davidd's A DOLL A DAY 2026

[davidd]

Interesting setting!

I've been pulling my old "Bratz story" room box out of mothballs (aka back of the storage shed) to use in photo-story games on one of the action figure forums.

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I've mostly been doing "real life" stuff lately, and what "toy time" I've squeezed in has been centered around crafting brief photo-story game responses for a couple of the action figure forums. I don't feel entirely comfortable posting too many "action figure" photos to "doll forums.". As a result, I haven't had a lot of enthusiasm for staying current in my A Doll A Day posts.

I'll try to catch up... again... but I don't know how long I can keep this going. I feel my interest shifting toward story games rather than random doll photos.

Here is an assortment of 1/6-scale (Barbie doll size) characters who have appeared in or will appear in one of the ongoing action figure photo games:

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7 May - A Doll A Day 2026:

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Trekkie Girl

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8 May - A Doll A Day 2026:

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Nicolette Arkham

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9 May - A Doll A Day 2026:

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Basil Leyland

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10 May - A Doll A Day 2026:

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Sister Taube of the Order of the Sisters of Little Mercy

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11 May - A Doll A Day 2026:

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"King" or "E" or "King 'E'" or "Ellis 'King' Prescott"

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12 May - A Doll A Day 2026:

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Oscar the Dog

[Alliecat]

So the "doll chat" thing is working this time? I recall you saying nobody wanted to play.
Life Stuff is a serious downer on dolly time.

I don't feel entirely comfortable posting too many "action figure" photos to "doll forums.".

Yeah. There are so many people here who'd be offended

[davidd]

So the "doll chat" thing is working this time?  I recall you saying nobody wanted to play.

The Doll Chat Game on the Men With Dolls forum has been totally dead for months. The Doll Chat Game on One Sixth Figures will slow for a while and will then pick up again. Most forum members still insist on replying with comments rather than replying with a PICTURE with a comment underneath it. I mean, it's not that hard, is it? Rachel and Lexxi don't think so:

13 May - A Doll A Day 2026:

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[Alliecat]

I dunno... if people don't have time/can't be bothered to take a random picture, they're maybe not likely to take a reply-picture AND add a caption....?
I don't have anything to say about fries... >shrug<

[davidd]

I dunno... if people don't have time/can't be bothered to take a random picture, they're maybe not likely to take a reply-picture AND add a caption....?
I don't have anything to say about fries... >shrug<  

Stand a doll on your desk where you're sitting right now. Snap a pic with your phone. Done.

You don't have anything to say about fries? Don't you live in Canada? Isn't poutine a dietary staple in Canada? Isn't poutine basically fries with goop on them?

You'd be surprised -- or not -- at how wide-ranging a discussion about fries can be: history, culture, international rivalry, and random off-topic-ness.

Mostly randomness.

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14 May - A Doll A Day 2026:

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WOO HOO! Grail Fig!

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Go Hero / Castaway Toys Flash Gordon - circa 2010 release

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A "grail doll" is a doll, toy, or action figure that somebody would like to own one day that is either challenging to find or prohibitively eensive.

I have hoped to one day own a Go Hero / Castaway Toys Flash Gordon 1/6-scale (12 inch) action figure since seeing one pictured in MiskatonicNick's photostream back in 2013. When I was a kid I was a rabid fan of the 1930s Flash Gordon movie serials. TV horror movie host Bob Wilkins used to run Flash Gordon during the "Creature Features" program on KTVU out of Oakland, California. KTVU was one of the first exotic and distant channels available when cable television became available where I grew up.

Back in 2013 when I learned about this Flash Gordon action figure, based on the likeness of screen actor Buster Crabbe, the figure was already sold out at retailers and prices on the secondary market seemed prohibitive. The Go Hero Flash Gordon is not really a true "grail" figure because it is not particularly difficult to find. Prices, however, have always tended to be more than what I have been able or willing to pay, so for me, the figure qualifies as a "grail" item.

A few years ago I found a partial costume set for the figure at a price I was willing to pay. I figured that was probably going to be the closest I would ever come to acquiring a Go Hero Flash Gordon action figure.

Recently I randomly searched for the figure once again on eBay, and I found one complete-without-box for what seemed like a reasonable price; or reasonable compared to what they usually sell for. I happened to have funds available -- an uncommon coincidence in itself -- so here it is: a complete Go Hero / Castaway Toys Flash Gordon action figure, including ray pistol, ray rifle, and miniature rocketship.

