1:6 SCALE DOLL TUTORIAL
My tutorial may not assist the purist 1/6 scale doll collector who keeps their collection unboxed. Choosing that route is the best way to keep your items pristine and maintain the greatest dollar value if you ever decide to resell them.
But for the rest of us that remove it from the box as soon as humanly possible, dress and redress, or pose them proudly in displays, you may find helpful info below. This tutorial will cover 1/6 scale dolls in my collection and will have my personal opinions of usage. No assumptions will be made of other types of dolls on the market.
INTEGRITY TOYS
A U.S. fashion doll company with many lines of both female and male dolls such as:
(1) Fashion Royalty
(2) NuFace
(3) Poppy Parker
(4) Industry
(5) Meteor
(6) Dynamite Girls
(7) Monogram
(8) Victoire Roux & East 59th Collection
(9) Color Infusion
My first doll when I was four was a Julia Barbie made for a TV Show starring Diahann Carroll. I will always be grateful to Mattel for helping me start my love for doll collecting. I’ve collected them for decades until 2007 when I first discovered an Integrity Toys Fashion Royalty doll on eBay. Their body articulation fascinated me and opened up a whole new doll-related hobby.
ACCESSIBLE: Integrity Toys is a family-owned American company that’s big enough to put out 50+ new doll models per year, but small enough that the owners and doll designers will shake your hand and meet you at their annual doll conventions. I’ve been a member of the W-Club for many years and the company keeps its customers appraised of all new lines, shipping news, and conventions by emailing us personally. Mattel doesn’t know I exist.
ARTICULATION: All the lines of dolls listed here are fully articulated: head, elbows, wrists, breastplates, at times waists, knees, and sometimes ankles. They pose close to action figures, while still looking like ladies ready to stomp the runway.
QUALITY: Their fashion sense and quality are unmatched in the fashion doll manufacturing world. Jason Wu has designed many dolls for this company. Their bodies are durable over the years, with the least amount of degradation both from staining, or falling apart than other dolls in their price range.
FIT ALL MY STORY NEEDS: My readers have asked me why I mainly use Integrity Toys girls in all my stories. Action figure females and Mattel Barbies miss 1 or more of the four needs below. Integrity girls tick all the boxes:
(1) ARTICULATION: they’re articulated enough to pose as humans and have removable hands with lots of different hand expressions.
(2) CLOTHING: All types of affordable clothing and shoes are widely available From Integrity Toys as well as many other sources.
(3) HUMAN FACES: Their faces are close enough to look human to be my characters. Their head sculpts are made of a harder vinyl material that photographs well in the same lighting as my resin action figure head sculpts. Filming scenes with the same lighting for all characters is easier.
(4) DURABILITY: Their bodies are durable enough to handle years of redressing and posing.
Fashion Royalty Line
HEIGHT: 12.5″ (31.75 cm)
NUMBER OF BODY TYPES: Six (FR1.0, FR2.0, FR3.0, FR4.0, FR5.0 and FR6.0)
BREASTPLATE SIZE: Medium (Barbie larger sized)
FEET/SHOE SIZE: Large, Integrity Shoes Only
All lines of Integrity Toys use the same variety the skin tones, with new ones being introduced every few years. Head sculpts for each line are sometimes interchangeable, not only within the lines (Fashion Royalty, NU-Face, Color Infusion, etc.) but represented in almost all of the skin tones. Below is a gallery of different head sculpts in my collection that I have at least 5 of and come on Fashion Royalty bodies the majority of the time.
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Fashion Royalty Bodies
BODY MODELS: Currently in my collection I have these three body types:
(1) The FR3.0 ‘Tall Body’
(a) TORSO: Large breastplate, horizontal swivel waist, and has a slight hunchback posture due to the tiny waist.
(b) FEET: Barbie length, with wider toes and a space between the big toe & the other toes. May widen and wreck plastic Barbie shoes, Integrity Toys shoes are recommended.
(c) HANDS: Standard hands have been provided with most dolls.
