Size Comparison Article Discussion

I see people, mainly newbies, ask about the pros and cons of different sizes all the time, so I felt like writing up a comprehensive list of points from what I know. It ended up longer than I thought, but still, I'm a small-time collector with a narrow focus so I don't feel confident I everything in there, or that it's all accurate.

I collect and am mainly interested in 1/4-scale dolls, with a couple tinies. I'd like any input on what other collectors feels are pros/cons or just important points to know about specific sizes/ranges. Let me know if you disagree with any points too, or feel something could be worded better. I'm not sure where I'd share such an article, but I thought it would be fun and useful to make and discuss =) .


1/3 – SD-range and bigger

• The most sewing-machine-friendly size, and the most forgiving scale when sizing/patterning; you can have larger seam allowances and a larger margin of error. However, SD bodies are the biggest and often most mature, so they require more sewing and details overall. Clothing that's too simple, not fitted to their body type, or not sewn realistically may look bad on them. Much more notions are available, and it's overall easier to find well-scaled materials.
• Most surface area on face sculpts to do faceups. More room to work on them.
• Lots of clothes/shoes/wigs available. The big size allows for the most detailed, elaborate, and/or realistic accessories available in the market (eyes, wigs, clothes, shoes, etc.). There are many unique props and accessories that are rare or nonexistent for smaller sizes (think jewelry, watches, bags, et cetera.)
• Most detail possible. Clothes tend to look more realistic due to the forgiving scale.
• Most realistic, adult, and detailed sculpts, proportions, and bodies.
• More varieties of body types, heights, overall wide range of styles. However, getting good-fit clothes may be more difficult due to this; must be careful about different sizes/proportions of 1/3 clothing.
• Most expensive overall. Not just the doll, but clothes and shoes are often more expensive; not a one-time cost. This is just a general rule; company, quality, and place of manufacture can all effect the prices wildly. "For example, a 60cm Mirodoll Mika is only $200 (and currently on sale for $120), but a 15.5cm Fairyland Pukifee is $210. Clothing/shoes depend on where you shop too. You can get a full outfit with shoes for SD cheaper on some sites than you can get one pair of pants for YoSD on others."
• Not easy to lose, misplace, place.
• Very heavy, hard to carry/transport/play with/find space for. It will be difficult to take to meets, conventions, travelling, photography spots, especially more than one.
• Furniture & dioramas are more difficult, hard to find and make space for.
• Extreme heaviness may make dolls not as stable to stand and have harder impacts upon falls.
• 1/4 can scale well next to 1/3 as children/teens. 1/6 are generally too small.
• Has the most amount of 'presence' due to the size and detail. The most sculptural, grand, and substantial-feeling.

1/4 - MSD, slim mini, and other

• Sewing for this size still allows for a lot of clothing detail and sewing machine usage, but hand-sewing can be more useful and necessary here than for 1/3 size. Less margin of error than 1/3 and harder to find well-scaled materials.
• An easy size to work on faceups.
• Lots of clothes/shoes/wigs available. Heads are most often between 6-8in and eyes are usually between 12mm-16mm; sometimes heads and eyes may be a bit smaller, especially for mature minis. Most wig designs/colors are available between 6-8in, especially 7-8in. Eyes between 12-16mm are standardly available. Many companies and etsy shops for Volks/MNF measurement dolls. Less shoes available than 1/3, with overall less detail and realism, and non-MSD-size feet shoes are much more difficult to shop for.
• Fewer varieties of body types and heights than 1/3 range, overall more uniform in sizes (Volks MSD measurements and slim minis like Fairyland MiniFee are most common). This gives less choices, but it’s extremely easy to find fitting clothes in the market if you have a standard size.
• Changing market; adult slim minis and more body types and styles in general are gaining popularity and being developed, adding more diversity, but they’re more difficult to shop for. Examples of mature minis are Luts Model Delfs, Raccoon Dolls, and Granado, Dollmore and Fairyline fashion dolls and ChicLine dolls.
• Clothes may be more childish/immature, especially boy clothes (lots of shorts & boyish fashions, adult men’s fashion is rare). Girl clothes are often either girly/lolita or casual. Overall a less fashion variety than 1/3 market.
• Sculpts are overall more youthful, childish, often more anime/stylized than realistic. Proportions tend to be a bit cartoonish too, especially slim minis, with larger heads and eyes relative to the body than 1/3.
• Costs are generally between 1/3 and 1/6. Clothes, shoes, accessories are overall a bit cheaper than 1/3.
• The smallest scale with adult/mature-passable proportions and sculpts. Can be seen as mini-1/3s, easily being able to wear similar fashions and pass for similar ages with the proper customization. Dolls smaller than 1/4 tend to be children, fantasy creatures/beings, or unusual, non-standard mature minis that are much more difficult to shop for.
• A good size to transport, carry, and handle, if it’s just one or maybe two. Significantly less heavy and cumbersome than SD. Still has some heft and is still considered a decently impressive size for a doll.
• Much more furniture and prop options available due to the shared scale with popular mainstream dolls like American girls. Furniture and dioramas overall much more manageable to store, create, and make room for, but still not easy. Dolls can comfortably sit in bookshelves, but not stand.
• More manageable to carry and pose in groups for photoshoots, photostories.
• Less weight makes possible drops/falls less potentially damaging and impactful. But the lighter weight may make them less sturdy and easier to knock over if kept sitting/standing near an edge.
• Can scale as children/teens next to 1/3/SD or as adults/teens next to 1/6/YoSD. The most age-flexible visually.

