Girl Power

Someone came to my blog by searching for female Marvel Universe action figures but the only post I have was about Storm, since she was the only one I have back then. (I had a Black Widow but she was not from the Marvel Universe toy line.) So I decided to post this photo of my female figures. I hope to get more.

3.75-inch Action Figure Size Comparison

Being new to the 3.75-inch scale, I have to experiment buying a number of figures. I wasn't able to find size comparison for figures in this scale so I decided to make my own.

(L to R)

Mattel Avatar Jake Sully
Playmates Star Trek Spock (Galaxy Collection)
Mattel DC Universe Infinite Heroes The Flash
Jakks Pacific UFC Shogun Rua
Hasbro Marvel Universe Mystique
Hasbro GI Joe Roadblock
Hasbro Marvel Universe Iron Fist
Hasbro Marvel Universe Wonder Man


The Hasbro toys clearly isn't 3.75-inch. I don't get why they don't just call it 4-inch (where 4 inches = 6 feet or 1:18 scale). It is easier to type and is more accurate.

Trekkie Time

Local toy stores are having a hard time getting rid of the 3.75inch Star Trek figures (Galaxy Collection) for years now. Every year, they decrease the price until they cost less than a dollar (US) now, hoping they can stop spending for the storage of these toys. We all know that any business space is better used for something that sells.

I used to watch the TV series and the last movie but I'm no Star Trek fan so I never considered buying these figures. It's only now that I'm liking the 3.75inch figures that made me consider buying them for parts I can use (in custom projects) like hands and holster.

I never really gave them a closer look. And when I did I saw that they came with a lot of props like a chairs  (in red and blue) and some computer dashboard thingamajig. I'm sold. Any furniture that can work with 3.75inch figures can work well with LPS Blythes.

The dashboard thingamajig, I can use with sci-fi scenes for my Marvel action dolls but for now fantard mini Pullip is enjoying the set..

Madelman Action Figure

I recently got a two pack modern Madelman action figure on sale.  These are 6.5-inch action figures produced by a loooong defunct Spanish company called Popular de Juguetes (PDJ). These figures are  a lot lot lot less popular  compared to the vintage Madelman. That is why the PDJ version are usually sold cheap.

I have been curious about the action figure initially because I thought it would be in the same scale as my Heidi Ott (HO) dolls. Although I already knew that they are taller, I was still curious as their props and clothes might still work with the HO's dolls. I left my HO dolls in the province so they were not included in the comparison photo.

From left to right: modern Madelman, Breyer doll, Britney Spears doll and Aaron Carter doll

The Madelman figures were in military attire, which I don't usually want on my dolls. The thing that made me buy are actually the two pairs of boots. HO shoes are expensive!!! Getting two pairs for US$4+ dollars is a good deal. I'm hoping they will fit the HO dolls. In the mean time I tried them on other dolls that more or less have the same foot size as the HO's like Licca and Skipper. I did have to slit the back part of the boots to allow the feet to slide in.

I have found out that some action figure props can be used in smaller dolls. More about that in the next entry.

How to keep your doll busy

 

 

Make it (the doll) work.

Hopefully, it will create something like this:

 

Marvel Universe Scarlet Witch Custom

It's sad that a number of collectors were fooled to believe that the recent Scarlet Witch is a rare figure, making them pay more for the item. Locally, somebody payed at around US$24 (poor guy) when internationally a lot of sellers let it go for US$14 or less. (I checked eBay selling history.) How did that happen? Simple, by controlling the distribution!

Here's how. Make the item scarce in a most areas, ideally where a lot of collectors reside (group A). Make that same item available where there are ample number of collectors who are willing to resell (group B). Create some good publicity about the item via blogs or video reviews to pique everybody's interest. Group B will hoard the items thinking that they can make a profit from group A. And the manufacturer wins because their item will sell out to group B whether or not group B will be successful in reselling them.

Magneto (center) with son Quicksilver(L) and daughter Scarlet Witch (R)

Unlike Mattel, Hasbro didn't have to resort to labeling/branding something as "collectible", "limited edition" or "for the adult collector" because branding means additional cost without adding value to the product. They are making their products sell faster (because selling slow makes the seller lose money) just by distributing cunningly. Don't you just love marketing strategies? I'm learning a lot each day.

Happy Family, a Sylvanian Clone (Review)

I have been buying a number of Sylvanian Families (by Epoch) accessories for my LPS Blythes and Marvel Universe action figures but like most popular toy brands, they are quite expensive for my taste. I'm glad that there is an alternative, the Happy Family. This is a review for the Happy Family extension house. It is similar (but not exactly the same) to the Beechwood extension house and the Summer House. The latter is priced at around US$80 while I got the Happy Family house at around US$16. Now that makes me happy!

