Broken figma's?
So today I got my drossel as I already posted, however there is a problem with her and I'm a little sad.
Her right shoulder joint is broken before I even touched her. It looks like the part wasn't manufactured properly, as is the plastic mold wasn't filled all the way. Her arm is only connected to her shoulder by a really small piece of plastic at the edge.
I have still played with her, but can only really move her arm at the elbow joint, I'm too scared to touch the shoulder joint now.
Here is the broken parts.
I think it's pretty clearly showing the faulty piece. I'm sure it must have been a factory fauly because I've broken figma arms before and I have been very careful since, but when Konata's arms broke, it just snapped right off, it didn't chip or split like this is.
Is there any way to get a replacement part sent to the United Kingdom?

Shoulder join from front/above

Shoulder joint from the back.












Evil Fanfic Writer
http://acesan.wordpress.com/
Yep that is going to rip off with the slightest touch...
Unemployed Dollfie enthusiast
http://aquilla429.co.uk
Yes, I made a little photo story but was very careful with her arms, only moving it at the elbow joint, not the shoulder. Even so, the shoulder snapped a bit more and now it is piratically only holding in by a thread of plastic. If I shake her lightly, her arm just swings like a pendulum.
Otaku Graphic Designer
http://neoprolacus.spaces.live.com
If I remember correctly you can email Max Factory about the faulty part and they'll send you a replacement... Check their website... ^_^
Otaku in the Making
http://www.flickr.com/photos/31219625@N03/
Yeah...I remember Danny mentioning about requesting a replacement if your Figma is broken upon opening.
woah....that sucks...I hope some glue would help fix the problem...however, you gotta do some "complaints" if you know what i mean...^^
Unemployed Dollfie enthusiast
http://aquilla429.co.uk
Sadly I can't even glue it, its a whole missing chunk, so theres nowhere I could glue to put the two parts back together because the bit that should be attached, isn't there at all!
Hmmm...have your tried epoxy clay and a marker? make sense right?
Draftsman Graduated, Environment & Interior Design Student
http://www.flickr.com/photos/manuelriosg/
Ough!!! read like Hommer
Student
I have the same problem with my first drossel...
Sorry.
http://quantum-force.deviantart.com/
Ahhh... Hooo... That's... Pretty scary... o.o;
First thing is of course, asking for a replacement part, but in case they don't do so, I'd usually write down all things that could possibly be done to fix the problem.
But still, try to ask them if they could get a replacement in October, when Drossel got re-released.
PhD Student
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kuraikawai/
My Figma Kagami broke the same way, I just put some glue, and now I am careful I don't move that arm. I guess it happens....
Self Employee NEET
http://www.nekoroid.com
It seems the ball joint in the shoulder is too tight, any idea to make it loose?
I have check mine, it seems okay (phew... -_-)
Self Employee NEET
http://www.nekoroid.com
nevermind, I just managed to spin the arms without twisting the ball joint.
I loosened the joints on my Drossels by pulling the arms off the shoulder and pushing down (towards her feet) on the nubs and rotated them as well. It puts less torque on the joint that way.
Self Employee NEET
http://www.nekoroid.com
I do the same thing like you :D
The only different is, I push it upward first. :)
Otaku Graphic Designer
http://neoprolacus.spaces.live.com
I nudge her shoulder backwards... ^_^ No removing arms from the joint first tho... :3
Who's doing it forwards? XD
2 of my Drossels arms were like that. But they both became like that because I was moving the arms around without knowing the joint was stuck....basically, I was twisting them apart.
I ended up just pulling off one arm, but left the other one because it wasn't as bad.
Unemployed Dollfie enthusiast
http://aquilla429.co.uk
I broke my figma konatas arm like that before, but this drossel came out of the packet like this, I hadn't even moved her from her packed up position when I noticed.
I've emailed good smile to ask them if theres a way to get a new part.
Nendo exhibitionist
http://www.kodomut.com
If you do, start planning how you are going to pull out the defective part without it being stuck ^^
Ah, you're right! I tried to dig mine out, but nothing worked. Now, she just has a bunch of scars.
Unemployed Dollfie enthusiast
http://aquilla429.co.uk
I've got that covered hopefully. I will try to heat the plastic joint with a hot needle, slowly and carefully I will melt away enough plastic until the joint can be removed. Thats the plan anyway. It works for broken figma hands, so hopefully the same priciple can be applied here too.