1/6 - YoSD and others

• The smaller it goes, the more fussy and difficult the sewing. This size has the smallest margin for error. Most limited compatible fabrics/materials to use at this scale. Sewing for these dolls is the cheapest due to the smallest need for fabric/materials and the smallest benefit from sewing machines; hand-sewing or knitting/crocheting simple clothes for this size is popular. It has the least detail possible. But when so tiny, dolls are often still cute even with few details or simple clothing/accessories.
• Faceups may get more challenging for heads sizes 5-6in and smaller, especially very small heads between 3-5in. It requires the finest lines and smallest brushes and workmanship.
• Tinies come in the most diverse and non-standard sizes, from 4cm to 35cm, standard to fantasy, mature to childish. One can try to roughly categorize as standard Volks YoSD size and Everything else. There is also the ‘tall YoSD’ becoming popular, compatible with the MSD-YoSD range proportions (Nine9Style Bunny, BlueFairy Junior, Iple KID).
• For standard YoSD, there are plenty of clothes available at most of the same places where MSD/SD clothes are available. For unusual sizes, etsy, ebay, commission, self-sewing, or the doll’s origin company would be good options.
• Most childish sculpts available. YoSDs are mainly designed to look like young children and can’t even ambiguously pass as adults or teens. There are many fantasy, anthro, and unusual sculpts available as well, so there are a lot of creative designs in this size.
• YoSD is a very standard size with measurements consistent among most companies. Other tinies come in a huge variety of body types, sizes, and even species. Many anthros, pixies, and other fantasy creatures available.
• Cheapest of all sizes. The cheaper expense is for the dolls themselves, the shipping, clothes, shoes, and props. Eyes are standard prices, but may be MORE expensive for very small eyes (10mm or below) for certain brands.
• Easiest to amass a large collection with tinies, due to their storage-ability, transportability, and cost.
• Could be easy to lose or misplace, especially the very tiny dolls like pukifees.
• Looks the most like a children’s toy, especially the tinier they are, so non-collectors may not realize the cost, treat it carefully, or take it seriously. Has the least presence and noticeable factor.
• The most compact and transport-friendly. Easy to carry in a purse or bag, and it's possible to take a group around. Some are even small enough for a pocket.
• Furniture and dioramas are easiest to find and make for small dolls, the smaller the easier. Lots of miniature props and furniture available in very small scales.
• "Another big win for YoSD is that they're roughly the same height as Barbie, Monster High and a lot of other fashion dolls, so finding props or even a house for them is as easy as going to your local toy store (or even WalMart!) Some YoSDs can even wear Barbie and Ken clothing, which is much cheaper than most clothes made specifically for BJDs. Living Dead Doll clothes tend to fit pretty well too, if you're into the creepy goth look."
  
• 1/6 YoSD scales well as children next to 1/4 MSD or most slim minis, but is too small to be 1/3-compatible.
• Setting up photoshoots, photostories, and transport for photos, especially in groups, is easiest for this size. Posing is often easier, or at least less hazardous that the doll will be damaged from an accidental fall due to the lightness and smallness.

