Volks News 80

Well, it's available now (1:46 CDT, 11:46 pacific)

Decided to buy one cause I'm curious.

I just put in for mine and paid for it! I always like getting nice new shiny doll books for so cheap.

 

 

Billy

Decided to buy one cause I'm curious.

 

I think you will find it is worth every penny, even if you don’t read Japanese.

Ordered mine!

 

7:35PM PST

Bought one to satiate my Nier obsession for now.

Wow mine has already been shipped. That's surprising.

Online version is up:

 

https://volks.meclib.jp/DM80/book/index.html#target/page_no=1

 

Based on a quick look a couple of things I noticed that haven't been brought up already:

• There are Halloween outfits on pages 138-139, but it's the same stuff from 2017
• One notable appearance change with the new f3 bodies is the ankles; the ball portion isn't enclosed by the foot the way it was before. That's probably due to the feet now tilting side-to-side; I wonder if it affects the effective cirbleepference of the ankle, which would have an effect on how the ankle straps on shoes fit.

I also find the sort of catalog of everything DD to be useful.

 

Edit: One other bit of information--Volks eyes Type G, H, M, and P are discontinued after 10/31.

Online version is up:

Thanks.

 

The online version is awesome with all kinds of info useful to me personally. There are many things I could list in terms of what I find useful. (In the interest of time, I won't.)

 

I still want my physical copy of the magazine. It hasn't shipped yet.

One notable appearance change with the new f3 bodies is the ankles; the ball portion isn't enclosed by the foot the way it was before.

 

I'm seeing a few additional differences that are easier to see now that the online version is up.

 

The arms are different at the shoulders and elbows, and in both cases they look like the DDPs joints. I suspected that before, but was hard to see in the scans.

 

I don't think there is any difference in the torso except for the inclusion of the f3 frame. It hard to say for sure because we can't see the butt, but the front of the torso appears unchanged at the waist and hips. This would be a good thing because it would mean you should be able to pull the new frame out of a regular torso and put it into the unitorso. I'd hate it if the unitorso went away; just because it really does improve their look with a lot of outfits.

 

I'm not sure if there is a difference in the thighs at the pelvis or knee. It's hard to tell from the images, but if there is a difference it might be in the slot that allows the IF to join the torso and thigh together. They might have had to change that to allow for a new range of motion, but the shape of the joint doesn't appear to be different.

 

I believe there is a difference in fit. This is just from comparing the Volks News 80 images to the base body image for DD on the Volks website. The thighs are seated farther into the torso in the new f3, and this may be due to the movement of the post from the torso to the right thigh.

Edited September 24, 2018 by Guest

Whelp... It looks like this is going to be expensive for me.

 

I'm thinking I'll splurge one last time and then go into DD hibernation for a while.

https://volks.meclib.jp/DM80/book/index.html#target/page_no=125 Somehow I missed these sets entirely in scans, and I WANT them. I take it they're gonna be October collection? The tartan is passably close to my stepdad's--bit more green, but by far the closest I've seen doll clothes get. And they're so dressy and adorable, and I NEED them.

https://volks.meclib.jp/DM80/book/index.html#target/page_no=125 Somehow I missed these sets entirely in scans, and I WANT them. I take it they're gonna be October collection? The tartan is passably close to my stepdad's--bit more green, but by far the closest I've seen doll clothes get. And they're so dressy and adorable, and I NEED them.

 

Probably. I think one of my girls needs the set on the far right.

Well I got mine in the mail today. Wow. I haven't handled a Volks news in so long (like well over 10 years) and I can't recall how that one felt but this is actually a pretty nice little magazine. It is printed very nicely imo, and that's coming from someone who grew up in the printing scene/worked in it. I won't lie though I'm tempted to take off the back cover for the sake of putting the nice image of 2B on the inside up on my wall. But I'll be good. For $4 I definitely feel this is a great deal.