[davidd]

15 May - A Doll A Day 2026:

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Frank Walker

[Alliecat]

Yeah, I don't do phone snaps, except when I'm travelling with no laptop.
Where I'm sitting right now?  Ha.  On the porch in the dark because it is a very rare quiet evening, and even the incessantly barking dogs have stopped momentarily.  It got too dark to see my notes to work on articles  ...HOWEVER... since the pot fumes have started up again from the OTHER side, I will probably be going in soon.  This effin place.... 
Ugh, poutine; yeah it's a Thing.  Cholesterol special.... doesn't float my boat.
OK den... last night I had some really good grocery-store frozen fries; they are always nicely crispy.  I may have slightly charred them though.  Sigh.  I did not pose a doll with them, so I guess it doesn't count 

YAY for getting a grail figure!  Congrats.  Yes, being too ex$pensive definitely counts.  And hey, you opened the box!  Hope he gives you some fun ideas for photoshoots.
Frank's realistic detail is terrific.

[davidd]

And hey, you opened the box!  

 The figure did not include the original box, only the liner tray, so it was already opened!

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16 May - A Doll A Day 2026:

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Arcturus Hathaway aka Mr. Arcturus

[Alliecat]

Well, I mean, you’ve posted pictures of “I got this months ago and still haven’t opened the shipping box”, so that’s what I meant …
Is this guy a particular movie character?

[davidd]

Well, I mean, you’ve posted pictures of “I got this months ago and still haven’t opened the shipping box”, so that’s what I meant … 
Is this guy a particular movie character?

Yeah, I still have some of those "shipping box" figs around here someplace. Flash managed to avoid Dolly Limbo.

The "Arcturus Hathaway" character is one I made up. Somebody on one of the forums once mentioned that the head resembles some actor I've never heard of portraying a character I've never heard of in a streaming series I've never heard of.

I based the character name on an advertising campaign for a brand of dress shirts from the 1950s:

https://www.sitepoint.com/50-cent-eye-pa...lar-story/

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17 May - A Doll A Day 2026:

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Tag Challenge (courtesy of Flickr member Rooners Toy Photography and resurrected by BlondeActionMan aka BAMComix):

If a global rise of zombies threatened the very existence of humanity... what team would you assemble to save the day?

Are you up to the challenge? If so, choose a Team Leader, Brawler, Weapons Ex-pert, Brains, Medic, Speed Fighter, and a Mascot.

Optional: guy who dies first.

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Zombie Apocalypse Team

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My 2026 team (left to right):

Medic: Sister Taube of The Convent of the Sisters of Little Mercy
Her medical specialty is administering Last Rites.

Speed Fighter: Nicolette Arkham
Lithe, quick, and silent -- until she cuts loose with her weapon of choice, a Thompson sub-machinegun in .45 caliber.

Mascot: a big dog, Great Dane or some such.
Name? How 'bout we call him Oscar!

Brawler: King "E"
"E" acted in films back in the day. Every film had at least one fight scene. "E" usually prevailed. For this assignment "E" is channeling his character from a pictured called "Paradise: Hawaiian Style."

Brains: Frank Walker
Frank is a reclusive and ill-tempered inventor rumored to be familiar with time travel; some say he lived in Tomorrowland for a while.

Weapons Ex-pert: Basil Leyland
Basil claims to have taught special weapons tactics to legendary WWII SAS operatives Stirling and Mayne. Or course, Basil makes a lot of claims.

Guy (or  in this case, gal) who dies first: Trekkie Girl
The reason should be obvious.

Team Leader: Arcturus Hathaway, known as Mister Arcturus
Rich guy. The rich guy is always in charge. Plus, he's a sharp dresser.

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Original prompt: Rooner's Toy Photography - 2013

Resurrected prompt: Dal Lee aka  BAMComix - 2026
My 2013 team
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Just for fun: AI images using the photo above as an image prompt:
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Pulp Novel prompt
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Disney prompt
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Anime prompt

[Alliecat]

Sounds like a fun challenge. Although I’m not sure we need zombies to effect the demise of humanity
I chuckled at the guy who dies being any Sean Bean character.
If I wasn’t so exhausterwhelmulated on a daily basis I might give it a try.