Monday, May 19, 2014

Featuring: Dragon Models Nie Feng Action Figure Part 1

Welcome to  the world of I cannot ever upload images correctly the first time on this computer. -.- So yeah, once again this will be a two-part post. Anyways, check out that box opening pic. What a box, right?

So this is Nie Feng, the 'Life Action Figure' of a character from the manhua (Chinese comic) Fung Wan, which was eventually made into a movie which was called The Storm Riders. I've not seen the movie, but when I saw that http://heyitsmuff.blogspot.com had listed him as her favorite purchase of the year I became interested.
This doll has been in his box since 1999, so the paint on his sword kind of decided to glue itself to his hand. I don't care much, because if he's holding the sword, the paint spots aren't visible, and in my doll world Nie Feng isn't even a warrior, he's a chef, ha ha. The only other quality problem he has is with his face. I think originally his lips were darker, but over time the paint has dissipated and turned the lower half of his face extra-red.
Eew. Stabby thing. Apparently it's pretty comic-accurate.
 Details on the evil stabby thing.




 His clothes are well made and quite soft. I don't know what the material is. His outer clothes fasten to him in like five different ways. A couple snaps, a tie around his waist, another tie on the inside...

 I accidentally broke these ties like right after the picture whoops.

 Is this still called a peanut joint when it's on an action figure? Whatever, he is SUPER ARTICULATED. Number one best articulated doll I own that isn't a BJD.


Sorry It looks like he's on the toilet, but for a while I didn't want to take his boots off (which I eventually had to remove with an exacto knife). His knees also have these extra joints. It's awesome.





His hair looks super cool, but makes his head pretty much always flop back. His abs are so shiny I can see my reflection in them! He's rather ripped, haha. He also has lateral movement in his upper torso and horizontal movement in the lower.











And this is why I changed my tumblr URL to dolly-butts yesterday. Always doll markings are on the behind. COPYRIGHT 1999 DRAGON MODELS LTD PATENT PENDING.

More photos to come in part 2.

Sunday, May 18, 2014

Featuring: Dr. Yue Sai Wa Wa (and Son) Part 2

Aka, my mother's computer is old and slow.

It embarrasses the kid when his parents kiss, haha. I paired up Yue Sai and Nie Feng (who I have yet to review). I think they're cute together. c:
And this is why I'm considering changing my Tumblr URL to dolly-butts. q: Anyways, you can see the Yue-Sai marking and year of creation, 2001. The body mold is VERY similar to the Barbie dolls of *my* childhood, with the '67 mold horizontal twist waist and painted-on underwear. I thought the legs might be click-knee, and there is a hole in the feet where one would expect the wire to lay, but the legs are made of a rather stiff vinyl, and I didn't think it wise to force the legs further than they wanted to go. Which means this doll has six points of articulation (which is fine with me, because I hate click-knees).
While I speak of these feet, I'll note that her shoes aren't a perfect fit. They're the right size, but the angle of her arches don't line up with those of the shoes. Were this a problem that seriously bugged me, I think it could be solved with a spoon and some boiling water, but Yue-Sai is content to be propped up with a (conveniently sized) Monster High boy's stand. She can't stand on her lonesome anyways.
Her clothes are nicely made and feature the brand logo on the inside. I appreciate that everything is hemmed, because I fear silky fabrics are the most rapid to unravel. Yue Sai came with an extra top for when she doesn't want to be on-duty (which is never, because she loves her job so much).


I don't think a ton of effort was put in to making her have a certain coordinating, fashionable 'look' the way MH girls do (no where else in her outfit can one find that baby pink lipstick, nor do her shoes or purse match anything else she owns), but one has to keep in mind that when filling a massive gap in the doll market, one must work their way up from scratch. On that note, I feel like people have given Lammily a slam she doesn't deserve for the same reason. The first Barbie wasn't perfect. Yes, collectors look on her with reverence because she was first, but had those poodle bangs and the complete lack of articulation not been an original Barbie thing, and a doll with those features were released today, nobody would be impressed. Yue Sai has room for improvement, sure, but she is also a gorgeous doll I'm proud to have in my collection, not just for looks, but for what she represents.


That bottle is hilariously out of proportion, but yolo. None of my doll stuff is in proportion. I'm just tickled to death that her name is printed on her jacket. c:

And once again that is all of the pictures this computer will allow me to upload, whoop. I'll share some more pictures of her cute face some other time. ^^

-ER


Wednesday, May 14, 2014

Featuring: Dr. Yue Sai Wa Wa (and Son)

Deep in thought about the cardiovascular system.
Meet Dr. Yue-Sai!

To introduce her, I will steal an exerpt from Kan Yue-Sai's personal website (http://www.yuesaikan.com/wawa-dolls.html).

"In 2000, seeing as all dolls in China had blue eyes and blonde hair, Yue-Sai designed and produced a line of Asian female dolls, known as the Yue-Sai WaWa (“doll” in Chinese). Each doll has distinctive Asian features, accessories and educational facts, to help Asian children develop confidence, knowledge and pride in their heritage as well as educate children of all heritages about Asian cultures."

I picked Dr.Yue-Sai, because she is a pediatrician! (That is my goal job, and the reason my undergraduate major which I will begin this fall is in biological studies.) So basically, before even ordering this doll I biasedly loved her. Basically I am asking you to forgive the lack of objectivity in this post. (Then again, when is this blog ever objective?)

This is the little boy who came in the box! Isn't he cute? He doesn't have a name yet. His body and hands are plush, while his head is vinyl. People in the Amazon comments were complaining about this, but personally I think he is a cutie. Speaking of which, do not be fooled by eBay prices on this set. It is not yet "rare" or anything. Don't dish out $40 when you can get it on Amazon for $18.

Since she's a doctor, she came with doctory things. And apparently sideways pictures because I don't know how to work my mother's computer.
The baby book has actual pages for her to write in.^^









By far my favorite accessory is the herbal medicine cabinet. The back of the box explained it further, but basically Dr. Yue-Sai practices modern medicine while making use of herbal medicine of China's past. Having this in my doll accessories collection makes me so happy, and reminds me of my old home in Singapore, which was just a walk away from a Chinese herbal medicine shop. This accessory is made of a thick cardboard and is pretty sturdy.
Since she's a fashion doll, Dr. Yue-Sai couldn't forgo the heels, however impractical.

Apparently that is all the photos my mother's computer wants to upload. ._. I'm going to go ahead and publish this and try to edit it later.

And yes, today my tummy is feeling much better thanks to Dr. Yue-Sai!

Ciao,
-ER

Tuesday, May 13, 2014

Featuring: Licca Riku-Kun Japan Kindergarten Outfit

Hi.
I have a tummy bug. Don't feel up to writing.
There, 2000 words worth.
Japanese words.
So sick.
Family.
Riku so cute Heath cute daddy.

-ER