If you have a steady hand and some two part epoxy putty, you can use it to fill that little gap. Two part epoxy putty should have enough strength to do it. Use a toothpick to push it in, then dab it with water to smooth it, and once it is dry it should be good to go.
http://blossoming.livejournal.com
Seems quality control just didn't catch all of Drössel's shoulder defects.
My Drössel had stiff shoulder joints but I managed to loosen them without cracking them thankfully. Hope you get a response!
Unemployed Dollfie enthusiast
http://aquilla429.co.uk
Yeah, quality control seems pretty bad for drossel. Its a shame because otherwise shes such a remarkable figure.
Manga Artist, Designer & Consultant
http://www.tomiotsuji.com
You can fix that very easily!
Go here ..
http://hlj.com/product/TAM87051
Buy this box of putty. It sets hard in 6 hours.
Step 1 . rip off the arm from the ball joint or slice it off with a craft knife
Step 2 . gouge into each ball joint using a sharp knife or a drill bit.
Step 3 . Mix putty
Step 4 . Place putty in each hollow
Step 5 . Immediately afterwards, place a small ball of putty between the joints and press both ball joints together so the putty oozes sideways.
Step 6 . Cut away excess putty and smooth out the excess putty so that the ball joints flow into other seamlessly.
Step 7 . Compare your results with the other arm and check the dimensions are the same.
Step 8 . Leave to dry
Optional extra steps
Step 9 . Paint over fixed area with primer
Step 10 . Apply a coat of white paint over the area
Step 11 . Spray the area with semi-gloss or matte clear topcoat
Step 12 . Allow each layer to set after application
If your Drossel breaks at any time, repeat this procedure to make her fully operational again.
Unemployed Dollfie enthusiast
http://aquilla429.co.uk
I know I can fix it myself if need be, but I'd rather get a replacement.
If I had broken it myself due to being to heavy handed (like I did with konata) then I would not be asking for a replacement as it was my own fault. But because this is a manufacturing error and I did not break it myself, I would like a replacement, instead of going out and buying everything I know I would need to fix myself.
aw man i wanted to get drossel, so this happens to all of them o.o? maybe they had a re- release for a reason maybe for some of drossel parts and it was out of stock
Self Employee NEET
http://www.nekoroid.com
No, not all. Just a few, since this is mass production. Mine is okay, no defect at all.
Otaku Graphic Designer
http://neoprolacus.spaces.live.com
There tends to be defects 1 in a thousand/million... Nothing is perfect I guess...
Web Designer / Animator
http://parttimeotaku.blogspot.com
Hey, your problem is the same as mine!!
http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/8452/drossel.jpg
I have sent this image to support@goodsmile.jp
Hopefully they will send me a replacement ball joint. T.T
Student, Otaku, She-Geek(Sheek lol)
http://meimi132.wordpress.com/
I love that pic of the screaming woman. Brilliant.
Student, Otaku, She-Geek(Sheek lol)
http://meimi132.wordpress.com/
Omg... it amazes me that stuff like that gets past quality control...sure its only small...but a majorly big problem with a posable figure. I hope you can get your replacement.
About that......
i dunno if this somehow relates, but when i bought my revoltech pukka, upon opening, the left elbow joint on my pukka just fell off. i was really peeved off, but resorted to using superglue on that joint. i dont put even too much coz i dont want the arm to be permanently stuck as is. but it moves freely as if it wasnt even broken off. i hope you get your replacement and i wouldnt advise anyone to do what i did
Student/Worker/FutureServiceMen
OWCH HOPE IT GETS FIX!
Boukenger
I'll have to check my drossel when she comes. Hope you can get a replacement part. Might need one myself.
Otaku ^^
Ask your supplier to ship it back for a replacement.
d@@b
Mad scientist
I'm an engineer and have tried moulding both plastic and steel (not to mention all my homemade Dungeons and Dragons figures moulded in a lead/tin) and I say you hit the problem right on. There is always a certain amount of molds, which will not be completely filled. It's the job of the mold designer to ensure the failure rate is as low as possible, but completely avoiding it is impossible so a quality check is needed to verify that each piece is correct. Such quality check is often expensive and it will often be cheaper to allow a few failures to go through and then you replace those free of charge. Replacing too much gives you bad publicity while customers will not pay for proper checks. Life as a manufacture aren't as easy as some people might think.
I know Lego uses some very precise scales to ensure that enough plastic goes into whatever they make. However they still missed a corner on a block I once got. Must have been within the tolerance even though it could be seen. I didn't bother to complain about a single non-special block ^^