 

Dunno if I will buy them all the time though. Maybe just when pretty dolls I like come around.

One notable appearance change with the new f3 bodies is the ankles; the ball portion isn't enclosed by the foot the way it was before.

I'm seeing a few additional differences that are easier to see now that the online version is up.

 

The arms are different at the shoulders and elbows, and in both cases they look like the DDPs joints. I suspected that before, but was hard to see in the scans.

 

I don't think there is any difference in the torso except for the inclusion of the f3 frame. It hard to say for sure because we can't see the butt, but the front of the torso appears unchanged at the waist and hips. This would be a good thing because it would mean you should be able to pull the new frame out of a regular torso and put it into the unitorso. I'd hate it if the unitorso went away; just because it really does improve their look with a lot of outfits.

 

I'm not sure if there is a difference in the thighs at the pelvis or knee. It's hard to tell from the images, but if there is a difference it might be in the slot that allows the IF to join the torso and thigh together. They might have had to change that to allow for a new range of motion, but the shape of the joint doesn't appear to be different.

 

I believe there is a difference in fit. This is just from comparing the Volks News 80 images to the base body image for DD on the Volks website. The thighs are seated farther into the torso in the new f3, and this may be due to the movement of the post from the torso to the right thigh.

Disclaimer for the following comments: The full frame picture, on page 120, is clearly the version of f3 for DDP, because the upper frame does not look like the one for DD/DDS/DDdy shown on pages 156-157, so it's possible there are differences between the frames besides that.

 

There is, apparently, a functional frame difference at the pelvis. DD3 has that slot in the frame's "tailbone" for the pin the thighs attach to, where you pull it down to bend the legs or push it back up when the doll is standing. The f3 frame doesn't have this, or at least the DDP version does not. If none of them do, then there may be something indeed different about that section of either the lower torso or the top of the thighs, though there's nothing obvious from the pictures to me either.

 

An interesting point is that they did not change the wrist joints; I would have expected them to go to the same locking design as the DDP ones. I'm glad they didn't so they are compatible and potentially easier to change out.

 

I'm curious if certain other parts are compatible. The socket on the feet looks the same as before, so it's possible DD3 feet work on DD-f3 and vice-versa. It's also possible they changed the size of the socket so they do not. The lower legs and even the arms look like they could possibly be this way as well, though I suspect that's far less likely.

 

I think those new feet are going to have an effect on the fit of certain shoes. Unless the ball is larger now, the cirbleepference of the ankle area is going to be smaller, meaning the shoes with ankle straps are going to have those straps looking loose® now unfortunately. I'm just annoyed by this change to the feet. I've never found the shoulder or hip joints that unattractive, it's those balls at the elbows and especially wrists that I think are fairly unsightly on these dolls; I also understand there's not much else they can do with those--but I'm unhappy to see the ankles now looking much more like that as well.

I'm curious if certain other parts are compatible. The socket on the feet looks the same as before, so it's possible DD3 feet work on DD-f3 and vice-versa. It's also possible they changed the size of the socket so they do not. The lower legs and even the arms look like they could possibly be this way as well, though I suspect that's far less likely.

 

The idea with the feet is interesting. The additional motion is quite nice in the feet.

 

As far as compatibility, unless something has changed, the frame will snap together instead of using friction. Friction was always problematic due to the tendency of parts to end up too loose or too tight from doll to doll. Snap together ensures that the various joints should be consistent from doll to doll. Just be prepared that dolls may arrive with parts that aren't snapped fully. My Iori's foot kept falling off until I got it properly snapped in place. It also makes parts a lot easier to move. Most of my DDs have some issue twisting the wrist in the arm, and it's not just the extra sprue.

 

If it were me, if at all possible, I would make sure that the foot frame worked for both snap and friction. That way you only have to manufacture one type of foot as a spare part for new dolls and DDIII.

