ReIntoducing Alexnadra - LEXI

Anung Un Rama · Post by **Anung Un Rama** » Tue Jan 13, 2015 8:07 pm

JohnDoll wrote:I like your pictures of Lexi on the bed - that's where dolls should be.

Sure for the short term..when your not storing them...but when not in use some dolls brands are better on a stand or hanging by the neck bolt to avoid compression distortion from extended periods of lying down or humidity induced deterioration of the silicone from humidity...tin based silicone is more susceptible than the platinum silicone...but still its what the OEM recommends.

Anung Un Rama · Post by **Anung Un Rama** » Tue Jan 13, 2015 8:12 pm

So...Lexi had to go back into the workshop today for some neck surgery.

This turned out to be a bit of a mosquito bite..as the more work I did the more problems I found.

Anyhow below pics are of the prep for re-bonding.

As you can see the neck joint has torn through into the oral cavity void.

Lexi has had significant trauma

in the past it seems and I will explain more in the following posts.

Anung Un Rama · Post by **Anung Un Rama** » Tue Jan 13, 2015 8:19 pm

So...after doing a clean down for the bond site with acetone and a wipe down to remove excess....I reformed all the slips and tares using permatex this time as it has the strongest bond rating I have found thus far.

I probably will not bother tinting the repair as it is in an unseen area.

Now this is where the fun begins as once I got the big light onto the job I found that the head bolt had been snapped in the past leaving the lower quarter of an inch of the bolt threaded into the bottom of the head bolt threaded hole

This explained the significant amount of washers that came with Lexi and why I had had difficulties maintaining head bolt tension.

Time for the drill and EZY outs

Anung Un Rama · Post by **Anung Un Rama** » Tue Jan 13, 2015 8:35 pm

The last picture of the previous post shows the bottom segment of the old neck bolt...so the trick now is how to drill out a hole for the EZY out without destroying the original thread...as did not want to have to get the tap and die sets out and make the job even bigger.

The solution was to get one of the Allen key spring holders from the Allen key ring that threaded in just so

...effectively preventing the cutting tip of the drills lans scoring the thread. Pictured below.

Now that the permatex had tacked up I could also use steri strip to keep any metal fillings or drilling's out of the bond site.

On this one I got lucky...as when I reversed the drills torsion to remove the bit...this old bolt segment bound to the bit and came out with the bit.

AWESOME

when you get those breaks

I tested the thread again with the head bolt and now have full range on the thread.

So now just got to wait another 24 hours for the bonds to fully cure...trim up excess and re-assemble poor little Lexi.

As suggested earlier...she has had some significant neck trauma in the past and I did note that the deeper oral insert looks like it has had silicone repair in the past as well...had not noticed before as I now understand why Lexi is averse to Oral.

I have also been experimenting with some fastening methods blow the chin including using magnets and velcro similar to the Face X system on both the RDs and BT3 C ranges to reduce the Joker like smile that the Celestials have.

This brings the chin on the face up onto the jaws frame again and the doll does not then have the same open lipped joker grin all the time.

Will post more on this in the future though.

Post by **brigittes hubbie** » Wed Jan 14, 2015 3:24 pm

Hi Anung, this looks like a fabulous job. Lexi will be even more beautiful after the repair job. Joker grin

, that´s nice.
Chris

Anung Un Rama · Post by **Anung Un Rama** » Wed Jan 14, 2015 5:04 pm

Thanks BH...I got some trimming to do as the silicone has bonded extremely well and then its time to put her back together...pics to come

Anung Un Rama · Post by **Anung Un Rama** » Wed Jan 14, 2015 7:36 pm

OK...SO the bond help up brilliantly...and have logged that mixture and catalyst combo in the maintenance diary for future structural repairs...so here are the images....

These first three are for the mod I did using Velcro silicone bonded sticky dots...I had a magnet system going with fridge magnets that worked brilliantly until the bonds failed on the silicone inner face..so giving this a go.

Anung Un Rama · Post by **Anung Un Rama** » Wed Jan 14, 2015 7:42 pm

So Now for the re-assembly after trimming of the silicone holding tabs...

I am pleased to say I now have far better head bolt contact and the head bolt is holding nicely to allow a far less sloppy torsion of the neck...far more realistic now...and a handy hint is to use a locking spring washer between the lowest washer below the roller bearing and on top of the neck mount frame....this will stop your head bolt from loosening as often as it seems to.

Anung Un Rama · Post by **Anung Un Rama** » Wed Jan 14, 2015 7:53 pm

All right...now for the fiddly part.

I reinstalled the face and relocated the chin onto the new Velcro tabs....holding nicely.

As always happens the eyes shift and need readjustment and you guessed it the eyelashes always come off...The trick here is repetition, trial and error and patience. For Real doll owners or doll owners that have holes in the back of the eye ball (or if you are confident you could drill some) another handy trick is to make some small holes in the eye socket of the silicone face...this makes eye ball and iris position achievable without removing the eyeball from the socket...Tash has this mod..but have not gone that way with Lexi as yet.

Anyhow got the eyes into position and patiently using my trust RD adhesive, model painting ultra fine brush and model tweezers...took on my arch nemesis the eyelashes....I by these from Kmart for about 3 dollars a pair in the make up section ( I feel like Lafayette Reynolds form True Blood when browsing and have some fun with the old dears when they inquire as to what I am looking for...but you gotta make their day too).

Anung Un Rama · Post by **Anung Un Rama** » Wed Jan 14, 2015 8:03 pm

So continuing...after the eyelash glue has tacked its time to adjust the wig tension and install the wig...I tuck the retaining elastic just under the silicone joint around the scalp...helps it stay in place nicely and locates the wig pretty bang on center...these shots are from Lexis less photogenic side as she is modest about her beauty spot

You can also note how the Velcro tab mods under the chin have closed up the lips and alleviated most of the joker grin...so a worthwhile mod I feel.

Anung Un Rama · Post by **Anung Un Rama** » Wed Jan 14, 2015 8:08 pm

These shots are from her left to show the extra symmetry the chin mod has achieved...it has also eliminated any face droop as well..so happy with it.

Anung Un Rama · Post by **Anung Un Rama** » Wed Jan 14, 2015 8:13 pm

And now to close out the repair posts...I got some shots that capture what a true stunner Lexi has again become.....

Time involved since the start of all repairs in actual hours worked 70 hours
Cost in parts and materials $130 AUD...worth every second and cent I reckon.

I may have to snatch some posts form this topic and make a Resurrecting Lexi Topic in Boy Toy Repair and Maintenance

Post by **Sheeana** » Wed Jan 14, 2015 8:46 pm

Thank you thank you thank you!!! for restoring our lineage mother to all her beauty!!!

You are a master craftsman and we (all us BT3 Stars) are so happy our Lexi found you!!

xoxoxo,
Sheeana