Dollfie Dream internal frame shoulder repair
Had reported previously how the upper torso internal frame of the two Volks DDS type bodies I own each developed fractures in the right shoulder joint. Found many more Dollfie Dream owners with similar complaints online and saw comrade OtakuSan shared a simple but effective repair method.
Lacking proper tools and know-how, was alas unable to perform any repair myself. Hence, enlisted the aid of a friend who as an aviation mechanic is quite handy, he deserves the credit for the actual repair work.
Overall repair method was straightforward, used industrial brand Loctite 401/4014 series instant adhesive to glue the fractured shoulder joint back together after which a piece of copper tubing was cut to fit snugly over the entire joint to re-enforce it.
Opted for copper tubing because it was readily available in diameters that near perfectly fit over the shoulder joint. Because copper is a ductile metal, it was easier to fit on and it should perform better to absorb stress put on the shoulder joint.
Also got the same re-enforcement copper rings made for Tsukiko/Saber Alter’s DDIII type body. Having the arms and internal frame of a DDS v1, DDS v2 and recent DDDIII body all dismantled showed some interesting differences between them, illustrating how these parts are still evolving.
The shoulder joint itself seems to become thicker and more solid with each new body type from DDS v1 all through to DDIII, but the arm pegs that slide into the shoulder have also evolved.
While rough, thick and hard plastic is used on the earlier DDS bodies, the DDIII version is made of a different plastic compound with slits and a raised surface, allowing it compress and twist when installed into the shoulder joint.
This newer internal frame and arm peg design should be less prone to fractures and may be an appealing repair/upgrade option when faced with broken parts.
Unfortunately, not only does a Dollfie Dream DDS/DDIII spare arm set cost quite a bit at Volks, but these newer arm pegs will not fit in an older type DDS internal frame shoulder. They do however fit well into the old DDII inner frame, making me wonder if a hybrid of a DDII upper torso inner frame on a DDS/DDIII body would work.
Right now all that’s left for the inner torso shoulder parts that were glued and re-enforced, is to see if the repair will stand the test of time when under the friction stress of normal usage.
Many thanks to comrade OtakuSan for the leftover spare shoulder section he sent my way and to my friend for performing the actual repairs.
Blue Blue Wave 
That’s a very nice write-up you did there BBW, I’m sure many owners out there would appreciate all the repair ideas they can find. Mind if I put a link to this post on my site to share this info?
many thanks for sharing this detailed write-up with us (^^)b
@otakusan
Of course I don’t mind. Got the idea from your original blog post anyway + spare part thanks to you so credit goes to you. ^^
The copper tubing you made is good, I’m wondering how to make 2 pairs for using on DDiii bodies;
@Avan
Such copper tubing with those diameters should be fairly easily found at hardware stores as it’s often used for water pipes. (At least, it is over here.)
Good job, I saw your post a while ago but hadn’t had the time to leave comment. Your solution is very similar to the Cool Cat product they introduced recently. I am actually working on designing a retro fit shoulder for the older DDS model so they can benefit from the same reinforcement ring as the DD3 body.
@Wolfheinrich
Thanks! Most credit goes to Otakusan for the idea and a local friend for the actual work.
That DDS retrofit shoulder part seems like an interesting idea!
I ordered a set of the CoolCat rings so will test them out when they arrive.