I'm curious if certain other parts are compatible. The socket on the feet looks the same as before, so it's possible DD3 feet work on DD-f3 and vice-versa. It's also possible they changed the size of the socket so they do not. The lower legs and even the arms look like they could possibly be this way as well, though I suspect that's far less likely.

The idea with the feet is interesting. The additional motion is quite nice in the feet.

 

As far as compatibility, unless something has changed, the frame will snap together instead of using friction. Friction was always problematic due to the tendency of parts to end up too loose or too tight from doll to doll. Snap together ensures that the various joints should be consistent from doll to doll. Just be prepared that dolls may arrive with parts that aren't snapped fully. My Iori's foot kept falling off until I got it properly snapped in place. It also makes parts a lot easier to move. Most of my DDs have some issue twisting the wrist in the arm, and it's not just the extra sprue.

 

If it were me, if at all possible, I would make sure that the foot frame worked for both snap and friction. That way you only have to manufacture one type of foot as a spare part for new dolls and DDIII.

That's why I am not really expecting the arms to be compatible, but parts like the feet that have sockets could be. Possibly the lower legs too; I notice the DDP ones have a rather different design for the frame piece sticking out while the DD and DDS look like they did before.

 

They didn't change the wrists so they don't have the ridges on them unlike the DDP version, though I wonder if the ones that come with the bodies and arms might be different and have those ridges? Currently you only get the extra rotation with the separately-sold wrist joints, so that wouldn't be much different in terms of them making two types.

 

There's often a tradeoff between range of motion and appearance. The new feet move more but the joints look worse; since I don't really feel the movement is that limiting as it is I don't like the tradeoff in this case. It's explained somewhere on his site that Danny Choo makes Smart Dolls knees not bend as far as DD because he doesn't like the look of the knees when they separate. In that case I disagree because the look isn't affected unless you bend them that far, and having the option to do so is preferable to not being able to do such poses.

Does anyone know if DDIII parts won't be offered at all anymore? I understand that f3 is available, but I don't read much Japanese and can't tell if they're getting rid of all DDIII parts. The charts on pgs 153-159 are maybe what's confusing me. Is that what the lineup will look like now for parts? Or are they only showing what f3 parts will look like? I just wonder if I need to buy DDIII parts while I still can haha.

Got mine yesterday, they don't list the uni-torso in the option parts for DD or DDS. Do we know if it is for sure going away?

Got mine yesterday, they don't list the uni-torso in the option parts for DD or DDS. Do we know if it is for sure going away?

I certainly hope not because I've been really hoping for them to finally make brown ones :c Unless they're gonna make new ones? Since they come with the frame installed and all, it would have to be a f3 frame, so I guess that makes sense.

That raises the question of whether I could stick Bri's DDIII arms and legs on one if it does come out. I'll be kinda annoyed if I cant as it means I'd have to get her a new body. It's kinda a downer considering how long I've been wanting a brown unitorso. If its not coming any time soon or if it really wont be compatible with DDIII i guess I'll just get her the flat L bust instead - i'd been holding off on it in favour of a unitorso but am getting kinda weary of her boobs stabbing through everything. BI

I'm a bit surprised if they are actually discontinuing it because Matoi has a unitorso, doesn't she? And she is F3, I believe.

Maybe it will be a while before they have the producton capacity to make F3 unitorsos in all of the sizes and colors.

They didn't change the wrists so they don't have the ridges on them unlike the DDP version, though I wonder if the ones that come with the bodies and arms might be different and have those ridges?

 

The DDP did have the issue of not holding things well so maybe they changed the design back to the previous swivel wrist.

 

Does anyone know if DDIII parts won't be offered at all anymore?

 

I don't think anyone knows yet. The only DDII part that I can think of them still selling is feet. Hands and busts do seem to be the same between DDIII & F3. One would hope they would continue to sell the IF for DDIII torsos given the cracking issues.

 

Got mine yesterday, they don't list the uni-torso in the option parts for DD or DDS. Do we know if it is for sure going away?

