DDIII Cracks

My latest girl Alicia (Yukino Ver.2 DDIII Base Body) has fallen victim to the dreaded cracks. So far she has cracks in her hip joints and elbow joint. I haven't posed her that much, the cold weather isn't helping much

 

I haven't planned on a fix yet. One idea that comes into my mind to fix the hip joints is using epoxy glue and zip ties. Not sure how good it will work, gotta try it out

 

As for the elbow joint the crack is at the screw and nut area, not sure how to fix it without it breaking again in the near future.

 

It would be nice if there was a 3rd party that made these parts but more reinforced

 

I wonder if these cracks will appear in the mass produced Sabers coming soon

 

One last vent... AAAAAAARRRRRRRRrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!!

I'm so sorry! I hope you are able to find a way to repair her!

Really? Hips and elbows? How did you find out the hip ones cracked.... did her legs get all loose? Any way you could provide some pics of these? I'm concerned because I ordered a Saber Extra and if she's going to be brittle right out of the box, I'd like to see about doing something preventative if possible to make it so this won't happen. Either that or delay it as much as possible.

 

That really sucks that she has already gotten cracks in her skeleton... how is it that Volks didn't see these flawed areas in Research and Development? Along with the DDS, it seems that the DD3 is just way too fragile compared to the DDII.

 

I hope you can figure a way to repair these issues on your girl. Maybe posting some pics will help with coming up with a way to fix this?

 

 

Billy

I notice that her legs wasn't holding her position, that's when i noticed the cracks. As for the elbow i just found it by chance.

 

Left Hip:

IMGP5200 by XOHimitsuOX, on Flickr

 

Right Hip:

IMGP5202 by XOHimitsuOX, on Flickr

 

Left Elbow: (Look above the screw and nut)

IMGP5203 by XOHimitsuOX, on Flickr

 

IMGP5204 by XOHimitsuOX, on Flickr

 

I saw someone with the same problem with the hip some time ago and i just found the link:

http://ameblo.jp/izmkyont/entry-11022315406.html

This is making me nervous about my Millhiore who isn't even here yet.

 

If I'm reading it correctly in the link you posted the person reinforced it with fiberglass sheets and then had to cut down the sockets so they would fit?

Oh no, that's terrible. It makes me worried about my Saber Alter coming later this year. What's the point of creating a new body if it's not up to par with the older one?

I just saw a post of the hip joint of Ms Mariko, at http://fetishroom.blog.so-net.ne.jp/2012-01-17

 

And it looks like the hip joint is thicker and the pegs has a slit in them. I guess it's so that it won't split the sockets. Awww, Volks need to sell these parts.......

Why does that blog also sound like Millhiore will be made of the old, crack prone, parts?

 

It's good that they've addressed it with the new mold.

I wonder if fixing this might be part of the reason the Sabers were delayed? With as many of them as they must be making, I'm sure that they don't want the massive PR fiasco if they are prone to cracking.

 

(And on a separate note, was anyone else expecting a totally different thread direction when they read the title?)

I wonder if fixing this might be part of the reason the Sabers were delayed? With as many of them as they must be making, I'm sure that they don't want the massive PR fiasco if they are prone to cracking.

 

(And on a separate note, was anyone else expecting a totally different thread direction when they read the title?)

 

I was wondering the same thing and no, I didn't think the topic would be about DD (cracks) lol!

As far as I read it it sounded like they said that Millhiore and Mariko are both improved.

 

すでにご存じの方も多いとは思いますが今回のマリコ＆ミルヒのＤＤＳボディが、今までに比べて強化改善されているとのことだったのでその検証です。

 

It says (to the best of my limited abilities) that Mariko and Milliore have bodies that are stronger than ever before.

 

This has definitely altered my plans though - I'll be waiting for that DDIII body until they work out the kinks!

 

Edit: Reading down further it does say that Mariko has an extra feature (split?). They were able to add some new things since she was the first WS DDS. The writing isn't really negative about Millhiore, just positive about Mariko's new features. Someone who's better at Japanese will have to translate the post. I don't think that Millhiore is made of bad parts, though.

That's good news about Millhi and Mariko but remember, both of those girls use the DDS body, not the DD3 body. So hopefully since it looks like some of the issues have been taken care of on the DDS, it may carry over to the DD3 for all the Sabers.

 

That's a good point about the delay on the new Sabers... I agree that if there are multiple issues going on with the DD3 frames, Volks wouldn't want a ton of problems on their cash cow distribution.

 

As for the pics, thanks for posting those Himitsu! I can see on the hip joints that if you can take of her lower torso part and get in there better, you should be able to apply the plastic weld/epoxy you mentioned to repair the cracks. I used a tooth pick on the shoulder joints of Mamimi to get down inside the cracks with the epoxy. Then, all you need to do is get some pressure on there to hold the plastic in place for a few hours and you should be fine.

 

On the elbows, I'm guessing you'll have to take the nut and bolt out so you can get inside there to add some epoxy. Not sure how else you'd get inside there.....

 

Have you contacted Volks about this? Maybe they are willing to send you some parts, even if you have to pay for them. It's worth a shot, all they can say is no.

 

 

Billy

That is crazy. So expensive doll. You should make a clame at Volks. Or something

That is crazy. So expensive doll. You should make a clame at Volks. Or something

 

I agree that it's crazy and Volks does do returns/swapouts but only within a certain timeframe after you recieve the doll. I want to say it's 14 days from when you get the doll to make any claim and have them accept it. It's an extremely short timespan tho.... I wish it was a more normal period of 30 days.

