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Rach · Member

Limbs on or limbs off?

Tina W. · Guru

Yes, you would have to take him apart prior to painting. If he has factory paint on him then that has to be removed as well before you begin reborning him.

Buffington · Guru

Also, if you don't know how he was put together (ie: elastic fasteners, plastic, misc internal parts) you would especially want to take him apart.

Rach · Member

Again he is a Berenguer. I've taken the factory paint off but his limbs are so hard to remove. He is an all vinyl doll. Seeing as how he is an anotomically correct doll I was hoping that I didn't have to do that. I can't change him into a cloth body unless I do the body plate. Not sure which way to go with this one.
Rach

Play Days Dolls · Guru

Hi,

I was afraid to take dolls apart when I first started reborning so I understand your reluctance to do that.

I was wondering...

How large is the doll?

Is the doll an open or closed eye doll?

What paints are you using?

I'm just trying to picture how you would cure the paint on the entire doll if you did not take it apart and paint each piece individually.

Although I cannot speak for Berenguer and haven't tried this myself, I've heard that the Berenguer factory eyes cannot bear baking temperature and time required to cure heat set paints such as Authentic Reborn, Secrist and Genesis paints.

Tina W. · Guru

I had a similar problem with my Louise kit. I was all vinyl as well. I took the body section and used a cloth body and the vinyl body as a posing option. I thing the softer body gives it the lifelike baby feel we look for in reborning and the body plates add to the realism but still allow for the cuddly baby feel when removed.

Buffington · Guru

If you are having problems with separating the limbs from the torso, you may want to try a short heating of the doll at about 200 degrees F for about 3-4 minutes, then while the doll is hot, try to remove the limbs. If you don't have the head on, it would not be as much of an issue cause you won't have the synthetic lashes and the metal eye backs to worry about. Also, you wouldn't really HAVE to take the limbs apart from the torso (as long as the head comes off) and I have seen where the doll is painted and baked while assembled. I agree with Tina though, the cloth bodies are much more cuddly and you then could use the torso for posing tummy/tushy plates.

Rach · Member

Thank you all so much for your answers. There is certainly food for thought here.
I'm going to take the body apart and use a body plate. Makes more sense.
Yes, I have taken his eyes out as I don't trust something that I know nothing about. All I would need is a face with eyes running down the cheeks. Yuck! Can't wait to get started on this little fellow. He will my first attempt at a black baby. I think that they are so cute.

BTW. What does Avitar mean? I'm still very, very new at this and in here.
Rach

Play Days Dolls · Guru

I think your doll will be a cutie, and I think you will be happy with the body plate choice. I hope you can post a photo when you finish.

Avatar is the photo you can choose to represent you in the forum. Do you see the red headed doll that appears when I post something? That's my avatar. There's a place to choose an avatar in your profile settings.

I've seen where several people choose one of their reborn dolls as an avatar. Within the signature of the message (lines at the bottom of the message), the avatar image is described as "Current avatar: (kit name)" Signature and avatar are both located within the profile settings.

I hope this answers the question. If you need more help, please let us know.

Rach · Member

Thank you Linda,
I was trying to think of what the letters stood for. If I can ever find 15 min. in a day, I might have one done by Christmas.

Rach

Play Days Dolls · Guru

I hear you. The old saying is "time goes fast when you're having fun" so we must be having fun? I don't know how some of the more prolific artists find the time to create so many beautiful dolls.

I had to laugh when you said you were trying to think of what the letters in AVATAR stood for. That's the sign there are too many abbreviations to remember.