Doll of the Week is a weekly published collection of articles interviewing owners of the mold of the week. These articles are intended for introducing people to the versatility of the weekly doll molds and helping people be more knowledgeable about a possible future purchase. Created and distributed by Iplehouse, Akando is the featured doll of this week.

Photos by: PamSD

Where did you buy your Akando? How long did it take? Why did you choose this purchase method?

I bought him directly from Iplehouse. I ordered in mid November, he arrived January 26.
It was along time to wait BUT the company was having some in house issues in their art department. They were very behind with orders and I think the unexpected popularity of this new line caught them unprepared.

Why did you choose Akando?(What factored in your decision to choose it? Like was it it’s skintone, body, posing, and so on?)

I started collecting dolls about 10 yrs ago. I collected 16″ fashion dolls. Mature looking models that could wear today’s clothing styles. When I started collecting BJDs, I was drawn to the more mature sculpts. I was also a comic book reader: Xmen, Spiderman, Superman. I have always wished a company would do a super hero body. I could both get hobbies in one!

It was hard not to buy the full set Akando when he first came out, but I learned my lesson with Cocori. “Wait for the basic.” I am glad I waited. I like the Normal Skin tone better than the tan and I had the option to buy without the upper thigh mobility joint which I had glued on my Cocori.

What parts of your Akando do you find different from the company’s photo’s/information on Akando’s?(For example, do it’s eyes seem bigger in real life than the photos, is it’s sculpt more dimensional in real life than the photos, is it taller than the height stated by the company, and so on.)

I didn’t find any surprises from the photos on the site to real life. He’s a very well put together doll. I will say that when you open his box there is no way to prepare for how BIG he is…not tall…BIG. He weighs in at 7 lbs and it takes two hands around his torso to pick him up. I am building muscles just dressing him.

Who did the face up? If custom, why did you choose this face up?

Granger has a face up that I did myself. I chose to make him the character from the fantasy novel I am writing. He needed to be mature but somehow youthful at the same time since he is approaching his middle age at 150 yrs old. He’s not the first male face up I’ve done but possibly the best. When I painted fashion dolls I was better at men’s faces than women’s. I just love those low male brows.

Where do you get your Akando’s clothes? If bought, are you happy with the selection available for your Akando? If not, what do you wish more for? If you make your Akando’s clothes yourself, is it easy to find material to make clothes for your Akando? Is it difficult or easy to make clothes for a doll this size?

I make clothing for all sizes bigger than MSD for a living. So 90% of Granger’s wardrobe is made right here in my sewing room. I have a moccasin pattern made for him but I still need to buy shoes from Iplehouse….and jeans. I just don’t make jeans because they are time prohibitive. Fabric is pretty easy to find for him. He’s such a large scale that the shopping is much easier than say for Narae. Like every new body shape he has challenges in pattern making. His enormous arms and the bulk in his chest are two.

I wish for more shoes in a wider variety. True combat boots would rock and cowboy boots.
oh, and knee high English riding boots….hmmm…looks like a theme huh?

Are you happy with the posing/body/sculpt?(For example, do you wish the doll was taller, more range in joint movements, a smile, and so on.)

I love his face. The basic head sculpt is so powerful without paint. I am working on two sleeping heads now and a “gentle” head. All of them have the same amazing lips.

There is a definite learning curve for his jointing. Mostly for his elbows and knees. It is important to pull the joint out before bending to get the folding on the joint so he can touch his face. That said, at least he can touch his face. I do think I will wire his arms since his arm posing is limited unless the joint is out. I like his chest joint immensely. Its very nicely fitted and in pictures you can almost pretend its not there at all.
Oh, and did I mention his Butt? wow.

Visit PamSD at Dolllovely.

A small gallery of PamSD’s Granger:

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