WM- Full Skeletal Overhaul (Hopefully)

Doll-I-Am · Post by **Doll-I-Am** » Mon Jun 19, 2023 9:12 pm

Thank you so much for this, but if I'm understanding correctly there's nothing I can do to repair my doll, right? My WM
165cm I got in December '22 isn't able to hold up her right arm straight ahead anymore (as if she was pointing to something straight ahead of her). I was hoping there was just something I could tighten but based on your post here: viewtopic.php?p=2263931#p2263931 this motion is controlled by a twist joint that can't be repaired without some major welding and cutting, am I right? Please tell me I'm wrong....

RevJack · Post by **RevJack** » Mon Jun 19, 2023 9:24 pm

Until and unless you know EXACTLY what is wrong with her shoulder, there is no accurate answer.
Broken or loose?

Cameramike · Post by **Cameramike** » Mon Jun 19, 2023 10:25 pm

Magnificent work and great information BUT I missed the video.....

shigowa68 · Post by **shigowa68** » Tue Jun 20, 2023 8:44 am

Doll-I-Am wrote: ↑Mon Jun 19, 2023 9:12 pm Thank you so much for this, but if I'm understanding correctly there's nothing I can do to repair my doll, right? My WM
165cm I got in December '22 isn't able to hold up her right arm straight ahead anymore (as if she was pointing to something straight ahead of her). I was hoping there was just something I could tighten but based on your post here: viewtopic.php?p=2263931#p2263931 this motion is controlled by a twist joint that can't be repaired without some major welding and cutting, am I right? Please tell me I'm wrong....

Unfortunately you are correct. Assuming the twist joint has just become loose with use, and the skeleton is constructed in the same way as mine.

shigowa68 · Post by **shigowa68** » Tue Jun 20, 2023 8:46 am

Cameramike wrote: ↑Mon Jun 19, 2023 10:25 pm Magnificent work and great information BUT I missed the video.....

Thank you Cameramike...
?? I`ve not posted any video...??

Doll-I-Am · Post by **Doll-I-Am** » Tue Jun 20, 2023 9:41 pm

RevJack wrote: ↑Mon Jun 19, 2023 9:24 pm Until and unless you know EXACTLY what is wrong with her shoulder, there is no accurate answer.
Broken or loose?

Pretty sure it's loose since I noticed that it got looser over time. Don't think it matters though. I was hoping I just had to make a small cut in the TPE and tighten some screw or nut, but whether it's loose, broken, or whatever, now it's obvious that fixing this will require a hell of a lot more. I'd rather have the loose arm than essentially cut the arm off to do some major replacements or repairs.

shigowa68 wrote: ↑Tue Jun 20, 2023 8:44 am Unfortunately you are correct. Assuming the twist joint has just become loose with use, and the skeleton is constructed in the same way as mine.

Pretty sure it's the same. I purchased it new through Rosemarydoll in later November '22 and it arrived late December. All the joints were tight at first and I have used it a lot so I can't blame them or WM, although I wish they hadn't chosen such a difficult-to-repair design. My next doll with either be an Angelkiss or Starpery silicone so I hope they have something easier to fix if it gets loose.

Anyways, still kinda bummed but it's much better to know the truth. Thanks again.

seagull · Post by **seagull** » Wed Jun 21, 2023 3:17 am

Manufacturing sequence
1. Design
2. Manufacture skeleton with welded hinge pins (nuts & bolts)
3. Cover with TPE or Silicone
4. Marketing & selling

Michaelangelo · Post by **Michaelangelo** » Fri Jun 23, 2023 9:55 am

Cinnamon2077 wrote: ↑Tue May 09, 2023 1:12 pm Since I finished the thread, shigowa68, I also noticed that "lean to the side" joint in the spine is super-tight on my girl. I remember looking at her instructions when the doll arrived, thinking she could do it, but I was so afraid of breaking her because who knew where the joint was? Now I found it, she will ( with great difficulty ) bend there. But I don't intend to take that join apart. Eased with a lube of some sort, perhaps?

Interesting you mention this, Cinnamon. Mira couldn't do this at all, super-tight like your girl. After 18 months with me and seeing fairly light use (fair bit of photo and cuddle time but she's not on the go all the time) she can now, indeed, bend to the side. I found out while re-arranging her for a photo pose. Not gonna overdo things but it's nice to know she does what it says in the manual. Overall, though, I'm happy she's pretty tight all round, since once things go loose, they do tend to stay loose...

