Doll Custom WIP

[bairnsidhe]

So I’m redoing a Robecca Steam Monster High doll. Her character is pretty fun already, she was built at the end of the 19th century by Hexiciah Steam, a renowned mad scientist. She’s a feminist, a professional stuntwoman, and a champion of the Monster High roller derby equivalent sport. That said, the doll I happen to be in possession of isn’t in the best shape.

For one, the doll is obviously naked. For another the joints are somewhat loose, and the hair is matted and sticky. You can see that better here:

So let’s give her the fancy steampunk makeover she deserves!

First, we remove the head. I did this by heating the vinyl head with my hair dryer on its hottest setting, and carefully working the softened material over the neck peg. I know some artists prefer to use boiling water at this stage, but I don’t and you’ll see why in a moment.

This is the resultant beheaded doll:

Now we trim that matted hair as close to the scalp as possible!

That’s a lot of hair once we free it from the matted swirly-pouf!

Now comes the reason I don’t like hot water for head removal. See, all those little stubbly bits are glued on the inside of her head. And the glue is sticky (as glue tends to be) and gross, and it really only gets grosser when wet.

Don’t believe me? I removed some of the stubble by scraping it out with tweezers and the mess looks like ear wax. Feels like it too. Take a gander:

That’s by no means all of it, but skipping the wet-ear-wax feel means the glue is stiffer, and my hands need to rest. I’ll update this as I keep working.

UPDATE:

And more pictures!

The end of the hair removing process:

Why, yes, that pile of waxy, gross-ass glue-n-hair IS as big as the doll’s head.  All I can say for Mattel in this matter is at least the hair wasn’t ever going to come out in normal use?  But seriously, what le fuck?

Now, for posterity, a picture of the original face paint:

I like the gear irises, I may try to do that again when I repaint.  I’m not a huge fan of the eyebrows, they’re pretty harsh and more “adult” than I tend to think of MH girls being.  I’ll have to see what I decide to do there. Probably I’ll have something to take up that facial real estate, but not re-do the super angular brows (they’re nice, but they don’t fit the concept of robot girl).  Her lips are good, but meh. I think I’ll be giving her green makeup instead of purple.

Here she is after a quick scrub down with acetone:

Wow, she looks younger and softer already!  I’d been planning an Asian inspired look in the Silkpunk genre, but now that I see her bare-faced, I’m thinking an Afro-Futurism element instead.  The face rivets make me think of Shuri in Black Panther.

Only problem is the hair I have isn’t textured right for her braids.  I could rig something with yarn maybe? Ahh, design choices… welp, time to do some planning while the head and body are drying a coat of Mr. Super Clear. (Because you gotta seal the doll before painting on it.  And after painting on it. Always seal the doll. You think you sealed it enough? NO, you are wrong, seal it again.)

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Are there any other doll fans in the audience?  What are your favorite dolls to work with, or what styles do you look at when considering a purchase?  I need more friends in this hobby, so come on by!