The Package

The package was successful in attracting this buyer. The box has a clear window that displays the contents. It also shows photos having the Sylvanian Families vibe all over the box. The language used is Chinese-English (as opposed to British-English and American-English).

 

One thing peculiar is the logo on the box. The original one is covered by a sticker. I doubt it's a misprint. I bet it has a story but I'm not in the mood to speculate.

Ooops...

I thought I could be back to blogging normally today after being away for a vacation but no! The laptop gave up on me.

I'm testing this app that is supposed to allow me to blog via my phone. I hate typing on my phone so that means no blog entries until the laptop is replaced.

Hopefully next week... :)

posted from Bloggeroid

Forgotten Files: Liz

I remember hunting for a reasonably priced Elizabeth Taylor doll online for a number of months. I waited patiently for a good deal. When I finally got her, I rebodied and redressed her and that was that. She went in storage. That was in December 2010. That was almost two years of being forgotten.

I was never inspired to make a dress for her, until recently. I'm happy with what I came up with. I call this fashion "Feels Like Heaven." I observed in Liz's style is that she liked to accentuate her narrow waist and décolletage. I made sure those details are present in my simple dress.

November 1 is when our nation we commemorate the dead and now, I commemorate my Liz doll with this entry. After this, she once again will rest in peace.

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Still not online. This is another scheduled automatic post.

The Visitor

Some people celebrate the bleeding that marks two of the most significant changes in a woman's life--the transition from puberty to adulthood and the bleeding from consummating the marriage.

At sixteen, Susie haven't started having her "monthly visitor". She is both terrified and excited--terrified because something might be wrong with her and excited as this will mark a new stage of her life. She is curious as to how bleeding would feel. She wonders if it would be painful.

As she doesn't feel like a full grown woman yet, she allows herself to play with stuff toys. Before going to sleep, it is her habit to talk to her Care Bear and pray for her monthly visitor to appear while she sleeps.  She thought it would be painless that way.

Little does she know that a visitor will appear that night. Although the visitor is not want Susie prays for, her wish to bleed will be granted.

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I cannot be online until next week, or maybe much later. This is a scheduled automatic post.

Strange Reunion

Stay Dead

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Hi everyone.

I can only go back online sometime next month. I do have a couple of Halloween related entries scheduled to be published automatically here, just to keep my presence felt even while I'm gone.

Dark Side

We were told that when we die, we would come to the light; that's how you know that we are in the dark side.

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I cannot go online right now so I prepared this scheduled automatic post. You can say I'm busy with my dark side. Kidding.

Magic

I have not been blogging since I am busy looking for my daughter. I only went online because someone told me that there was news about my daughter. I'm glad that she is alive but I don't know where she is. I'm more determined to find her now.

While I was looking for her, I chance upon a small room. I thought Puypuy could be inside so I took a peep. I was surprised with what I saw. It was magic!

Once Upon a Time

Forgotten Files: Leanara

It has been over two years since I played with Leanara. It was in May2010 when I first posted her photo online (Flickr). She looked so vibrant then. Looking at her 2010 photo reminded me how happy I was when I scored her. I love her bright red hair. I also love her eyelashes. The glitter make-up just makes her look so much fun. She looked happy, as happy as I was back then.

A lot of things has changed since then. I decided to shrink her head. The acetone damaged the glitter but her the rest of her eyeshadow remained. I didn't know if this made her look sad. Or because she was in storage for two long years. For two long years, I ignored her as I played with other dolls, dolls which I eventually forgot about, like Leanara.

Missing Puypuy

Do you know that feeling when you realize that you have been filling a void with the wrong stuff? I have been begging Niel for some attention. I have been fantasizing about different girls. I have distracted myself with toys. I didn't realize that the void I'm trying to fill was a special place for someone.

I accidentally found Snow White today. I thought she looked familiar and then it came back to me. She was my daugther Puypuy's doll. Back then, there was no dark-skinned princess. I picked Snow White for my daugther because she knew how to do household chores even if she was a princess. I heard Cinderella stop doing the chores when she became a princess. It was easier that way to teach Puypuy how to do the dishes and stuff with Snow White around.

When Puypuy and Snow White were together, it was like they were in a world of their own. They were always talking, which scared me a bit but I figured it was just part of growing up.

One day, Puypuy asked for my help. She wanted the fairy tales to be rewritten to include at least one dark-skinned princess. Everybody thought she was stupid. Who would dare rewrite fairy tales? But Puypuy was strong-willed. She never stopped complaining. It didn't matter if no one listened. We all know how that story turned out.