 

Hopefully no, but I do plan on seeing if I can get things to work by putting the new torso frame into one of my unitorsos.

 

They may just not be ready to make them yet.

 

I'm a bit surprised if they are actually discontinuing it because Matoi has a unitorso, doesn't she? And she is F3, I believe.

Maybe it will be a while before they have the producton capacity to make F3 unitorsos in all of the sizes and colors.

 

That's what I am hoping. I don't know about Matoi, but her co-release Kaede was not an F3.

Matoi isn't f3:

http://www.volks.co.jp/pso2/en/dd_matoi/

 

Basically, nothing released before Saber and Jeanne is f3, outside of DDP.

 

Volks still sells many DDII skin parts:

• Arms: https://www.volks.co.jp/page_ex.jsp?CONTROLID=SC0040&BUSINESSID=InitDisp&jancd=4518992366661&version=en
• M Bust: https://www.volks.co.jp/page_ex.jsp?CONTROLID=SC0040&BUSINESSID=InitDisp&jancd=4518992366661&version=en
• S Bust: https://www.volks.co.jp/page_ex.jsp?CONTROLID=SC0040&BUSINESSID=InitDisp&jancd=4518992384061&version=en
• Thighs: https://www.volks.co.jp/page_ex.jsp?CONTROLID=SC0040&BUSINESSID=InitDisp&jancd=4518992384061&version=en
• Lower Torso: https://www.volks.co.jp/page_ex.jsp?CONTROLID=SC0040&BUSINESSID=InitDisp&jancd=4518992351551&version=en
• Feet: https://www.volks.co.jp/page_ex.jsp?CONTROLID=SC0040&BUSINESSID=InitDisp&jancd=4518992366685&version=en

 

(one or two are not in stock but claiming to be restocked)

 

As such, I wouldn't think current body parts would go away soon. Also, f3 parts and bodies do not come in white skin. So that skin color is gone. Santa Saber is a recent enough doll that it'd be really nasty if Volks didn't have parts for her for some time to come.

 

I hope unitorsos survive, but I do find it odd they don't have them listed in the new stuff. We may get a hint if a December Dolpa rerelease happens to be a girl that currently has a unitorso, assuming rereleases become f3.

Matoi isn't f3:

http://www.volks.co.jp/pso2/en/dd_matoi/

 

Basically, nothing released before Saber and Jeanne is f3, outside of DDP.

 

Volks still sells many DDII skin parts:

 

My bad, Volks USA only lists the DDII parts menu item if you choose to view all categories. They are there though.

 

 

I hope unitorsos survive, but I do find it odd they don't have them listed in the new stuff. We may get a hint if a December Dolpa rerelease happens to be a girl that currently has a unitorso, assuming rereleases become f3.

 

One can hope. Any of the 765 Pro dolls (excluding DDP) won’t look as good without the unitorso unless they re-release with a different outfit.

 

They have described the unitorso as a popular option, and I think the only downsides to using it with F3 are mobility and cost. They might be developing a less complex IF for an updated unitorso, but that has the potential to drive production cost up not down. Usually you want one assembly line, and then create variation in the final “finishing” stage.

 

In a couple weeks my Makoto may get a body upgrade, so I’ll be sure to post photos if stealing Altria’s ams, legs and spine works.

 

What does worry me a bit is it’s a year later and still no option hands / busts / pants for DDP. We may wait awhile for unitorso.

Edited September 25, 2018 by Guest

Thanks cfx for the correction on that one.

my lack of enthusiasm about Matoi is showing through my ignorance ahah

 

I do find it a bit surprising that she and Kaede weren't F3. If they are phasing out (or having production troubles with) unitorsos for F3 and the license wanted the look of the unitorso, it does make sense though.

 

As for DDP, they may be delaying option hands since normal size option hands work pretty well. I am also a bit surprised about no option busts though.