The Trails of Ethan. (Long post with many pics) Can any of you help?

[St0ic]

Join me in a tale of woe. Some years ago at a doll meet in Birmingham, I told our beloved Ote, Charlie and Jane that I was planning a doll named Ethan. He was (is) to represent my spirit guide.

Since then, I have scanned doll shops looking for just the right mold. Flash forward and I have been through 2 different molds. A Narin 43 Tanning and most recently A Bobobie Apollo Tan. Neither have worked. In fact, I would even go far as to say that the Bobobie freaked me out with his starey eyes (even with new ones in) not to mention the lollypop neck! eww (Sorry BBB Apollo fans)

The question is, where now? I thought perhaps if I posted up some pics, you guys could help suggest possible molds to look at, with links? I know it's a pain but I'd be really grateful the insight of my friends. So, here goes:

Ethan is creole, IE: Very dark skinned but NOT black. From what I know his ancestry is Ghanaian/French mix. So, in terms of colouring, you might think of:


Thandie Newton (Wow she's so pretty)


She played the Creole maid who got bitten by Louis in Interview with the vampire.

or Jaye Davidson



Keep Jaye's image in your mind, because Ethan bares a strong resemblance to him. The only difference between the two, is the fact that Ethan has a touch of something Indian in there too, reminds me a bit of Elyes Gabels around the mouth and jaw.



So, which molds to you think would work? The only one that even comes close, is Iplehouses "Lion" tan. He is perfect but of course, was limited to 10 and out of stock.



There is little/no chance of me ever getting him. IH's Nubian dolls are just that - Nubian. So, not right again. Maybe my only option is to get a white Lion and tan him? Are there any molds that offer a tan dark enough, with the mature handsome softness required? Oh, also aren't god awful weird looking? Please help! I am having so many near misses. I'm in no hurry but, I need to get it right.

[St0ic]

Bah I had hoped that Minimee went as far as tan..but no. So far, the both Tan IH boys are limited dolls.. what to do? *sigh*

[Army-of-Me]

Could you not buy a normal or white skin Iplehouse Lion and have him tanned? I've no idea how to do it, but I'm sure there would be somebody either here or on DOA who would do it for you There's a tanning tutorial somewhere on DOA too methinks.

[St0ic]

yes, I was thinking of going that way. The results seem really blotchy with a lot of dolls though, still I would definitely consider it. Who here has tanned their own doll and would share pics? I'd be very interested to see. There is a very cute Latidoll boy that I like, saw him on the Tan database on DoA but couldn't find him on the site. Yes, he was a Lati Blue Type Ryu? Ltd again! Yay *pets self* there there!

[redderz]

I know Tashy has a dyed MNF DES. ^^

[St0ic]

ooooh I shall have to ask her

Paging tashy to post pics!

[Sibuna]

I believe Dollstown dolls are available in a range of different tan resins. (Just trying to throw out some of the darker-but-not-too-dark tans I can think of.)

And how about this? A Volks ebony-skin Ruby boy!

http://www.denofangels.com/forums/sh...ght=Volks+Ruby

[St0ic]

I'll check the link out, thanks!

[Carmine_Headmatter]

You could get the lion and have that tanned, or maybe get a minimee and have that tanned instead. Personally the minimee seems like a better bet. But that's just my opinion.

[St0ic]

Yes I suppose, though all the clothes I have had made are big boy clothes and I can't really ask the seamstress to make a 3rd set can I? *ponders* and my love affair is with Lion through and through. But then a Mini would be exact. Oh bother and poop lol!

Thanks guys! It seems as if custom Tanning is the way... At least I have that sorted! It seems as if the Minimee will do single heads as long as I don't mind paying 300 odd for the head alone? Is that how it works, or did I misread it?

[Carmine_Headmatter]

If you really like the lion and don't want to pay that much for the head then go with he lion. A rule I go by when I can't decide anything is flip a coin or go eenie meenie miniee mo (Swishing your hand left to right between the two things is best. The old method doesn't work very well.) and if I don't like what the result is I go with the other one because I obviously like that object more.

[Tashy-Chan]

Sorry Stoic lol my internet died on me ^_^;;

Here is Orinoco:









(ubber flash of doommmm)

She is the new DES fairyland event head on an old Luts MNF body ^_^ so considering there age differences she matches fine in my opinion ^_^ I guess blushing her would get rid of any differences, but I'm not a fan of blushing ^_^; I have wayyyy too many OCD tendency's with dirt, and body blushing gets dirty so @_@;

[St0ic]

ooooo it had come out lovely Tashy....I do worry about streaking, such a lot! She seems refreshingly streak free too. Thanks for showing her to me, I would go a similar colour I think, perhaps a tiny bit darker. Still I'm impressed. What did you use, RIT dye?

I have actually decided to put out feelers for a minimee Jaye Davidson.
http://www.denofangels.com/forums/showthread.php?t=304245

I hope it might interest some of you! I hope for a nice fat list of 10. Then it works out as 98USD each with about 60 Dollars shipping for all 10 (it works out at 110USD each roughly with shipping from DIM) Course I won't work it all out properly till the time comes.

I've decided to use my BBB Body and have it tanned when I have the head done. It is already tanned but, lightly. Would that be a pain to do?

[Tashy-Chan]

Ote did the tanning for me, but I believe it was indeed RIT dye ^.^ no idea what shade tho lol we just dunked her until I said stop lol

she has a few small marks here and there, but that's mostly from old MSC that the original owner of the body didnt tell us about T.T; she sprayed the arm and belly for some reason, and when we cleaned it before dying, we obviously missed those small parts.

The only other blemish is on a small crack on the body (on the wrist) that the original owner made as well, and thats just darker than the rest of her, but I guess thats not really down to the dye, just the condition the body was in.

[St0ic]

I think that's fate that Ote did her! Ote did Gene... there see it's fate!

[Army-of-Me]

If the minimee quest doesn't work out, or you can't get enough interest and want to get an Iplehouse Lion instead, I'm planning on buying a full Iplehouse doll in a few months time just because I want the Iplehouse muscle body. I was gonna sell the head anyway, so I could always buy a Lion and you could have the head if you wanted. Just a suggestion in case you need a back up plan ^_^

[otepoti]

I think Which ever doll you get next if your going to get him dyed you must be happy with him in the normal skin 1st. I hate for you to go through the tan business (which is not all that fun XD) and then find he's not right. minime heads are odd sizes adn can be bobble headed on some bodies.
AS for the dyeing of a tan bod it's a dip it and see task really so once they match you stop (woo)

[St0ic]

Ohhhh, I will definitely take note of that AoM. He could take a while to get any interest but yes! I do adore the Lion. What sort of price would you be asking? Send me a PM! Ote, I can't imagine Tanning is much fun at all. Ewww... we shall have to discuss it at a later date. Either way, I'd like to have a Jaye Minimee, even if he ends up being himself or Ra, Dil (from The Crying Game) Or Ethan. He's just too incredible not to get made.

[St0ic]

Ok.. I've posted up asking for pics of the BBB Apollo bod with both Iplehouse and Minimee boy heads. I am so curious <3

[St0ic]

You are right. The Minimee looks wrong on the BBB bod. However, I am taking AoM up on her offer and I'm getting a IH Lion Head (Which looks nice on the BBB bod) I'm still running the MNM GO too, having both is for the win!