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(2) The FR4.0 Body
(a) TORSO: More natural shaped medium/large breastplate, flexible snapping waist, more squared-off knees and sturdier legs. Warning: FR4.0 and FR5.0 has a durable torso system that may pinch human skin when snapping back into place.
(b) FEET: longer and thinner, only fit Barbie shoes if there is a slit in the back and they can hang off the back of the shoe. There is no space between toes, Integrity Toys shoes are recommended.
(c) HANDS: Standard hands + extra set of hands that match the fashion set (i.e. gloved, gripped for prop, etc.)
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(3) FR6.0 Body:
(a) TORSO: More natural shaped medium/large breastplate, waist is now one piece. Arms can be removed, and legs from knees down can be switched out for different feet for some doll sets.
(b) FEET: Same size as FR4.0 and 5.0.
(c) HANDS: Standard hands + extra set of hands that match the fashion set (i.e. gloved, gripped for a prop, etc.) Newer dolls have come with long-nailed hands.
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NU-Face Line
HEIGHT: 12.5″ (31.75 cm)
NUMBER OF BODY TYPES: Three (NU1.0, NU2.0 and NU3.0)
BREASTPLATE SIZE: Small
FEET/SHOE SIZE: Large, Integrity Shoes only
This line has a smaller breastplate, use the same exchangeable hands, heads and shoes. Their clothing size varies slightly.
Integrity Toys has a strong base of head sculpts that they reuse yearly with new hairstyles, colors, skin tones, makeup and outfits. Below is a gallery of different head sculpts in my collection that I have at least 5 of. There are many more heads that usually come on the NU-Face body described below.
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NU-Face Bodies
The three NU-Face bodies have gone through the exact same evolutional changes as the Fashion Royalty bodies above with a smaller breastplate. The 1.0 had the same feet as the FR3.0 with a different breastplate that will also be on the Dynamite Girls listed below.
The NF2.0 and NF3.0 models have a fuller breastplate while still keeping them smaller than the Fashion Royalty bodies.
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Poppy Parker Line
HEIGHT: 11.5″ (31.75 cm) to 12″ ( cm)
NUMBER OF BODY TYPES: Two (Poppy1.0 and Poppy2.0)
BREASTPLATE SIZE: Medium Small
FEET/SHOE SIZE: Standard Fashion Doll – Barbie & Integrity Shoes
This line is very specific with most dolls being styled with 1960’s fashions and themes. The head sculpt used is the one below along with a sprinkling of ‘friends of Poppy’ for special sets.
Poppy Parker Bodies
BODY MODELS: Currently in my collection I have:
(1) The Poppy 1.0 Body
(a) TORSO: Medium breastplate with smaller Dynamite Girl torso/hips.
(b) FEET: Barbie-sized with flat-flex-feet that can change position.
(c) HANDS: Poppy hands with more space between fingers.
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(2) The Poppy 2.0 Body
(a) TORSO: Medium breastplate with smaller Dynamite Girl torso/hips.
(b) FEET: Barbie-sized heeled feet. Some fashion sets come with a 2nd set of legs from the knee down with the original flat-flex-feet.
(c) HANDS: Poppy hands with more space between fingers.
HEAD TYPES: Poppy only has the head sculpt shown in the photo above. However this line may have additional friends of Poppy both Male and Female using other sculps which I currently don’t have in my collection.
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Dynamite Girl Line
HEIGHT: 12″
NUMBER OF BODY TYPES: Two (DG1.0 and DG2.0)
BREASTPLATE SIZE: Small
FEET/SHOE SIZE: Standard Fashion Doll – Barbie & Integrity Shoes
This line is no longer being manufactured. Finding new, boxed Dynamite Girls will cost much more than their original budget under $100/doll prices. My collection has as many of these bodies as I could get before they were discontinued because it’s by far my favorite body used in my stories.
Dynamite Girl Bodies
The legs and arms received an upgrade for 2.0. I have 1.0 models in my collection, but rarely if ever use them in stories anymore due to their lack of articulation compared to 2.0.
HEAD TYPES: Their faces are best for under 18 teens in my stories. I tend to only use their bodies, putting Fashion Royalty, NU-Face and Barbie heads on them instead to shorten my girls for the action figure boys. It’s all about making the boys looker taller.
