DDIII Cracks

Argh! I just got my DDIII Aoi from Volks, and her leg has a crack all ready! I was just checking out all the joints before dressing her... Poor Aoi has to go back in her box for now...

 

Is it the same place as mine? Then email Volks with a pic of the crack and they should send you a replacement skeleton part. They only replaced the thigh skeleton parts for me. Is your Aoi using the older DDIII skeleton or the newer one with the notches?

 

003 by galvatim, on Flickr

 

That's the pic I sent Volks. All I did was move the leg a little! I don't know if she has the newer body with the notches, but I doubt it. I suppose I should remove the arms and check the torso, though.

Argh! I just got my DDIII Aoi from Volks, and her leg has a crack all ready! I was just checking out all the joints before dressing her... Poor Aoi has to go back in her box for now...

 

Is it the same place as mine? Then email Volks with a pic of the crack and they should send you a replacement skeleton part. They only replaced the thigh skeleton parts for me. Is your Aoi using the older DDIII skeleton or the newer one with the notches?

 

003 by galvatim, on Flickr

 

That's the pic I sent Volks. All I did was move the leg a little! I don't know if she has the newer body with the notches, but I doubt it. I suppose I should remove the arms and check the torso, though.

To me it seems like this part wasn't made correctly, due to this issue it's somehow difficult to re-attach the leg with not making it worse, or even the crack happened when Volks assembled Aoi facing the same problem.

Edited June 26, 2012 by Guest

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

 

 

 

Pretty sure i love you

, i didn't check very detailed for both my Sabers when I first received 3 weeks ago, guess I should do it again over the weekend but so far the joint seem quite fine as there is no weak joint for both girls.

That's the exact same crack my Aoi has (on her right leg), noticed it this week. I contacted them, still got no response, hopefully I can work something out with them

 

To me it seems like this part wasn't made correctly, due to this issue it's somehow difficult to re-attach the leg with not making it worse, or even the crack happened when Volks assembled Aoi facing the same problem.

 

Edit:

Got response today

"Unfortunately as it has been more than our warranty period of two weeks

since you received your items, there is not anything which we can do at

this time."

Seems like an automated answer to me as they're not offering any other options, also I read that many got new parts, even after the 2 weeks.

I'm sorry to hear that! I think you're right in believing that this part is incorrectly made, or it's the part that connects to it. Or they had some left over plastic from when they made Mari's glasses.

 

Honestly, while I do want a new piece, that's mostly on principle. I'm planning to try and fix the original piece, since I figure I'd rather fix the broken bit and have it break again, then I'll put the new piece in (and repeat the process...).

 

, i didn't check very detailed for both my Sabers when I first received 3 weeks ago, guess I should do it again over the weekend but so far the joint seem quite fine as there is no weak joint for both girls.

I believe that Volks added the notches for the Sabers, or otherwise tried to fix the problem.

I mean, isn't it their duty as an organization, to investigate if the part was cracked before you received it?

Edited June 26, 2012 by Guest

Just discovered a hairline crack in the upper thigh of my yukino so i think ill sue some heatshrink around the peg to hold a plastic weld epoxy. Seems that i was lucky though because of all the things i hear mine isint nearly as bad. no other cracked joints. must be that they used a batch of plastic that didnt have a balanced mix of thickener.

I'm a bit upset at the moment. Volks said the pic I posted earlier was "a seam from production."

 

031 by galvatim, on Flickr

 

Yeah... So I have a few options:

1. Contact Volks again and send them the above pic.

 

2. Sell/trade the broken DDIII for a DDII.

 

3. Attempt to fix the leg, and probably buy replacement parts when Volks starts selling them.

 

Gonna sleep on it.

I'm a bit upset at the moment. Volks said the pic I posted earlier was "a seam from production."

 

Yeah... So I have a few options:

1. Contact Volks again and send them the above pic.

 

2. Sell/trade the broken DDIII for a DDII.

 

3. Attempt to fix the leg, and probably buy replacement parts when Volks starts selling them.

 

Gonna sleep on it.

 

Id say fix it. volks basically told me to fuck myself.I only have one crack in the left thigh Heres the email they sent me.

 

 

After looking over the photos, we do not believe these areas to be

defective or damaged.

 

Regarding the thigh, from the straight appearance of the line it looks

to be a normal parting line from the production process. There can

sometimes be a small gap in that area because of this.

 

Unquote

 

its a "gap" from "production". my ass. im calling them monday to tell them that if they dont want to shoot straight with me then fine but dont lie to me. im so pissed at volks right now just because they lied.

found a crack on the shoulder joint that connect to left hand on my Saber Extra....... I pretty sure i didn't saw that when I unbox her when i first received her 3 weeks ago.

 

A bit loose but still able to hold her arm up.

 

And on Alter I saw something like hairline crack but when touch it, it doesn't seem to be like a crack.

 

Going to email VOLKS international, doubt they will do much since is 3 weeks since I received both of them but just want to see what their reply.

found a crack on the shoulder joint that connect to left hand on my Saber Extra....... I pretty sure i didn't saw that when I unbox her when i first received her 3 weeks ago.

 

 

 

Going to email VOLKS international, doubt they will do much since is 3 weeks since I received both of them but just want to see what their reply.

 

Im glad i dont have those "production gaps" theyre wide enough to get plastic weld epoxy in there though. (i reccomend 3500 psi strength)

possible to use epoxy putty instead? not sure if i can find plastic weld epoxy easily in my country.

possible to use epoxy putty instead? not sure if i can find plastic weld epoxy easily in my country.