Michaelangelo · Post by **Michaelangelo** » Tue Sep 05, 2023 1:52 pm

A word of thanks from me again for the foot joint information. I have just successfully tightened Mira’s right foot based off of the information in your thread and it worked a treat. I also made a (goofy) video if you’re interested, so check out Mira’s thread for that.

Also a quick q on fingers. Like your experience, I think the palm plates are fantastic from MF but the fingers I am finding to be still a bit thick, Mira has very thin fingers. So I might redo them. Any information about the wire you went with for this? I’m gonna try some out here from European providers but if you have a preference that would be great to know!

Thanks again and hope you are doing great.

shigowa68 · Post by **shigowa68** » Wed Sep 06, 2023 1:13 pm

Michaelangelo wrote: ↑Tue Sep 05, 2023 1:52 pm A word of thanks from me again for the foot joint information. I have just successfully tightened Mira’s right foot based off of the information in your thread and it worked a treat. I also made a (goofy) video if you’re interested, so check out Mira’s thread for that.

Also a quick q on fingers. Like your experience, I think the palm plates are fantastic from MF but the fingers I am finding to be still a bit thick, Mira has very thin fingers. So I might redo them. Any information about the wire you went with for this? I’m gonna try some out here from European providers but if you have a preference that would be great to know!

Thanks again and hope you are doing great.

Oh, much has changed workwise. The company I work for has been bought out by a much bigger company. Still have a job under the transfer of employment laws here in the U.K. but sooo, much busier than before, Kinda ridiculous actually. Sadly none of the girls have been touched in months.

Anyhow, to answer your question, Pretty much decided on the wire I will use, although not done it yet.
Aluminium armature wire, 1.25mm diameter, 4 strands twisted together.
I`ll be using the original hand plates and 4 strands is a nice fit, but a little too thick for a comfortable fit into the MF finger base/palm connector. 3 strands fits well but I want the redundancy of an extra strand if/when a strand should break. The strand count has very little effect on the overall stiffness of the finger and the aluminium wire is a little less stiff than the original wires used, which works for me. I did try steel armature wire but both 3 and 4 strand were much too stiff for my liking

Michaelangelo · Post by **Michaelangelo** » Mon Sep 11, 2023 6:42 am

shigowa68 wrote: ↑Wed Sep 06, 2023 1:13 pm
Michaelangelo wrote: ↑Tue Sep 05, 2023 1:52 pm A word of thanks from me again for the foot joint information. I have just successfully tightened Mira’s right foot based off of the information in your thread and it worked a treat. I also made a (goofy) video if you’re interested, so check out Mira’s thread for that.

Also a quick q on fingers. Like your experience, I think the palm plates are fantastic from MF but the fingers I am finding to be still a bit thick, Mira has very thin fingers. So I might redo them. Any information about the wire you went with for this? I’m gonna try some out here from European providers but if you have a preference that would be great to know!

Thanks again and hope you are doing great.
Oh, much has changed workwise. The company I work for has been bought out by a much bigger company. Still have a job under the transfer of employment laws here in the U.K. but sooo, much busier than before, Kinda ridiculous actually. Sadly none of the girls have been touched in months.

Anyhow, to answer your question, Pretty much decided on the wire I will use, although not done it yet.
Aluminium armature wire, 1.25mm diameter, 4 strands twisted together.
I`ll be using the original hand plates and 4 strands is a nice fit, but a little too thick for a comfortable fit into the MF finger base/palm connector. 3 strands fits well but I want the redundancy of an extra strand if/when a strand should break. The strand count has very little effect on the overall stiffness of the finger and the aluminium wire is a little less stiff than the original wires used, which works for me. I did try steel armature wire but both 3 and 4 strand were much too stiff for my liking

Hey there and I hope things are looking up on the work front. Self-employed here and Covid was a bit touch-and-go but the worst is hopefully now over...

Thanks a million for the wire info. Getting that stiff/flexible balance is tricky but I'll take your specs into account when deciding on what I want to replace the bulky printed digits with over the next few months or so. Oh, and did you decide on how to mend the cut in the foot (or hands for that matter)? I haven't bothered with any of them just yet, still wondering if it's actually worth it, since I can just use gloves or socks to keep the dirt out. Maybe a TPE plug plus some kind of glue to hold it in place but allow it to be removed later. And for photos, well, that's what inpainting is for...