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Industry Line
HEIGHT: 12″ ( cm)
NUMBER OF BODY TYPES: Two (DG1.0 and DG2.0)
BREASTPLATE SIZE: Small
FEET/SHOE SIZE: Standard Fashion Doll – Barbie & Integrity Shoes
This line picks up where the Dynamite Girls line left off. The bodies are similar with the same breastplate as the NU-Face girls. They’re slightly taller than Dynamite Girls, with the same small foot that fits in Barbie shoes as well as Integrity Toys shoes.
Industry Bodies
HEAD TYPES: The Binx head in the gallery below is the only Industry head sculpt I have. So far these dolls have been rarely introduced and too high priced for me to start collecting them like I did Dynamite Girls. The bodies I have were purchased 2nd hand through eBay. I’m crossing my fingers to collect more in the future.
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Meteor Line
HEIGHT: 12.5″ ( cm)
NUMBER OF BODY TYPES: One (M1.0)
BREASTPLATE SIZE: Large
FEET/SHOE SIZE: Large, Integrity Shoes Only
This body is the East 59th Torso with Fashion Royalty FR6.0 legs
Meteor Bodies
HEAD TYPES: There is only 1 of these in my collection so far: Amirah ‘Breaking Dawn’. I’ve cut her hair, and she’s currently a co-star in ‘Claudia & Gerard’. So far, the line has presented some interesting dolls, which sold out before I could purchase them, so we’ll see what the future holds.
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Victoire Roux & East 59th Line
HEIGHT: 12″ ( cm)
NUMBER OF BODY TYPES: Two (Victorie1.0 and 2.0 A.K.A. East 59th)
BREASTPLATE SIZE: Very Large
FEET/SHOE SIZE: Small, Barbie & Integrity Shoes
East 59th Bodies
HEAD TYPES: I wasn’t a fan of the older Victoire Roux line of heads which had skinny pinched faces which were too cartoonish. But I like where the East 59th girls are going. I have two so far, and I’ll keep collecting as money permits. These girls are lovely, usually with fashion and hair having historical references to the 40’s and 50’s which is lovely.
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Color Infusion Line
HEIGHT: 12.5″ ( cm)
NUMBER OF BODY TYPES: Unknown
BREASTPLATE SIZE: Large (between Poppy and East 59th)
FEET/SHOE SIZE: Very Large, Integrity Color Infusion Shoes Only
The one female Color Infusion body purchased was immediately sold. The body was too tall for my usage, a little over 12.5″, with even larger feet that only fit Color Infusion shoes. Limited supply of expensive shoes in this size wasn’t an economical choice for me, personally.
These often sell at Integrity Toys annual conventions and not during the year. I purchased two Hommes below and one female head at a convention I personally attended. Without attending this line hasn’t been cost-effective to purchase second-hand.
Homme – Male Line
HEIGHT: 13″ ( cm)
NUMBER OF BODY TYPES: Two (Homme1.0, Homme2.0)
FEET/SHOE SIZE: Standard 1/6 Male length – Some action figure slip-on shoes will fit and Integrity Shoes
The five Hommes in the gallery below are in my collection.
Homme Male Bodies
Integrity Toys has released many of their Hommes within other lines such as Poppy Parker, Dynamite Girls, Industry, Color Infusion, East 59th and their own line; The Monarchs. Their bodies from 1.0 to 2.0 have been upgraded to include removable hands and feet.
STORY NEEDS NOT MET: My readers have are always curious why I don’t often use Integrity Toys Boys with the Girls in all my stories. Yes, their faces do match the girls better. But unfortunately, these boys are lacking in too many of my needs:
(1) ARTICULATION: The biggest reason is their lack of articulation. Their heads barely move up or down or side to side. Their chest plates provide no torso movement, they can barely sit up in a chair. Their hips stop their thighs from moving above a 180-degree angle. Their knees and elbows have very limited range. They have two or three removable hand options and they’re not very expressive. Body language is everything in my stories if their faces can’t move, these boys can only look like dolls, never people. There are videos on YouTube where collectors have taken them apart and ‘fixed’ them. I’m not brave or skilled enough to do that kind of surgery on such expensive dolls. I’d cry if I completely broke one of them and couldn’t use them at all.
