Barbie Made to Move Hybrid Advice?

[Kadyssa]

I've wanted a m2m Barbie ever since I first saw a review on The Toy Box Philosopher, but I'm looking for a larger head to put on the body. I think my favorite head options right now are the Mc2 dolls by MGA, or perhaps a Star Darlings head.

Does anyone know how well these heads will fit on the m2m body? Are there other, similar options for heads if those don't? I would love to see pictures of big-headed Made to Move girls!

On something of a side note, no matter what head I get, it will be repainted and rerooted or wigged. I've only ever worked on dolls with soft vinyl heads without inset eyes or real lashes, is there going to be a major difference in the process of the repaint? I'm assuming both Mc2 and Star Darlings have at least moderately soft vinyl heads because they come with rooted hair, (if not so squishy as my Monster Highs) and the only difference with repainting is going to be protecting those eyes/lashes.

[embyquinn]

Cherry has a M2M body and she LOVES it! I have several pictures of her up in the photo galleries, but here are a couple for reference (and because I love any excuse to show off my darling):

[Kadyssa]

Embyquinn, Cherry is the inspiration for my head choice on this hybrid, so your pictures have me incredibly excited to go get the dolls I need! I did a lot of image searching for dolls with inset eyes, but landed on Mc2 or Star Darlings because I can just grab them at Target in the same isle as the M2M body. Can Cherry stand on her own? I've read that the ankles can be a bit weak on the M2M bodies. Also, is her head hard or soft? I've never owned a doll with inset eyes, but the Mc2 heads look pretty similar to Cherry so I'm hoping anything I can learn about Cherry's head will apply to a Mc2 head as well.

[Kd_Bunchanumbers]

I found this Mc2/Barbie hybrid. It's not the mtm body but it should give you a good idea about proportions. (it's not my pic)

https://www.flickr.com/photos/xghoulinax/25329582663/

All inset eye playline dolls have hard vinyl heads so little kids can't just pop the eyes out and choke on them so you need to heat up the head with a heat pad/boiling it/hairdryer before removing the head or the eyes. For rooted hair the head is usually heated up to soften it then rooted, so don't expect the head to be remotely soft at room temperature lol. If you use a hair dryer to soften the head cover the head with a towel so you dont melt the eyes and eyelashes. Boiling water or a heat pad often can't get as hot as a hair dryer so melting isnt as much of an issue.

To repaint hard vinyl is the same as soft vinyl both in method and materials needed so if you got a basic grasp on face ups you're good.

MtM bodies can stand on their own but the tinyyyyyy feet make it hard to balance easily so sturdy big shoes often help with that.

[embyquinn]

@Kadyssa: John hit most of the talking points in the above post. Cherry's MT head is much harder than a MH or Barbie head, but the vinyl is easily softened to pliability with hot water or a hair dryer. I prefer the water because there's less chance of damaging the head, the eyes or the doll's hair.

MGA being the creator of both the MC2 dolls and the Moxie Teenz, I'm sure there's some similarities. I keep meaning to pick up an MC2 to make comparisons. I swear the vinyl on Cherry's head is so firm it almost feels like resin to me. it's not, of course, but it's that sturdy and solid until you soften it with heat.

As for standing, the M2M ankles are pretty limber, so without some ankle support Cherry doesn't stand very well. She balances great, but those darn ankles just FOLD on her. (Since I always had the same problem with EVERY. SINGLE. JOINT. on a Volks body, I can't complain too much.)

[Kadyssa]

Kd_Bunchanumbers, thank you! I had been able to find comparison pictures of Mc2, Monster High, and Barbie, but hadn't been able to find an actual hybrid. Your info on how to work with the hard vinyl is worth its weight in gold as well.

Embyquinn, I hadn't realized Mc2 and Moxie Teenz were made by the same company, that makes me less nervous about the quality of the head. After some more research I think I'm going to try to check my local Goodwill for Liv and Moxie Teens dolls before I decide on a Mc2 head, I might be more motivated to try my hand at wig making than to root my 16th head. I might consider making my own shoes for the M2M bodies if they're that important for balance, I don't think it should be too hard.