As I was reminded of my daughter's determination, I was filled with a renewed strength. I'm determined to find my daugther.

Like Me

There is nothing like a beautiful dress to lift my spirits up. I look beautiful. I feel confident. I can do anything. I can ask a girl out. She will say "yes!"  It is amazing how much a nice dress can do.  It's like magic.  A girl can never have enough beautiful dresses.  I should tell Niel to make more or buy more.  It is important. There is no other way to be beautiful, to feel good about myself.  I need to be adorned with beautiful things. My self-worth is at stake.

Oh, who am I kidding?  I feel as insecure as before. When I ask her out, she will see through my blue dress and see the unloved doll that I am. She will see that this dress was not made for me, but for some other doll. She will see how I'm trying too hard.  It's pathetic to think that a dress can have a great effect on self-worth. I'm pathetic.

Niel saw me sulking in one corner. We looked at each other and both let out a sigh. He immediately walked away, back to his room. I was back to contemplating. Alone. What if I jump from the top of a cabinet, will I break my neck?

My reverie was disrupted when Niel walked back in. No words were spoken. He handed me one of his toys. She looks like a hooker. Who wears such a trashy attire? Despite of what she wore, she looks tough. She looks like a fighter, an adventurer. I didn't notice Niel leave. I started to imagine all the adventures for her, how she'll fly in the sky defending the helpless.

You know what? She looks like me.

12-inch Original Action Figure Body (Review)

I have been looking for new bodies for my Star Trek (2009 movie) action figures (AF). Yesterday, I chance upon this unknown AF body at a local toy event. I wasn't able to get the seller's information.

These AF came in three skin tone: the one in this review, a reddish peach tone and an AA skin tone. There was no evidence of a female counterpart of this figure.

The Package

The package is very basic. There is no information about the manufacturer. This, I think, is very fishy. It's like the company didn't want anything to do with the toy. There is no clue about the reputation of the manufacturer. There is no way to send feedback, comments and/or suggestions.

The lack of manufacturer details made me think that this could be a TrueType (TT) clone but some design details are clearly different. (For photos and review of the original TT you may want to visit this site: http://www.mwctoys.com/REVIEW_101510b.htm) 

The package is able to show what's inside except the feet. The buyer can get an idea of the feet design from the illustrations on the back of the box. One hand design (used for gripping guns, etc) on the box illustration is not included in the content. The figure came with an extra pair of hands (clenched fists) and neck joint.

It is easy to remove the content. The items are secured by adhesive tapes.  The box can be reused to store two action figures and accessories, without the plastic tray.

Once deboxed, the amount of work put in the AF can be clearly seen. I don't have TT figure so I cannot compare the quality of the plastic but this one seems brittle. I think the plastic can crack or break when dropped. This toy needs to be handled with care, more care compared to the Basics or Fashionista Ken. The Ken plastic seems to take some impact and not break. This figure may not have Ken's durability.

Tiny Repaints

I once thought that I can dress up my dolls in superhero costumes. When it gets to the fight scenes, I didn't want my dolls to get dirty. They are unlike action figures with molded on costumes. You can throw them in the mud, or paint blood on them and you can still clean them up easily afterwards.

Marvel Universe (MU) action figures are about 3.75-inch tall. That means that their faces are smaller than the fingernail of my pinky finger. (Here is a photo of my hand holding another figure in the same scale, just to show how small they are.) Although the figures are generally nice, some elements lack inspiration. I had to customize all of my female action figures. My latest custom work are the following:

Lonely Lolita

Niel is busy with his action figures. He doesn't have any time for me.

I need some company. I have been single for a while now. I can't help feeling lonely. I want to get back into the dating scene. Niel has a number of dolls but only a few caught my attention. A sweet smile has always been my weakness.

I'd like to get to know them better. I don't know if they are into someone like me. I'd like to find out. Hmmm... whom should I ask out first?

XOXO,
Lolita

September Loot

I have been monitoring my toy spending. So far, this year, 47% of my toy expenditure went to dolls. The 53% went to action figures. For the last six months, 73% was for action figures, while 86% for the last 3 months. Last month, 99.2% was for action figures!

I only got myself one doll item last month, and it's not even a complete doll, just the head. I got a Kira head with a bad afro ponytail which I decided to customize to be a wig-able doll. I want her to look a bit flirty but so far, she looks like this:

Kira, a work-in-progress

It is interesting to note this change in my toy spending. This reflects the change on what I find interesting. Eventually, I will be blogging more about my action figures (or action dolls, as I call them) here.

September Loot

My First Blog Entry

Hi. This is Lolita. This is my first blog entry.

That will be all for now. I hope you like my pictures.