click for enlarged diagram

NOTES ON THE SD16 BODY

The new SD16 body has some large differences from the SD13 body, not all of which are readily apparent from the "outside". Until I get around to drawing a diagram of the jointing (I do not wish to post Volks' diagrams), I'm providing the little illustration at left. I will try to describe the body as well as possible.

Torso: The torso is in three sections. The midsection has a "locking" design with the interior of the pelvis piece. The upper torso piece has silicone bumps on the inside (marked on the diagram), which create friction to enable posing (like bending sideways).

Shoulder: The shoulder joint has a fairly complex design, similar to that on Hound/Bermann and the CP/Luts boys. The arm socket and the ball of the upper arm are separated by a "sheath" type piece, which in turn has two silicone washers.

Knee and elbow: The knee and elbow joints are "double jointed". Essentially, the ball joint of the shin piece is now separated from it, creating a "floating" joint connecting the shin and thigh (or upper and lower arm). This floating piece is shaped like a traditional ball joint at the top, and narrows at the bottom. The limb can be posed like a traditional single joint by moving the floating piece in concert with the lower portion of the limb, or, for more range of posing, can be positioned separately.

Hand and foot: The hands and feet are identical in design to the current SD and MSD body types, using the "one-touch" system. The hand joint, however, has the addition of a silicone washer. SD13 boy hand and foot pieces would not be compatible because the ball joint is larger.

Thigh: Unlike the previous "kneeling" body design, where the stringing slot is simply extended perpendicularly, the ball joint of the thigh piece is now separate from the thigh itself. The two pieces interlock in such a way that the thigh can be rotated and locked into a new position 90 degrees from the start point. This allows not only kneeling, but also the reverse motion, so that the doll can cross one or both legs. It is also somewhat easier to operate than the elastic sliding involved in the previous suwarikko posing system.

Naoya: Taxi!
Gideon: . . .

Naoya: Strange . . . I feel suddenly taller and more muscular.

Gideon: Oh, god, I don't want to go through puberty AGAIN.