Creating a 'stunt reborn'

Baby Talk
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Trigger warning: reborn doll being ‘hurt’

I’m part of a group where we do all kinds of shows. Historical, fantasy, tv shows, movies, anything really. I’ve used my reborns as props before, but always only carried around by me or a trusted friend, and being very gentle with them.
Now I’ve been asked if it’s possible to create a stunt baby. Basically a realistic looking doll that can be tossed around, dropped, dangled from a limb and so on.

Now I’ve been thinking of ways to create one and since we’ve got so many creative people here I was wondering if anyone had any imput or good ideas for this.

So far I’m thinking a cuddle reborn made from a test head to keep the costs low. Bald head. Basic paint job. Maybe sewing my own cuddle body from sturdy fabric and just sewing the limbs down instead of using joints that can pop off. And possibly gluing the head flange to the body along with a zip tie.

I’m undecided on what to use for weight. If it does fall I don’t want it to sound like a bean bag being dropped. And I don’t want to risk something coming loose and having glass beads everywhere.

I know the paint job is gonna be scratched, but I’m not too bothered by that. I’ll simply fix it as needed and if it’s too destroyed I can always make a new doll.

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Might I suggest a cuddle baby that has 1/4 limbs or at least hands? I just think they look more realistic that way. As for weighting, You might experiment with the zinc coated BBs. They can more easily be placed in arms and legs of a cloth body like that. That is what I used in my 1/4 preemie silicone I did in 2013. I have since opened him up to check on the BBs and they are as shiny silver as the day I put them in. So they do hold up fine if you get the zinc coated ones.

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1/4 hands is definitely a good idea! Legs can usually be covered up easily to fit outfits but hands are indeed harder.
The zinc coated BBs are an interesting idea. I’m assuming you’d need less of them to get the same weight as glass beads?

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I am not sure…I have never compared the weight of the two. They are at least about the same per overall volume in a trouser sock I think.

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Allright thanks, I’ll see if I can find one and experiment with those.

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1/2 cup BBS weigh 1 pound and 2 ounces
1/2 cup of BT3 glass beads weigh 6.2 ounces

I am guessing that glass beads that are finer than the BT-3 size would weigh more for 1/2 cup.

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So they are a lot heavier. Good to know because I may go back to using them in the body cavity since the Size 1 glass beads seem to be out of stock these days.

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