Blurred backgrounds are inevitable with my setup (large sensor and telephoto lens up close). I'm struggling to get wider depth of field, if anything (stopping down would trigger sharpness decrease from diffraction, and I am too lazy for focus stacking).
VeryCool hands have smaller peg holes than TBLeague hands. And are less malleable. They don't easily fit TBLeague metallic pegs, unless you ream it a little.
The other way around, though, works rather well. I actually intend to replace my Catch Me hands with TBLeague ones because her packaged hands are quite badly sculpted, especially trigger hands (curiously, Villa's hands are better).
But that's the next step. For now I am happy to report that the head I was waiting for has been delivered, and it is as I have imagined, or better:
This is Super Duck SDMINI001. Head only, I did not order the whole Nier Automata 2B kit.
Technically the head didn't fit right away, even though it is designed for TBLeague neck joint, and VeryCool heads fit them too. Oh well, transitivity and symmetry are are not applicable in real space. The hole was too small, and material is rather stiff (there is no rubber socket in there), but I was able to make it work.
The headband and eye mask were also included -
- but I don't intend to use them because I envision her as an original character deserving her own name (Naming is a dark art, but I'll most likely settle on Kate).
I still want to customize her further. TBLeague hands (as mentioned above), different kneepads, also not sure whether I'll keep these gun holsters, or opt for two symmetric ones, or just one sidearm in addition to a sniper rifle.
I've also found a more detailed HK-416 than the one packaged with her. But it can be reserved for
Villa's long lost twin sister,
when if they reunite.