Dollbot (DBC+ v1.3) Review + Comparison to Mochi-Ashi f3 2.0

Since Dollbot recently opened orders for their new(er) "DBC High-mobility body PLUS (Frame Ver 1.3)" and I was able to get my grubby little hands on one, I thought I would take the time to write up a comparison. Archeotech wrote an excellent comparison four years ago between the older MDD and the original Dollbot, which is also worth checking out!

Because I talk a lot, I have included a tl;dr in the spoiler below; feel free to read it if you don't want to read my complete thoughts on the subject lol. Photos are also enclosed in various spoiler-segments below!

Spoiler

• There is very little incentive cost-wise to choose Dollbot over Volks or vice versa; if Dollbot's shipping becomes more competitive with Volks' they will be notably more affordable than Volks but at present the pricing is within ~$20 of each other before import duties.
• DBC+ v1.3 is far more flexible than the MDD Mochi-Ashi 2.0 f3, and stands very slightly taller. Added flexibility adds some difficulty to standing, and ankles are less flexible. Vinyl feels slightly stiffer and cheaper; Dollbot's platinum skin is quite a bit darker than Volks' semi-white and peachier/more saturated than Volks' flesh.
• Dollbot's clothes are of good quality, although materials are a bit stiffer and underwhelming than Volks'. I prefer their fitment and bust accommodation over Volks' though. Dollbot's accessory design still needs work, especially where magnets are involved - though the accessories themselves are good quality.

Spoiler

Pricing

I ordered the DBC+ v1.3 base body, the replacement small bust, a pair of eyes, the DB02 head with face-up "Firm" (or Solid, depending on your translator), a wig, fluffy ears + tail, and an outfit for ¥58,960. Shipping was an additional ¥12,000, for a total of ¥70,960 - roughly $450 USD. Custom fees and processing via DHL were an additional $65.90, which was cheaper than I expected.

For comparison, Volks' Kotone Fujita was ¥72,600, shipping was an additional ¥6,600, for a total of ¥79,200 - roughly $500 USD. Custom fees and processing via DHL were an additional $71.97. Ordering a similar assortment of base parts from Volks JP would cost ¥35,200 + 3,300 + 5,000 + 1,078 + ~4,400 + 6,600 + 8,500 = ¥64,078, assume shipping is another ¥6,600 for ¥70,678 or ~$470 for a plain head. Ordering a base doll like Koume with the same outfits, but sans redundant parts, brings the total down slightly to ~$460 USD. I am deliberately excluding Volks USA, as they reliably cost $100+ more than Volks JP, even including custom fees.

In short, the Dollbot costs roughly the same amount as a Dollfie Dream - slightly cheaper, and the heads include a face up where some Volks options do not. If Dollbot's shipping was competitive with Volks', they would be notably more affordable but as it stands there is very little incentive cost-wise to choose one over the other.

First Impressions and Body Comparisons

Dollbot vinyl is much firmer than Volks'. Where Volks' dolls tend to have an almost velvet-y finish to the skin, Dollbot's feels much more like vinyl, comparable to baby dolls I had as a child. It is not unpleasant by any means, but it does make removing the head cap far more difficult. Dollbot's "Platinum" skin is quite a bit darker than Volks' "Semi-White", and more saturated/peachy than Volks' "Flesh". 

The Dollbot skeleton is far more flexible than Volks'. The DBC is so phenomenal to move and adjust, and the hips feel far more stable than the MDD, with substantially more external rotation. This added flexibility does have some downsides though; the ankles are substantially less flexible, and thus more prone to separating - and are kinda a pain to reinstall. The DBC is also far more difficult to stand on her own than the Mochi-Ashi, possibly due to the added axes on which her joints can move. The shoulders are a bit prone to dislocating, although far more stable than the Mochi-Ashi's infamous hips, and much easier to reinstall. 

Spoiler

The body sculpting of the DBC is more to my tastes, but obviously that's a very personal opinion lol. There is slightly more attention paid to the crotch, rather than Volks' Barbie-smooth design; the chest is a bit more realistic at small sizes and a bit more... indulgent to certain tastes at larger sizes, reminiscent of some of the older bust designs from Volks before they banned the nipple entirely. The body is also a good happy medium between the Mochi-Ashi and the MDD - it honestly feels closer to a "small adult" sculpt in how the curves are distributed, where the Mochi-Ashi always felt a bit more childlike to me, but that's wholly subjective on my part.

Installing the eyes into the DBC head was a nightmare. You do not need "a small donut of eye putty" - you are the Wizard of Oz and you are giving her a brain made of eye putty. Eye putty was not included with my purchase, forcing a very late night Walmart order (because I'm impatient, mostly xD). I also felt that the surface for mating the eyes, and the eye opening, was not the best fit for the eyes they have for sale - it was ultimately manageable, but it was not an enjoyable experience. I highly recommend installing the eyes prior to installing the neck protector/attachment, because otherwise you have very very little space to work with, and removing the neck attachment is nigh impossible.

