Hello!
I’m back with another DD tutorial — this time, I’ll be showing you how to change the DD bust part! If you’ve ever wanted your DD or MDD girl to have a smaller or larger bust, but didn’t know how to go about doing it, this tutorial is for you! It’s slightly more complex than changing DD hands or feet, but in the end, is still a very simple process.
Why so worried, Yukino? Don't you want to help our DD fans learn?
(Please note: our DD model for this tutorial is a standard Dollfie Dream Image Character Yukino with the original DDII body and default makeup. If you like her and would like to welcome her home, please don’t hesitate — DD Image Characters Aoi and Yukino will be receiving an upgrade to the DDIII body and new makeup soon, and the DDII versions will not be restocked once they sell out!)
Before we get started, a few points of info:
- Make sure to purchase an optional bust part that is in the same skin tone as your DD!
- Mini Dollfie Dream can only use MDD optional bust parts (Small, Medium, Large).
- Dollfie Dream II (Normal Skin / White Skin) can only use DDII optional bust parts (Normal Skin: Small / Medium / Large, White Skin: Small / Medium / Large). [The DDII Large Shapely bust part is not yet available at Volks USA.]
- Dollfie Dream Dynamite can only use DDdy optional bust parts (Normal, Shapely).
- Dollfie Dream Sister (not yet available at Volks USA) can only use DDS optional bust parts.
- Dollfie Dream III (Limited Edition only so far) can use DDII optional bust parts (Normal Skin: Small / Medium / Large, White Skin: Small / Medium / Large), but the fit will not be 100% perfect. While the DDIII body is extremely similar to the DDII body in proportion, the curvature of the lower edge of the DDIII bust part slightly differs from that of the DDII.
Got it? OK, moving on to the actual bust-swapping! Follow below for a step-by-step photo tutorial. (Please note that the tutorial utilizes a DDII body/bust parts in the photos, but the mechanism of changing the bust part on the MDD, DDdy, DDS, or DDIII body works exactly the same way.)
Begin by removing your DD's wig, as well as all the clothing from her upper half -- if it's more convenient, you can strip her completely, but it's technically not necessary to remove any clothing from her lower half. We'll start by removing the arms -- pull directly on each arm when it is sticking straight out, at a perpendicular angle to the body, as shown above.
If the arm will not detach easily, you'll be able to remove it more smoothly if you gently rotate it on its axis as you pull, but please take care, otherwise you could possibly damage the internal frame.
Once you have completely removed both arms, set them aside somewhere safe.
Once your DD’s arms have been removed, it’s time to remove your DD’s head. I cannot emphasize the following statement enough: please be very, very careful when removing the head!!
Firmly grasp the domed section at the base of the neck joint -- you will be able to feel the round shape of it through the soft vinyl.
While keeping hold of the neck joint, gently remove the head by pulling it straight upwards. If you just pull only on the head, the spring inside the neck joint may be permanently damaged, so please make sure to hold on to the neck joint while removing the head!
If the head is attached so tightly that it's difficult to remove, use the warm (not hot!) air from a hair dryer to heat the neck joint -- this will soften the vinyl so that it will be easier to remove the head. Once the head is completely off, set it aside with the arms in a secure place (be careful of the makeup!).
OK, time to remove the actual bust part!
Begin by trying to pull the bust part straight up and off -- if it won't move, don't try to force it! If it's too tight to easily remove, use the same trick that you used on the head -- a hair dryer on a warm setting will soften the vinyl so that the part is easier to remove. Our Yukino's bust was quite stubborn, so we didn't hesitate to break out the hair dryer.
Once the vinyl has been softened by the warm air (don't heat it up too much, or you might burn yourself!), try to pull the bust straight up and off once again.
Ah, much better -- you can see through the shoulder holes that we're actually getting some movement now that the vinyl has been warmed up.
While pulling on the bust piece with one hand, be sure to hold on to the internal frame with your other hand, or the same mishap that happened to us might happen to you~!
Uh-oh! What if you pull so hard that the upper torso internal frame detaches from the lower torso? Not to worry, it can easily be re-attached!
If you want, you can wait to re-attach it until you've pulled the bust piece off.
Ta-da! Please note that the front of the upper torso internal frame is the side that has visible screws -- don't get the two sides mixed up when it comes time to put the new bust part on!
As for re-attaching the internal frame, it's very simple -- just insert the peg on the lower torso into the opening inside the upper torso piece, and push down until the frame is fully seated.
The new bust part will go on pretty much the same way that the old one came off -- just make sure to be careful not to bend or break the neck joint while you're getting it on!
Apply gentle pressure as you work the part over the upper torso internal frame, always being careful of the neck joint.
If you're having trouble getting it on, some more warm air from the hair dryer will help make the vinyl more malleable.
There we go -- and now that the bust is properly attached, you can start putting your girl back together!
We'll start with the arms -- re-attach your DD's arms by gently inserting the frames into the shoulder joints.
Just like when you detached them, make sure that they are sticking straight out, at a perpendicular angle to the body, as you re-attach them.
If a frame will not insert easily, you can try gently twisting it on its axis as you push, but please take care, otherwise you could possibly damage the internal frame. You can also try using warm air from a hair dryer to soften stubborn vinyl.
Moving on to the head --just like when removing the head, be extremely careful when re-attaching it!
While keeping a firm grasp on the round section at the base of the neck joint, gently re-attach the head by working the peg that protrudes from the neck joint through the head hole
While maintaining your grasp on the neck joint, apply gentle pressure until the head sits comfortably on the neck.
And voilà! Your girl is all back together and ready to put on that cute new outfit that she couldn't wear before due to having a too-small or too-large bust!
See, that wasn't so bad, Yukino -- thanks for helping out for this tutorial!
That’s all for now — I hope that you enjoyed this tutorial, and found it helpful! There’s more to come, so watch this space over the coming weeks!
~Jane
