A Quick Comparison: Illusion Spirit mini and Volks SDC Hands

Since Volks has yet to release option hands for the SDC boys, a question that pops up fairly often is about the alternatives that might be out there. Illusion Spirit's jointed hands are one option that comes up fairly frequently, and while I don't have those, I do have an Illusion Spirit mini with their standard hands, which have the same wrist joint, so if you're curious about the fit, this is for you!

Top row: IS hand on SDC arm front & back.
Bottom row: SDC Miko and IS Zhu Qing, each wearing the other's right hand.

The wrist joint on the IS hand is slight smaller than the SDC one, but still fits reasonably well. I can't speak to the colour match since my IS sample is tan, but it looks like fit wouldn't be an issue at least.

New Arrival: Withdoll Aiden

Withdoll Aiden in temporary eyes and wig

Back in February I placed an order for Withdoll's Aiden in dark brown (the UV version).  I've been admiring the company's work for a few years now (since their limited edition Fenrir was released), but held off on buying anything since I was on the fence about the narrow noses that their sculpts seem to have.  But looking at the "Fallen Angel" promo shots, I decided that I could live with the nose, and went for it.

The doll actually arrived nearly three weeks ago, but since I was out of town for April, I only opened him last night (luckily nothing was amiss!).

The box in a box

Withdoll ships their dolls in a cardboard shipping box into which the (also carboard) dollbox fits tightly.  I appreciate that since it means that there are fewer
packing materials to throw out (or store), but I know that worries some people as it means the inner box can be damaged when cutting open the outer one.

In the box

Inside the inner box, the doll is protected by multiple layers of foam (included the foam doll cut-out that some people use for crafts).  I received a pair of Glib acrylic eyes and an extra set of option hands  along with my doll, and these were packed on the base layer, next to the doll itself.

As the eyes were packed separately, the doll obviously ships eyeless.

The hip in action

The first thing that stood out to me upon unboxing this doll was the unique engineering of the hip joints.  The body has a multi-piece hip that allows the doll to pose in a surprising variety of realistic positions.  It also means that the doll looks rather less realistic when unclothed, but the sacrifice or form for function strikes me as being well worthwhile.  

While the hip is the most distinctly different of the joints, the doll is fantastically engineered overall - I would also say that the elbows and chest are exceptionally well done.

 

 

Showing off the joint movements

The doll's colour is also interesting.  It's a solid brown, but still has a certain translucence to it, which means that the colour can look deeper or lighter depending on the brightness of a room (or the use of flash).  Compared to other companies, it's solidly in the middle of the dark tan and lighter tan options.

Iplehouse ebony, Withdoll dark brown, Illusion Spirit tan

That comparison photo also makes it obvious that this doll is  a fair bit skinnier than many other MSD-range dolls.  As such, it may be tricky for this guy to share clothing with some of the bigger guys in this size group (he's wearing pants designed for a JID in this photo, and they fall much lower on his body than they do on a JID due to the tiny waist on this doll).


I'm still waiting to finalize this doll's look, so I'll have to post an update at some point, but right now I'm thrilled with him. :)

Sixth out of the box: Shep (Illusion Spirit ZhuQing)

This wig?  On another doll now.

This poor doll keeps losing his wigs.  Not literally, of course - it's just that nearly every one of them eventually finds itself on someone else's head!

One of the questions I get about tan dolls from lines that only do promotional details in normal is whether or not the colour is even - and his is.  That said though (and this is an issue with several companies), Illusion Spirit sands all of their dolls before sending them out, and because of that there are colour variations where the seams were sanded off.

In retrospect, I wish I'd asked them not to do it (although some companies - like Dollzone - will refuse and do it anyway, which baffles me since it's more work for them), but it's ultimately not a huge issue since my dolls generally stay dressed (at least while they're on display).

In comparison to the Iplehouse JID body

Aside from the sanding issue though, I'd say that this doll is probably one of the most impressive when it comes to value for money - he poses well, can stand unsupported and is strung with decent elastic.  If I were going to complain, I could be petty and say that the sculpt is very simple, but I think that's actually part of the appeal of this doll.