(2) CLOTHING: they’re the only figures that are 13″ tall equivalent of 6’6″ humans. They don’t have a “Big and Tall” doll clothing shop. These boy’s pants are all too short unless they’re from Integrity Toys or from the few custom websites or Etsy shops that make pants for these boys.
(3) FACE SCULPTS: their faces are close enough to look human but… they’re designed both in fashions and faces to be Integrity Girls fashionable LGBTQ+ friend, not a romantic partner. My girls need boyfriends, husbands and lovers. These boys are very handsome, with really nice rooted hair. My girls wished they loved them back, but they’re more into each other. If they had more articulation, I could star them in more LGBTQ+ stories…. And since they made a Ru-Paul… how about making some boys in drag?? Hmmm, Integrity Toys… are ya listening?
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INTEGRITY TOYS HOW-TO VIDEOS:
REMOVING DOLL HEADS SAFELY
FIXING KNEE JOINTS
FIXING NECK JOINTS
MENG Body on AliExpress
(Chinese knock-off of Fashion Royalty Body)
Meng (Fashion Doll Body)
This body provides a Fashion Royalty body replacement, with a neck that fits most action figure female heads. Now action figure girls can wear all my fashion doll clothing and shoes, yea!!!!
Articulation: The same as an Integrity Toys Fashion doll, knees and elbows do not fully bend like action figure bodies. Less articulation.
Installation of Heads: Easy slip-on/slip-off installation of most action figure heads after removing rubber head insert used for ball neck connection. Also works for Barbie and Integrity Toys heads.
Hands set sold separately on AliExpress
Country of Origin: China
Where to Purchase: Heads: any action figure store online, as well as eBay and AliExpress. Bodies: AliExpress, search for this phrase “Joints Body for FR” and there will be many vendors that sell them.
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MATTEL INC.
A U.S. doll company with many lines of both female and male dolls such as:
(1) Barbie
(2) Ken
(3) Skipper
(4) Kelly
Mattel – Barbie (All Lines)
Mattel Barbie has been around for 50+ years for a reason… they’ve created magic and imagination in millions of little girls around the world, me included.
So, I won’t attempt to go through all the various Mattel Barbie lines that have been produced in the last half a century. My Barbies are mainly ones made since 2007, with a few exceptions where I’ve purchased older barbies for their outfits.
Barbie Articulated Bodies
I use Barbies whenever I can, where I can. However, the limitations below stop me from using them for more characters:
STORY NEEDS NOT MET:
(1) ARTICULATION: Only the ‘Made-To-Move’ body has enough articulation to use in stories, but the hands are not removable and are only have 1 expression. I have too many tiny sleeves that need the hands removed before the arm is put through it.
(3) HUMAN FACES: The celebrity faces are really good, but Barbie designers round off everyone’s nose so they all look childlike, more doll than human. Also, the soft vinyl used for their heads absorbs light in a completely different way than Integrity toys harder heads and action figure resin heads. Photographing Barbies in conjunction with those other dolls often leads to the Barbie facing turning out fuzzy, or out-of-focus while the other dolls are clear. It’s far more difficult to light a scene for mixed doll heads.
I do like that Barbie heads have an almost identical neck hole which can be installed easily on Integrity Toys bodies. Most of my Barbie heads are on Integrity Toys Dynamite Girl bodies to give them more articulation.
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Mattel – Ken
Mattel has been making endless models of the Ken doll for 50 years. My collection only has the five Kens below, all articulated at the elbows, knees, wrists and ankles:
Ken Articulated Bodies
They have smaller than standard feet so standing on their own without shoes is challenging. Their hips are more flexible than Integrity Toys Hommes, so with the same knee maximum bend, they can get in more natural human positions. See their articulations in the gallery below. They’re a nice inexpensive choice for boys, but compared to action figure heads, these boys look far too young next to my Integrity Toys girls,to get lead roles in my stories. Maybe when I write a young adult story.
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