Boat Gijinka Doll Project Log

I'm currently working on creating a doll for a humanization I've made for a side project. I've made an attempt for this character before, but it didn't turn out so well so I'm re doing him again. If it goes well, I'm going to try some other characters in the project but everyone else I would like to make a doll of is significantly more difficult due to hair style/body type/sculpt. I probably won't even make the others due to how much modification I'll need to do to the sculpts and likely needing to make a whole new body for a few of them or printing out articulated hair since that's the only way to reliably translate it and I won't be able to post them here since they won't be a vinyl doll anymore at that point.

Some of the reference for the character below.

I have selected ImD Apsu in Tan for my head. I've previously tried making the character with a Mie head, but the eye is a bit too narrow for the character. Here's the progress on the head so far.

I'm not too good with sewing but I'm sure I can either make or find a collared short sleeved shirt for him. I have some pants that I made on a previous custom attempt for the character and I need to get some glasses for him. I need to get more doll shoes, but borrowing the shoes of others works at the moment.

It's going to be a bit difficult due to the green gradient effect on his hair. It depends on the fibers, but the last time I tried using acrylic hair with Rit Dyemore it barely did anything. I'm going to up the concentration this time since I didn't add as much as I think I should. I will also be using actual wig fibers instead of yarn so it might do a little better.

Imomodoll is the best bet in terms of accessibility in terms of price, sculpts, and color and I already have a bunch of Imomo heads. I think he's closer to SmD Cinnamon or DD tan but ImD tan is fine too. Another thing is his name tag which I could use a piece of fabric but I'm probably going to print out his name tag and laminate it or something because I've tried to paint it on a piece of felt before and it did not work out due to how long his name is and how small the text needed to be.

It's difficult to translate a 2D image to a 3D thing, but he's one of the easier designs so let's see how I manage to do. 

 

 

Edited Sunday at 04:45 AM by Amapola

5 hours ago, Amapola said:

I have selected ImD Apsu in Tan for my head.

Do they still sell Apsu heads? I’m looking to pick one up, but can’t find them anywhere and just assumed they were discontinued.

22 minutes ago, ragnamuffin said:

Do they still sell Apsu heads? I’m looking to pick one up, but can’t find them anywhere and just assumed they were discontinued.

I think they're discontinued. It's a shame since Apsu is a very versatile sculpt. I think Tiamat and Mie also are discontinued as well. 😔

You should absolutely be able to find a button up shirt that suits you. For the wig dyeing, yes you definitely need a high concentration and make sure the water is BOILING. (Or immediately dip after turning off the heat) It will not do anything otherwise. If you don't want to use boiling water tho, I recommend coloring on it with Posca markers. I've done it before and personally did not have any stain issues (but ymmv). It can also be removed with alcohol.

On 2/1/2026 at 5:07 AM, Amapola said:

I think they're discontinued. It's a shame since Apsu is a very versatile sculpt. I think Tiamat and Mie also are discontinued as well. 😔

That's... suprising. I was under the impression that those were some of their best selling heads. 

Anyway, I'm wishing you luck on your project! The character in your drawings is cute.