The bodies, measurement-for-measurement, are very similar. DBC measurements vs Mochi-Ashi measurements. The DBC has slightly longer calves and a slightly longer inseam; the arms are nearly identical and the crotch to collarbone measurement appears identical as well. I believe the DBC has slightly wider hips, based strictly on the experience of dressing and undressing them. The DBC stands very slightly taller overall. I would be unsurprised if the majority of soft parts were mostly interchangeable, although I am loathe to dig out a hair dryer and test that theory.

Spoiler

Outfit/Accessory Quality

Insofar as outfit material, Volks definitely seems to use slightly higher quality materials. DBC's kimono feels a bit stiff and coarse, although it's still probably nicer material than most fast fashion attire for a full-size adult. The elastic used feels like it will retain its elasticity; the stitching feels sturdy and has no immediately visible flaws. I do wholeheartedly expect the clothes to hold up well, and at their price I would not be opposed to purchasing more. I really appreciate the use of velcro over snaps, but that is also personal preference.

The approach to ensuring fitment across bust sizes was also appreciated - DBC's kimono acts similarly to a strapless dress, with snug fitment at the waist and a somewhat free-floating bust design that accommodates all bust sizes. It fit both of my dolls comfortably, and I anticipate most clothing would fit across MDD/Mochi-Ashi/DBC fairly well, with some consideration to hip size. I have very little MDD/Mochi-Ashi sized clothing at my disposal at present and thus could not test this theory in any depth, but their measurements are so similar I'd be astounded if there was anything that did not fit both of them.

The fox ears, on the other hand, are far less user-friendly in their design. They secure via two ~7mm diameter circular magnets, intended to be placed under the wig. The magnets set into the ears are much weaker than the magnets they are supposed to attach to, and when trying to install the magnets under the wig they were far more inclined to cling to each other than to the ears they are supposed to secure. Once I have the wig I intend to use permanently for her, I will likely opt to glue or tape the magnets in place, but as it stands there is just no way for me to reasonably install them. The tail is super easy to install though - no complaints there! It is gigantic and fluffy and the faux fur is quite soft - it has an internal wire to angle it slightly, but is also stitched to sit at a curve and thus doesn't have much range of motion.

Other Notes

I am kicking myself for not ordering a solid torso at the same time - the two-piece torso/bust and the one-piece appear to be cross-compatible and usable on the DBC-M platform as well. If you're considering buying one, make sure to pay attention to the replacement bust options - the old body style has a cutout in the front of the neck. When I have the cash to spare I'll likely order a DBC-M body and one-piece torso, and write up a more comprehensive comparison between that and the PLUS version.

Her eye fell out twice in my attempts to photograph the dolls for comparison, and I really cannot emphasize enough how much you need to use an ungodly amount of eye putty to secure them. I'll also note that the head's attachment itself is not dreadfully secure compared to Volks' - her head was more than eager to jump into my lap if she was flipped upside down. While I think many of the minor joint issues I have can be resolved by tightening a few skeleton bolts, the head really has no way to improve fitment nor add o-rings, and while she won't be spending much time upside-down, it is a bit of an inconvenience.

On the whole, I really am quite happy about this doll and despite my minor complaints, I am very pleased I acquired her. I use my dolls as reference material for art quite often, so the improved flexibility is a huge bonus to me - I also quite like perching them around my desk, and the added range of motion makes for far more variety in how and where she is perched. If you've been considering getting one, I can honestly encourage doing so.

Edited Sunday at 09:21 AM by kagamik

2 hours ago, kagamik said:

The fox ears, on the other hand, are far less user-friendly in their design. They secure via two ~7mm diameter circular magnets, intended to be placed under the wig. The magnets set into the ears are much weaker than the magnets they are supposed to attach to, and when trying to install the magnets under the wig they were far more inclined to cling to each other than to the ears they are supposed to secure. Once I have the wig I intend to use permanently for her, I will likely opt to glue or tape the magnets in place, but as it stands there is just no way for me to reasonably install them. The tail is super easy to install though - no complaints there! It is gigantic and fluffy and the faux fur is quite soft - it has an internal wire to angle it slightly, but is also stitched to sit at a curve and thus doesn't have much range of motion.

Ah, yes, the "magnets-under-wig"-method. Doesn't work well, IMHO. My solution:

1. Go buy some neodymium magnets at a craft or DIY store, 10 mm diameter or smaller - but no smaller than about 5 mm. 
2. With the wig in place and no magnets yet underneath, figure out where you want to have your animal ears.
3. Without the wig and head cap, hold one of your newly purchased magnets to the inside of the head, and put one of the magnets that go under the wig in place (note magnet polarity, it needs to be correct for the ears). The magnet inside the head will hold the one on the outside in place.
4. Put on the head cap and wig, and check the ear location. You can move the ear around a little, the magnets inside the cap and head should follow.
5. Once you're happy, remove the wig. Use some low-tack masking tape to temporarily tape the outer magnet in place. This is necessary because the next step will likely require temporarily removing the inner magnet.
6. Open the head, glue inner magnet in place. I use 2-part epoxy, but hot glue should also work.
7. Optional: remove masking tape on outer magnet.
8. Repeat for other side.

Result: ears and a wig that can be removed without magnet accidents.

Hoping they release 1.3 frames for the black diamond at some point or my girl will be floppy for life.