 

Really?? That's interesting! And here I felt the most confident in my knowledge of the 1/4 size, haha, but it's true I don't look at many companies aside from a few mainstream ones. I know Volks MSD is often a touch bulky, but I thought something like Luts's mini-size would still be clothes-compatible with Volks.

Could you give a few more examples of the unusual-sized minis popular now? Aside from the new mature and fashion doll-style minis out there, JIDs, and maybe a company or two like Doll Chateau, most of the minis I've seen seem to fit within Volks-MSD/slim mini ranges. But, I also look more at girls than guys too!

I didn't really consider Souldoll Vito a mini though. Do people categorize 50-cm+ dolls still mini? I thought of them and other 50-ish dolls like Dollmore Zaoll as closer to 1/3, or maybe even just... odd limbo dolls, not categorized XD .

That's a good point about sewing. I'll edit it and try to make it more neutral, expanding on the sewing pros and cons for each.

It's true that cost can be a wildly varying factor, but I believe that the quality for the cost is also often connected, especially when it comes to clothing/accessories. And whenever comparing prices from within one company, the bigger the doll/accessories, the higher the cost is relative to their own products. I can add more detail to that point though, explaining your general point =) .

Those are all great points for YoSD that I didn't know! I'll add them to the list. Thank you very much!

 

Sorry I disappeared for a bit. I was stuck in the real world for a while XD .

@Silk, I didn't know that! I actually know very little about the European BJD market. I'm guessing you're talking about artist dolls that are more popular in Europe? I think in the ABJD hobby in DoA, the main focus for collectors is Asian BJDs, so the points I've made are geared towards that. Could you give some examples of popular European brands/artists with MSD size? I can add this as a separate bullet-point about the European BJD market choices =3 .

@Snowy, thank you for taking the time to give the detailed examples. I do see what you're trying to say, and thinking of it from that perspective, I worded the size/body uniformity too narrowly for MSDs. I'll change the point to reflect that.

But I still feel that comparatively, 1/4 dolls have the most standard and conventional sizes overall. For example, compared to MSDs, where the difference in height may be mainly 38cm-46cm (8cm at the most), 1/3 dolls could go maybe 55cm-70+cm (15+cm). Even within companies, I feel companies have more body variations available for their 1/3 lines than their 1/4 (Iplehouse is a prime example).

I'm sure there's been a few mature minis floating around out there for a long time, but I believe that it's only within the last few years that their popularity has been spreading and making them a more visible option. I've always seen people pop up on DoA lamenting the lack of mature mini options and asking for recommendations with few replies. I wanted to note the changing trend with that point.

Thanks for taking the time, and for sharing your collection! You've got such a big group!


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EDIT: Aaand it won't let me edit my first post because 'you can't post more than 10000 characters' or something. OTL I'll leave the changes I plan to make here to remember and try to edit them in later.

1/4 - MSD, slim mini, and other

• Fewer varieties of body types and heights than 1/3 range, overall more uniform in sizes (Volks MSD measurements and slim minis like Fairyland MiniFee being most common). This gives less choices, but it’s extremely easy to find fitting clothes in the market if you have a standard size. For dolls that aren't standard MSD/slim mini (ex. Iplehouse JIDs, SoulDoll SoulKids), clothes/shoes may be difficult to find, esecially if it's not a well-known brand.
• "The European dollmakers mostly create MSD-sized dolls and every company has their own style and body proportions. One doll is really different from the next and they all have very different measurements than their Asian counterparts." -Silk. One well-known example is Lillycat Cerisedolls.
• Changing market; adult slim minis, fashion doll BJDs, and more body types and styles in general are gaining popularity and being developed, adding more diversity, but they’re more difficult to shop for. Examples of recent mature minis are Luts Model Delfs, Raccoon Dolls, and Granado, Dollmore and Fairyline fashion dolls and ChicLine dolls.

 

I don't pay attention to Leeke's controversial 'art' body. I have heard of Lillycat though! I'll put that as an example. But I'm sorry, I thought you were talking about 1/4s as a popular size with lots of body variation in the European market, so I'm not sure what tinies have to do with it.


@Iron_Dog, I'm a bit confused with what you're trying to say. Then you agree with my points? It sounds like you feel you disagree about something, but I don't see what that could be.