[YES] Colt the Coyote Head and Tail by Skinned Studio The item being reviewed is 3 years old and may not reflect the makers current style, or work. Maker Information Skinned Studio Year of Project2023 Completion Time (?)2+ Years ETA AccuracyThere was no ETA given An ETA is the Estimated Time of Arrival for a project. In other words, an estimated turnaround time. An ETA is not a deadline. Review Date27 September 2023 RelationshipThe maker is NOT a friendThis relationship was indicated by the reviewer at the time this review was written. Review InformationReviewerInstagram: miles_smilodon Twitter: miles_smilodon BlueSky: milessmilodon Furaffinity: miles.smilodon Prior ExperienceYes, I have owned several fursuits before this one. Wear Time15-20 Informed Maker of IssuesYes, I had a minor cosmetic complaint with the original nose. After seeing the maker use a new nose pattern on their newer suit work, I got in touch with them and had the nose replaced as a mini-refurb project. Pricing was very reasonable and the replacement was made quickly. I'm very satisfied with the replacement. Colt coyote head & tail Positive ProjectThis item was a trade Paid: A Gift or Trade of $1000 - $2999 estimated monetary equivalent Initial Contact: April 2020 Completion/Ship Date: January 2023 Shipping Origin: USA Type: Partial Style: Toony Padding: None SpeciesName: Coyote Found in: Canidae(?) Features: None Photos of Completed Product Overall Initial ContactThis suit was received as a trade, so my experience differed from the normal commission route. The maker reached out to me via Instagram after I advertised a partial suit I wanted to trade (Pre-made partial by another maker, worn only for photos, worth ~$1000). Communication was very easy, and I was very involved in the beginning steps of the build process. I shipped out the paws and tail from my half of the trade before work began; once work was completed, I sent the head. Maker CommunicationCommunication was very good at the beginning and the end of the project, but lapsed during the middle. Extenuating circumstances affected the turnaround time and the maker's communication; at one point updates were being sent out very slowly and sporadically. However, I never felt like I was left completely in the dark; they were always relatively easy to contact, with only one or two instances of a notably slow response. When I expressed my concern about the lack of updates, I was very reassured by how they handled the issue, and since then they have become much easier to contact and much more responsive. While I would advice patience when working with this maker, I believe my experience was the exception rather than the norm. The maker briefly mentioned personal matters affecting their workflow, but did not go into superfluous details – overall, I was very satisfied with the maker's professionalism and they were very friendly and good to work with. They were very good about addressing any concerns, requests, or changes I needed (I requested two notable changes to the suit; the eyes were completely re-done, and a fur color on the neck/hood was swapped out). As work continued on my suit, their communication became increasingly quick and reliable. Project Completion TimeI was not given any eta, and I was unsatisfied with the overall completion time. However I was informed up-front that completion times could vary greatly, and the maker's paid commissions took precedence over fursuit trades. I don't know what the turnaround time is like for normal commissioned work. The wait was much longer than I would have preferred, but the maker's professionalism gave me confidence in their trustworthiness – I never felt like I was in danger of being scammed, only that I was working with a maker who had too much on their plate at the time. The suit was shipped quickly after completion, it arrived quickly and I had no issues with the shipping process. When I returned my head to them for a minor refurb project (replacing the nose – new nose is pictured) I was very happy with the communication and quick turnaround time. I have every reason to believe the maker has improved on the communication issues I experienced with them. Overall Project QualityOverall, I'm very satisfied with the quality. Construction appears sturdy: everything is neatly-finished with good attention to detail that makes the wear experience a smooth and easy one. After normal wear and some con travel, no parts have been damaged or caused issues. I have no areas of concern or reason to believe the suit will need repairs in the near future. The maker valued this suit below the value of the suit I traded for it; for the price point the maker gave, I would consider the overall results more than satisfactory and easily deserving of a higher value bracket. Components Head Wear SatisfactionComfort: Very good. Head is fairly lightweight, roomy, and a comfortable fit. Carved foam base; partially lined with no visible foam. Minimal contact with my face while wearing – this is easily the most comfortable fursuit head I have personally owned. Attached with a simple elastic strap; good, comfortable fit on multiple head sizes. Ventilation: Good. Mouth provides good airflow, and is large enough to accommodate a water bottle or a fan. Speech and hearing is relatively clear, and not overly muffled. Vision: OK. Has a blind spot, but it's not unreasonably large and is easy to accommodate for. Wearer can also look downwards out of the mouth. The mesh used for the eyes has tighter spacing than the other suits I own; while the suit has a good field of view, the view through the mesh itself is slightly subpar. Looks and functions like your surroundings are dimly-lit. It's still clear enough to be safe and comfortable for walking around the con floor, but in dark environments or with bright lights causing glare, it can be blinding. Visual SatisfactionDesign: This was commissioned as an artistic liberty design. Instead of a reference sheet, I provided a species and general inspiration, style, and color palette. The maker drafted a simple concept/reference that I signed off on before work began. The complete design is true to the reference they made, and they were very accommodating when I requested changes. Materials: Good. Standard high quality fur, minky, and other fabric. Shave job is good; some minor imperfections, but well within what I would consider high quality standards. No bald spots, visible backing, or notable unevenness. All markings sewn; stitching appears sturdy and has had no issues so far. Eyes & symmetry: Symmetry is great overall in terms of headbase & fur, but the eyes are this suit's greatest visual weakness. The right eye (from the wearer's pov) seems to bulge outwards slightly; the maker was aware of this and informed me of the flaw before the suit was shipped out. Overall it's a relatively small imperfection, and does not greatly detract from the appearance, but it means the suit tends to look much better from the side than it does from the front (it's particularly hard to photograph head-on, and looks much better in person than it does in photos). Style: I requested a toothy, grumpy look, and I'm very happy with the result. Style feels cohesive, well put-together, and unique and striking to see on the con floor. I specifically asked for a prominent brow and lots of teeth; the maker did a great job of working with me to find the perfect style and execution. Only minor negative is the ears are made of a single flat piece of foam, and look more two-dimensional than I would prefer. Tail Wear SatisfactionTail is good quality, nice shape, fairly short (I did not request any specific length). Attaches with an elastic belt loop. Not obstructive to wear or overly heavy. Visual SatisfactionGood. Quality materials, good, neat finish, and well-stuffed with no wrinkles or visible imperfections. RatingFursuitReview rates by asking the question: Would you recommend this maker? YES This review has been marked with a positive rating. This means the reviewer would recommend Skinned Studio. Final CommentsWhile the build process wasn't perfectly smooth, I am very happy with the suit I received and would still consider this maker worth buying from. I can only speak to my own experience, but I believe they have since put in the work to fix the issues I had, and I personally look forward to seeing the ways they continue to grow and improve. Are you the maker of this item? Would you like to leave an official response? Click here. In case the button above doesn't work, you can click here to launch the maker response form.