 

 

Billy

I have a post about Moe II (DDIII)'s shoulder cracking in the Care and Rpairs section. I'm disappointed in these bodies -- I kind of wish that DDIIs would still be an option! Anyway, I followed Baldylox's tutorial for the plastic weld and it seems to have worked well.

I have a post about Moe II (DDIII)'s shoulder cracking in the Care and Rpairs section. I'm disappointed in these bodies -- I kind of wish that DDIIs would still be an option! Anyway, I followed Baldylox's tutorial for the plastic weld and it seems to have worked well.

 

 

Glad to hear your repairs went well! I'm guessing no further incidents with the cracks/broken parts?

 

 

Billy

I have a post about Moe II (DDIII)'s shoulder cracking in the Care and Rpairs section. I'm disappointed in these bodies -- I kind of wish that DDIIs would still be an option! Anyway, I followed Baldylox's tutorial for the plastic weld and it seems to have worked well.

 

 

Glad to hear your repairs went well! I'm guessing no further incidents with the cracks/broken parts?

 

 

Billy

 

Not yet, to be honest, I haven't had a chance to play with her too much -- she is waiting for a proper photoshoot along with Rin. I will update my thread after I do the photoshoot to let you guys know how it went.

I went out to get some of that plastic weld glue and just finished repairing the hip joints. I have to wait till the glue fully cures before putting the legs back on. I will upload some pics if it was a success. Else i will need to think of another fix.

I went out to get some of that plastic weld glue and just finished repairing the hip joints. I have to wait till the glue fully cures before putting the legs back on. I will upload some pics if it was a success. Else i will need to think of another fix.

 

I hope it goes well for you and your girl! I'll cross my fingers and toes and eyes for you!

 

 

Billy

arg...I wanted to upgrade Lily with a DD3 body, and things I can read here make me hesitant now

Are these bodies so fragile? Has anyone good experience with them?

I like DDS bodies because of poseability and anatomic proportions. I thought it would be the same with DD3. I am a bit lost now...

Thanks for posting this... I hadn't been happy seeing the proportions changes to the DDIII, and now knowing that it has these cracking issues really pushes me farther towards getting a DDII body for my Saber Alter. I'm really disappointed in all these changes in quality and look.

Japanese companies sometimes are really bad about admitting issues and handling recalls so I'm not hopeful about how they will deal with this cracking if it's a common issue for many owners of the DDIII body. I hate to say it, but this might kill new DDs for me if that don't keep the DDII line or do a serious overhaul on the new bodies. I really don't want to spend so much on something that is going to need constant new parts. They are a money pit already. Last thing we all need is breaking parts.

I'm really sorry to see your doll is having such issues

That's really scary.

 

I'm going to buy a version 2 Aoi in the near future. I'm really hoping that this doesn't happen to me...

 

I really hope that you're successful in fixing those cracks.

So far, it looks like my fix has worked. Time will tell how long it will hold

 

Here are my steps on how i did it.

 

1: I cut about 1.2cm of heat shrink tubing.

IMGP5217 by XOHimitsuOX, on Flickr

 

IMGP5216 by XOHimitsuOX, on Flickr

 

2: Using a lighter i shrunk the tubing make tight fitting sleeve

IMGP5220 by XOHimitsuOX, on Flickr

 

IMGP5222 by XOHimitsuOX, on Flickr

 

IMGP5221 by XOHimitsuOX, on Flickr

 

3: I roughen up the area that i'm gonna glue with 400 grit sandpaper, then gave it a clean with soap and water.

IMGP5225 by XOHimitsuOX, on Flickr

 

4: I put some masking tape in the slot to prevent any excess glue sticking to the inside, also prepared some cable ties.

IMGP5223 by XOHimitsuOX, on Flickr

 

5: I got some Plastic Weld glue (3500 psi strength) and applied the glue to the outer piece, using a toothpick to fill up the cracks. I also applied some in the heat shrink tubing sleeve that made earlier. Next i slotted the sleeve onto the piece and used cable ties to clamp it. Wiped off any excess glue before it dries. Now just need to wait for the glue to cure.

IMGP5226 by XOHimitsuOX, on Flickr

 

IMGP5227 by XOHimitsuOX, on Flickr

 

6: Removed the inner cable ties, but leaving the end cable tie for reinforcement. Then put the pieces back together.

IMGP5230 by XOHimitsuOX, on Flickr

 

7: And here's the result. Before her leg would flop back down.

IMGP5232 by XOHimitsuOX, on Flickr

When I started reading this thread about the cracks, my heart sank as I was thinking of getting the new version of Aoi or Yukino later this year when I return to Japan for a hol, but was thinking, is it worth it.

 

Now having seen the repair in action I might take the plunge to buy one knowing that if anything did/does happen, I can make the repair.

 

Love the last pic of your girl kicking upwards, as it looks like she is delivering some fan service

Excellent! Now THAT is how you do a "how to" post! Great pics and step by step tutorial sir, this is much needed and welcomed for any future issues people may have with these.

 

I'm glad you got her all back together and feeling new again. She sure looks like she's happy with the fixes.

 

Love the last pic of your girl kicking upwards, as it looks like she is delivering some fan service

 

LOL! I totally agree! She must have been a cheerleader at some point with high kicks like that!

 

 

Billy