Aug. 8th, 2012

modernwizard: (Default)
Soom just issued the latest in their Faery Legend line, a little winged dude in brick red resin: Labas the Weaponsmith Sprite. This is the first time in a long time, but I think Labas is just mediocre.

I love the concept of a fiery fairy, but Soom did not execute it well. Some parts of the sculpting work, while others fail. I love  the sculpted flames on his Faery legs, but that's about it. His wings look heavy and drippy, rather than light and flame-like. His headsculpt seems mushy and generic, while the default faceup, in colors very similar to his skin tone, doesn't do him any favors either.

I'm also disappointed with the palette used. I like the brick red resin for Labas' body and the transparent red resin for his Faery legs. but nothing else. Labas' brown wig and black outfit really kill the themes of light and fire. I would brighten one or both of these elements with some oranges and yellows. A fur wig would be great, mimicking the tongues of flame. Furthermore, even though Labas' eyes are apparently yellow grey, they don't pop at all. This guy needs neon eyes. O_O

While I'm criticizing Labas harshly, I think that he could be an awesome fire sprite in the right hands, as long as you don't get him with faceup, eyes, wig or outfit and pass on the waterlogged wings. A good customizer with a vision [like me, if I cared to get him] could really improve this doll, but I'm not interested enough in such a bland headsculpt to pursue this project.
modernwizard: (Default)
Lola Paprika is moving on. [Well, I hope she is. I put her on the DOA marketplace today.] She never really turned out to be the doll I wanted anyway.

I first learned of Angelsdoll at doll club back in April of 2011, when I was struck by the beauty of a fellow enthusiast's Ruby on the massive girl body. Such a sweet, soft face. Naturally, I wanted Ruby.

When I hopped over to the AD site to order a Ruby, I saw that they were having a super sale on Hyang. Basically you could get a Hyang with eyes, faceup, outfit and free shipping for the price of a blank Hyang excluding shipping. The cheapo in me won out over the aesthete in me, and I bought Hyang.

While poking through the AD site, I also discovered Cat Avatar Ieseul and her super awesome/obnoxious default faceup. I much preferred it over Hyang's default plaintive, understated look. I therefore expressly ordered my Hyang with the Ieseul Cat Avatar faceup, planning her look and her personality to match.

I'm not sure how this happened, but Lola Paprika came with the default depressed Hyang faceup. She was so beautifully done that I didn't want to have her faceup wiped, so I tried to keep her as she was, with the default faceup and a look for a more obstreperous doll, but she never really worked for me.

Meanwhile, in June, 2011, AD lowered their prices of blank 62cm girls to $220.00 before shipping. I had the extra eyes and outfit that came with Lola Paprika, and I still wanted Ieseul Cat Avatar's faceup, so clearly the logical course of action was to buy a whole Ieseul Cat Avatar. How could I resist?

Janvier Jett became the obstreperous character that Lola Paprika never did. She demanded leg fuzzies, spiky hair, cat's-eye glasses, a guitar, jointed hands, even a brightening of the already loud colors in her faceup. With her cute little smirk, she exuded all the ebullience that I had wished for my anxious introvert Lola Paprika.

Recently I admitted to myself what I'd been thinking all along: Of my 2 Angelsdolls, I liked Janvier Jett more as a character, even though Lola Paprika's outfit was much cooler. Last night, when I was in the midst of wondering what more BJDs I could get rid of, I decided to stick Janvier Jett in Lola Paprika's clothes, hair and eyes; I would then sell Lola Paprika with the clothes and eyes she came with. That way I would have my Flaming Hot Pussy guitarist and the eye-bleeding clothes I'd spent so long carefully mismatching!

Watch for photos of the new, improved Janvier Jett later today!
modernwizard: (Default)
I gave Janvier Jett the outfit, wig and eyes that once belonged to Lola Paprika, and what a difference! Janvier Jett's bright faceup and glasses really complement her horribly bright outfit and hair. Especially since she now has 2 jointed hands, she looks very pleased with herself. Scratch that...she always looks pleased with herself.

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