Total newbie to dolls - need a basic rundown, please!

[barbgirl1999]

Aaaaand, I'm back!  Here you go...

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RS 61cm-Pukipuki by barbgirl1999, on Flickr]

WOH the size comparison when they are all together is rather awesome...so many dolly types!!
(also, why does Lex have no shoes? he seems miffed by this.)

Hahaha, yeah...I had to stand on a chair to get them all in the pic!  And only you would notice that Lex isn't wearing shoes...AND recognize the look in his eye, lol.  One of his shoes got lost  in the move, and all I have for him now are rubbery Ken shoes which I'm scared will get stuck on his feet.  So, he sits barefoot in the window and glares at me 24/7.

[Pickenprod]

Aaaaand, I'm back!  Here you go...

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RS 61cm-Pukipuki by barbgirl1999, on Flickr]

  Farthest to the left is my Resinsoul Gang   He's a 61cm tall resin bjd and costs $195 new, direct from the factory.  RS dolls come bald and nude, with a random pair of eyes.
  Next is my Luts Delf Soony - I got her from the market on DoA for about $550...she's the most expensive doll I have, and I adore her. 
  Resinsoul Ai was the first doll I bought new from the company - She's about $195 as well.  Look at those hooves!  And her horns are attached with magnets, so you can move them around a bit on her head.
  Next is my recast Fairyland Chloe - She's an MSD-sized BJD, about 42cm tall.
  The redhead is Ellowynde Wilde, she's a plastic fashion doll designed by the Tonner Doll Company.  I got her from eBay for $60, nude.
  Next are a couple of Jun Planning dolls - My Taeyang, Meguna...and Pullip, Cornice.  Cornice has been put on an obitsu body, and both have been re-wigged.  Pullips can be bought used from various places (dollymarket, live journal, ebay, etc) or new.  They can range anywhere from $60-$200 for most, but way more expensive for some limiteds or older ones.
  The next girl is a Blythe, Mademoiselle Rosebud.  I got her used for $100...again, they can range in price from $100 and up, depending on the doll.
  Next is Monster High Dot Dead Gorgeous Draculaura - Monster High girls retail for $15-$30ish, usually.
  Bratzillaz - Meygana...these girls just came out this year and cost $15-$20.
  LaDeeDa - $15-$20, depending on the store.
  Bratz - $10-$30 retail, depending on the doll/wave
  Recast Pukifee Pong - 16cm, I think...SO CUTE!
  Legit PukiPuki Madeline - 11cm and about $180

*WHEW*  So, there you go...some things to look at.  You can definitely take a look at my Flickr for more pics, too.  I am a little spastic with my camera, haha!

WOW, thank you so much for all this info! (and glad to see Resinsouls are within my grasp if ever I decide to take the leap.) Thanks to all the others, as well

By the way, what materials are BJDs usually made out of? You said resin like it's an uncommon thing.

[Vertefae]

It's polyurethane synthetic resin, a hard, dense plastic. It doesn't feel like plastic toys however. The texture is like a mixture of plastic and porcelain. It reflects light almost like skin does.

[barbgirl1999]

It's polyurethane synthetic resin, a hard, dense plastic. It doesn't feel like plastic toys however. The texture is like a mixture of plastic and porcelain. It reflects light almost like skin does.

^This.  I specified resin for mine because not ALL ball-jointed dolls are made of resin.  There are a few companies out there that make them out of other forms of plastic (Hujoo, Ashton-Drake, etc)   ^_^ 

[lovesbabysquirmy]

It really depends on the scale that you want to collect.  From there, it's all about how much money you want to spend, and how poseable you want your dolls to be.

If you are into miniatures then the really small BJDs might be for you, or Kelly from the Barbie line, things that are 1:12 in scale. 

If you like Barbies and MH, and things of that mid-size nature, those are 1:6 scale.

American Girl dolls and other 18" dolls tend to be 1:3 and they require a bit more space for furniture and playsets and display. 

There are larger scales of BJD dolls than 1:3 obviously as you can see, but yeah... it kind of boils down to how much space you want your dolls to take up. 

[xkelpiex]

Wait...Barbgirl, what are recasts? Like...bootleg dolls? And I'm not asking this to be rude, I'm just super curious!

[little.fox]

Wait...Barbgirl, what are recasts? Like...bootleg dolls? And I'm not asking this to be rude, I'm just super curious!

You've answered your own question, xkelpiex. Recasts are when BJD molds are stolen and cast by someone other than the legal owner of that sculpt.

[Vertefae]

Actually the molds aren't stolen. Usually the recaster buys a legit doll and makes a mold from that doll.

[little.fox]

Actually the molds aren't stolen. Usually the recaster buys a legit doll and makes a mold from that doll.

I didn't mean stolen as in they break in and take molds from the factory , but they are still using molds they haven't got rights to. If you reproduce someone elses piece of art and sell it on, that is theft in my book.

[Vertefae]

Actually the molds aren't stolen. Usually the recaster buys a legit doll and makes a mold from that doll.

I didn't mean stolen as in they break in and take molds from the factory , but they are still using molds they haven't got rights to. If you reproduce someone elses piece of art and sell it on, that is theft in my book.

Oh, thats totally fine I just had this image of someone donning a spy get up and breaking into a factory through a skylight or something. LOL

[little.fox]

Actually the molds aren't stolen. Usually the recaster buys a legit doll and makes a mold from that doll.

I didn't mean stolen as in they break in and take molds from the factory , but they are still using molds they haven't got rights to. If you reproduce someone elses piece of art and sell it on, that is theft in my book.

Oh, thats totally fine I just had this image of someone donning a spy get up and breaking into a factory through a skylight or something. LOL

Can you imagine someone fleeing a crime scene with armfuls of dolls? I imagine they would be sent straight to the asulym if caught! 

[Vertefae]

LOL Now that's going to be an image for the rest of the day!