Help please, taking the legs off a MH doll...

[Gingerbread]

I have a forearmless Cleo who I need to take the lower legs of. I've tried brute force, brute force and boiling water, and lots of cussing 

The legs are adamant, they don't want to come off.

Does anyone know how to get them off? I have a skelly CAM I want to put on but I don't want to start drilling her armholes until I've got the legs off...

[JigglesTheCat]

This is what I found as I surfed the internets... :

Spoiler

"I was able to remove the lower leg by gently cutting the seam with an Xacto knife. I separated the thigh pieces this way, then used a dremmel to make the hole large enough for the skeleton CAM leg pegs. Then I glued the thighs back together. The lower legs now work as if they were meant to go with the body. I also trimmed down the skeleton arm pegs so they will work in any MH body." - Melora Vern, MonsterHighDolls

"I have done the modification you are suggesting.  Arm removal is easy as the lower arms of any MH doll snaps on and off. The CAM arms have a slightly larger peg, however.  I used my power drill with a bit only slightly larger than the original hole on it.  The Cam skeleton arms snap in and out with easy after that.  The lower legs are a bigger problem, but are still doable.  The legs don't snap off at the knee. I pulled the legs as far apart as I could and then cut the joint connector.  Using an exacto knife I trimmed away as much the excess as I could.  I then used my drill again with a larger bit to drill a hole into the upper leg to accommodate the skeleton lower leg peg.  These now snap in and out with reasonable ease.  The head attachment is another matter.  The regular MH doll heads are held on with an internal hooking device.  I pulled hard and got the head off. I removed the hook thing, but it might work better to leave it on.  My skeleton girl's head stays on via friction, but comes off a bit too easily for my tastes.  I did want to glue it as that would keep me from posing later.  I also gave the torso, upper are arms, and upper legs a coat of white primer spray paint to make them match the skeleton parts.  Overall the resulting figure works quite well.  You could use any MH doll for the torso.  I would suggest using one of the cheaper ones.  I hope this helps." - Anpu, MonsterHighDolls

Good luck ^_^

[Gingerbread]

Cool, thank you!

I was thinking of cutting the upper thighs apart but....I'm not brave enough! I think I will leave Cleo as she is for the moment and keep an eye out for some extra CAMs. I have my skelly CAM made up on a werewolf body at the moment and she doesn't actually look as bad as I thought she would.

[justkitter]

I used a SS Ghoulia to make the Skeleton CAM.  She was the first CAM I made (using a standard doll) and I learned a thing or two, but still haven't perfected the process.  I cut the lower leg off (because there is NO OTHER WAY to remove it) and drilled out the peg.  I've gotten varied results:

1:  Having to glue the leg in the peg hole (not recommended.  It was my first attempt, and learned from my mistake.  Her leg no longer bends:(  It is nice and secure though)

2:  Used Teflon tape to thicken the CAM leg peg to fit in a slightly bigger thigh leg hole.  Fit is not very secure, but I can bend the legs:)

3:  The CAM piece fits snugly in the thigh hole:)  This does not happen often enough though.

I think I may try cutting open the thigh next.  Using the drill on the thigh is a pain!  I'd rather sand down a super-glued-back-together thigh, than drill out another thigh.

I mentioned the whole Ghoulia/Skeleton thing because I think gray looks really good on the Skeleton.  If you've got the extra CAM parts, just stick with that:)  I have to work on a body for the Ghost Girl and I just want to cry everytime I think about it.  I'm never happy with the results.  Maybe if I throw the drill out the window and pick up an exacto knife, I'll be happier?  I'm sure you'll hear ALL about it, when I finally get off my lazy butt to do it.

[Gingerbread]

Thanks with the info! I've tried brute force again and....nope I'm going to leave my skelly girl on the werewolf CAM. If I ever find a Frankie cheap I will definitely have a go at drilling out the pegs though.

[justkitter]

I do recommend a "practice" doll to drill on:)  I wound up buying a second skeleton CAM kit just so I could have loose legs not permantly glued to a standard doll   Not sure what I'll do exactly.  I think I'm holding out hope for Mattel to release extra CAM parts that match existing dolls.  Maybe a tub of random doll parts!  Or maybe I'll buy a custom skeleton torso from Plastic Curves.......

[Gingerbread]

A MH Tub-O-Parts would be great! It's so frustrating that you can't even mix-n match. Like the bee cam - there are no yellow upper limbs. Who thought that was a good idea?

[rayedelsol]

A MH Tub-O-Parts would be great! It's so frustrating that you can't even mix-n match. Like the bee cam - there are no yellow upper limbs. Who thought that was a good idea?

Tub-O-Parts!! Yes! I haven't gotten into CAMs yet, but you make this some sort of random assortment, and I would probably be there LOL

[Vertefae]

You could see if this a grey torso on Etsy. There was a store selling them.

[Gingerbread]

I've purchased a few torsos from Etsy just waiting for them to arrive.