snooping in the corner

 

I was testing it on a modified Dollshe hound, p happy with the movement range the aditional s-hook slots bring


This one for example.

But as it was pointed to me, the sides didn't really go well with the rest of the head
Shaved down: much much neater

Hopefully I'll be able to pick up my other big SDs to make adjustments so he can sit well in most necks
Now watch me redo his neck a zillion times.

 

Thank you Molly Y___Y I'm really happy you like him
The fur is not that complex, its the refining that loses so much detail with adapting and such? In my own experience at least
I can dream with the day I will have enough time+skill+resources to make a Chrinos body maybe, haha

 

View attachment 559 View attachment 560
With the head polished all that's left is tackling the ears
Some proportion shots with a 63cm body! I need to do a proper fullbody with my Spiritdoll proud as well

 

Thanks, Pandakeks!
Gonna keep my fingers crossed to drop him off soon to have his Master made

 

Thank you guys, I've finished his ears and took a couple more pictures, I'm just lagging at editing those >_<"
I'm trying to settle for a casting company to open pre-orders on late January, but the more I look, the more in doubt I feel about whom to pick for the job




For now the ears stand kind of awkwardly on their "right" position. I must've accidentally shaved too much on the sides in my adjusting

 

;w; Thanks DrNero. I'm still tweaking them but I get sick of it super fast?
The more you stare continuously at something...

 

That's it, Zeev is on the way to Weiju
I'll have a sample in before January, hopefully.




I like how he looks in a stronger body
:> The head moves as well as in the 63cm body, I'm pleased.




He's on topic on Den of Angels \o/ so happy

 

Thanks Chobi ^^, that's a tricky thing to do, actually. It's a combination of being soft, using the primer to your favor (if you're not careful priming will also drown in the detail) and when necessary carving the detail back gently with a sharp tool. That's how I work anyhow, but I'm certain you can find more valuable advice from others.
You're working with paperclay? Zeev was done in epoxys, so it's a lot harder/sturdier in case it needs carving

 

That's great to hear Dissipation! Glad it was helpful somehow, even though I mostly list things out as I work
(Aww for dog ;w; )
Hah I can't wait either ><

 

The master right after casting
Oh boy!

 

It's been a while. For completion sake, I'll input the experience as a whole.
Casting with Weiju was a challenge. It would take a ridiculous amount of time to figure out a minimal question, with lots of back and forth and sparce communication.
It took 2 or 3 months (after the master was made) for the heads to ship. The quality is good, and they were cast in sturdy, consistent resin.


My major issues were 1, weak magnets (the ones I used were strong enough to hold through a wig, but Weiju's fall easily from the head), 2, changes not previously discussed (like their team removing the second magnet slot for the ears, adding a delay in making the Master).
Aside this, Weiju is a good company for casting. They can do finishing and minor adjustments, though this could be double edged.

This was my first.... "serious" project. I hope someone else can learn something with this wip journal. Thank you to everyone that viewed/journeyed this along with me from the sidelines.