BishonenHouse discussion thread [Original line and V2]

Has anyone been to bishonenhouse.com yet? Although his store won't be open for business until late Sept he has photos of two of his boys posted, along with a bio, ect.

As far as I know Donn is the only person making BJD's in the US. He is an accomplished artist, among other things, and has won many different types of awards.

I emailed him with some questions and he very generously answered me. Here are the facts that he told me:

His dolls are male. He will have 'natural' and 'white' avaliable in any doll. He hopes to produce a darker tan color soon but apparently this is very tricky when working with resin. He puts a UV protecter in his resin (don't know any details.)

He will offer 4 head sculps, two of which can be viewed on his website now.

The dolls will come with 'standard' hands (relaxed), but he will offer alternate 'flat' hands and 'weapon holding' hands. There's also a opitional 'hip sculpt' but I'm not exactly sure what that is.

All dolls come with two sets of feet. One bare foot and one that's a 'sock foot' (no toes or anything but it fits super dollie, ect, shoes.) If you use the 'bare foot' it's a little longer and narrows the shoe selection.

The hands and feet can be changed without unstringing the doll. Apparently they're attached with S hooks. I don't have my BJD yet so I don't understand these things!

Included are a random pair of eyes from Masterpiece. Excelecent quality.

Clothes, wigs, ect will be for sale on his site.

I THINK he'll be doing limited addations types where you can buy the doll complete with specially made outfite, wig, faceup, ect. NOT SURE ABOUT THIS.

He sands the seams off, strings the doll and will do a faceup for an extra $25.00. I don't know if he'll offer body blushing or not.

Now the the comparison! I have my eye on Hound, now I'm undecided. Of the two face sculpts currently shown, I like the goth boy better. The body will will be same on all dolls. If you haven't seen it yet, wow! He's tall and lean like Hound, but a couple of inches taller. His torso is one peice, Hounds is two. Hound's body has a little more detail, such as ribcage and shoulder blades, but Bishonen is beefed up and more muscled. He has broader shoulders and is more mature looking. Even the, ah, shall we say, parts? The legs seem to me to be about the same. Hound legs seem to have a little more shape, but Bishonen has a real butt!

When I asked Donn to compare Bishonen to Hound he was very honest. This is what he told me. Hound is double jointed, his doll is single jointed. Double joints make a doll more posable, they have a greater range of motion, however it also makes them more unstable on their feet. Double joints are not especially attractive. They show more.
Single joints are posable but restrictive in motion. They are more hidden and more attractive. His dolls do not need to be wired or sueded to stand or hold a pose. (Unless they're holding a heavy sword, then you need to suede the wrist). I don't know if they have trouble sitting upright, or kicking problems or any of the other things that people complain about.

Bishonens without clothing will start at $650.00.

So, now I'm in a delimia! I now have to decide!! Guess I'll wait until Sept and then make up my mind!

 

Oh, sorry! Guess I let my excitement get the best of me!

 

You're right. I forgot the seperate hip part. I'm guess I'm to new to be commenting on things. Guess I'll wait until I get my doll to say anything else!

 

Well, that's one question I didn't ask! I'm only now learning that some are and some aren't.
I think you're right. Made in US probably are, made in Asia probably not. Although I have a Japanese friend and she says it's about half and half in Japan, with real men I mean!

 

Yes, I think you're right. I've looked at those photos a dozen times and I never notcied.
The alternate hip sulpt looks like it's missing the 'part' completely.
I can't wait to see his shop when it's finished. I want to see the face molds!