 

i wouldnt reccomend it because the liquid seeps in much easier just by moving your finger over it because it has to harden. im sure if you rubbed the putty in you might be fine.

Wow, guys, this really sucks. I had been hoping that Volks had fixed the problem with the Sabers, but it looks like they did not. I'm worried about Lucy falling apart in the future, and I still feel scared to play with Moe too much after the trauma of her breaking.

 

As to Volks' response . . .

 

I can't beleive that so many of the new DD3's are having all these issues! Don't they do research and development anymore? No testing phases for this type thing?

 

It's especially sad to hear that Volks is totally dismissing these problems as "seam lines". That's a huge cop out on their part.

 

When I finally get my Saber Extra in, I plan to take her apart immediately and sand down all her pegs and joints. What looks like is happening is that the tolerences in the joints are too tight and the stress of just moving them normally is too much for the thin plastic skeleton pieces there. I'm thinking that if I sand all the pegs for the hips/legs and arms, it will take longer for the cracks to occur..... or maybe it will help avoid them entirely.

 

I did this with Mamimi's DDS shoulder joints. Both of hers cracked and after I expoied them back together, i sanded down her arm pegs to where they are smooth and they move easily in the shoulder sockets. Mind you, I used 800 grit sandpaper so I didn't really rought them up or take much of the material away. I sanded just enough for them to slide in and out well. And so far, she has had no further issues with cracks.

 

So hopefully by sanding Saber's joints, I can help with some of these issues before they start. I pray she doesn't arrive with cracks already....

 

 

Billy

possible to use epoxy putty instead? not sure if i can find plastic weld epoxy easily in my country.

 

i wouldnt reccomend it because the liquid seeps in much easier just by moving your finger over it because it has to harden. im sure if you rubbed the putty in you might be fine.

 

u mean the putty might slip off the crack before it harden?

 

i probably need to find means to secure the shoulder joints for both my girls.

u mean the putty might slip off the crack before it harden? I probably need to find means to secure the shoulder joints for both my girls.

 

 

I haven't used the putty version of the plastic epoxy but I have used the thick liquid kind like this to great effect:

 

http://www.permatex.com/products/automotive/adhesives_sealants/epoxies/Permatex_PermaPoxy_5_Minute_Plastic_Weld.htm

 

You can find it in large stores like Walmart or Kmart in the automotive sections. Or you can go to an actual auto parts store and they'll have it as well. I paid about $7 USD for a tube and it's MAGIC.

 

Since I had the tubes on the shoulders of my DDS do the same cracking, I mixed up the two parts of the epoxy and applied it to the inside of the crack with the tip of a toothpick. Then I put more accross the top of the crack and clamped the whole thing down for 4 hours. After that, no problems.

 

So if there is a putty type version of this stuff, I would think you can do the same by using a tootpick to apply it to the inner surfaces of the crack to make sure it bonds well. Just make sure to apply pressure on the outside with a clamp or rubber bands or something for those 4 hours. Then it should be fine.

 

 

 

Billy

Hmmm, I'd say that after all the trauma you guys have gone thru with the DDIII body, I won't be going anywhere near one for any new kiddos I might get.... A DDII or maybe a dynamite body for sure!

Reading all of this makes me sad to know that once my Saber Extra arrives home that she too will probably have this problem ;o; I'll definitely have to check her thoroughly the first 14 days after picking her up from Volks. With my luck though the crack won't happen till after the 14 days since I work during the week and won't really get to play with her till the weekend >.>;;;

 

Glad to know there are some fixes for this though so that does cheer me up :3

Wow, guys, this really sucks. I had been hoping that Volks had fixed the problem with the Sabers, but it looks like they did not. I'm worried about Lucy falling apart in the future, and I still feel scared to play with Moe too much after the trauma of her breaking.

 

As to Volks' response . . .

 

 

Its a matter of luck really, i have a habit of falling into good situations and i only have the one crack. i wouldnt be too paranoid to the point of not playing with her but i would be careful anyway.

I wonder if it's just a batch problem :S What really makes me angry is that they seem to know the problem, but they doesn't care, just wanting our money. It's really sad that things turned out this way.

Edited June 26, 2012 by Guest

baldylox: i will try to look for that, but not high hope in my area. i saw epoxy putty at some hardware shop but even those got different variety.....

 

battrastard: no choice for those who have their girls come with DDIII, especially newbie like me.

 

Innocentsake: i was also busy serving my nation for 3 weeks so spend min time on her but then i pretty sure the crack appear after the 14 days period. tough luck

 

Exokiel: more like design flaw then batch problems.

 

i probably will try epoxy putty for general/plastic to fix the crack and see which way easier for me to strength the joint.

 

only managed to found this after visiting 2 hardware shops, another type is the 5 min fast type. probably going to try with this first within the next few days.

Yikes. Looks like this Japanese blogger got a Lucy with cracks in the head!!!

 

http://hocha.blog.so-net.ne.jp/2012-03-26

 

I'm super worried. I hope that this isn't a common problem. Bodies can be replaced, but not the heads.

Yikes. Looks like this Japanese blogger got a Lucy with cracks in the head!!!

 

http://hocha.blog.so-net.ne.jp/2012-03-26

 

I'm super worried. I hope that this isn't a common problem. Bodies can be replaced, but not the heads.

 

At first I was confused what you meant then I looked at the link. I know a few of my girls have these cracks in their neck-hole part, I haven't noticed any issue with them though.

 

If I get a chance I'll photograph later and start a topic about it.