Model figure
A model figure is a scale model representing a human, monster or other creature. These objects exist as either kits for enthusiasts to construct and paint or as pre-built collectable figurines ready for display. Plastic usually takes the form of polystyrene while polyurethane resin and metal including white metal serve as alternative materials. Collectables often utilize plastic porcelain or rarely bronze for their construction. Larger versions reach heights of 12 inches or 30 cm tall specifically for recent movie characters like Princess Leia from Star Wars. Military models sometimes produce large plastic figures as a sideline activity alongside standard production runs.
Back in the early '80s and '90s military modeling figures were largely produced in 1:72 and 1:35 scales with other scales such as 1:48 and 1:32 holding a smaller market share. Tamiya Testor's Revell Monogram and others produced 1:35 scale miniatures covering World War I through Vietnam with the largest portion centering on World War II. Atlantic offered figures of Ancient Egyptians Greeks Romans Cowboys American Indians and many more within the 1/72 scale range. Airfix supplied not only high-quality figures in 1:72 scale but also fine planes and military vehicles and still do so today. One of the largest distinctions between 1:72 scale and 1:35 scale aside from size was the amount of ready-to-paint dioramas and sets available to small-scale modelers. Airfix offered several kits for modelers from pontoon bridges the Atlantic wall Waterloo and many others containing everything needed to portray a given moment. For quite a while 1:32 scale figures were more or less better versions of army men children play with until companies began selling them professionally pre-painted.
Model figures based on icons like Hello Kitty characters appearing in anime manga kaiju series science fiction fantasy films and video games form a major part of otaku fandom. The global animation merchandising market from Japan is estimated to be worth around 663 billions Japanese yen. Some hobbyists concentrate specifically on certain types such as garage kits gashapon capsule toys or PVC bishōjo statues. Figures are usually classified as prize figures scale figures and others with prize figures being lower cost options often used in Claw crane games. Scale figures can cost several hundreds to thousands USD depending on authenticity and quality. Authentic figures are normally figures of characters that are licensed by the creators leading to significantly higher prices. Good Smile Company Aniplex Hot Toys Bandai and others stand out as some of the most well known manufacturers for their consistency and quality. Noodle stoppers represent a type of figurine based on manga anime or even video game characters which is ostensibly meant to secure by gravity the lid for ramen containers.
In the 50s and 60s plastic model kits such as cars planes or space ships became common in the US alongside cheap plastic models for movie monsters comic book heroes and television characters. These included monsters like Frankenstein The Wolf Man Dracula and the Creature from the Black Lagoon at about 9 inches or 23 cm in height. One of the largest producers of monster figures were the Aurora Plastics Corporation who produced many thousands figures from each mould. This market disappeared and no firm since has produced anything to match their quantities. In the 1970s Aurora's figure molds had been sold to Monogram and by the mid-to late 1970s the models had been discontinued and were difficult to find in hobby stores. While the prices in the 50s and 60s had been only a few dollars now the kits were selling for as much as $125 for some of the rarer monster models. By the 1990s model kits were produced in the US UK as well as Japan and distributed through hobby and comic stores. Large hobby companies like AMT-Ertl and Revell/Monogram began marketing vinyl model kits of movie monsters classic Star Trek characters and characters from one of the Batman films.
Garage kit figures are produced by both amateurs and professionals usually cast out of polyurethane resin. In Japan they often portray anime characters and in the US they are often movie monsters. Garage kits are usually produced in limited numbers and are more expensive than typical injection molded plastic figures and kits. In the early to mid-1980s hobbyists began creating their own garage kits of movie monsters often without permission from copyright holders. They were usually produced in limited numbers and sold primarily by mail order and at toy and hobby conventions. In the mid- to late 1980s two model kit companies moved the monster model kit hobby toward the mainstream. Horizon Models in California and Screamin' Models in New York began licensing vinyl model kits of movie monsters. Horizon focused primarily on classic horror film characters like Bride of Frankenstein Invisible Man The Phantom of the Opera and comic book characters like Captain America and Iron Man. As of 2009 there are two American garage kit magazines Kitbuilders Magazine and Amazing Figure Modeler and there are garage kit conventions held each year like WonderFest USA in Louisville Kentucky.
Model figure collectors like most hobby collectors usually have a specific criterion for what they collect such as Civil-War soldiers or Warhammer gaming figures. Specifically with an eye to collectors manufacturers of collectable model figures make chase figures. This is a model figure that is released in limited amounts relative to the rest of an assortment often something like one chase figure for every two cases of regular product. This is comparable to the chase cards in the collectible card game industry. The name comes from the assumption that collectors in their need to collect them all will put in more effort than usual to chase down these figures. Chase figures are rare in toy lines aimed at youth markets although there are occasionally shortpacked figures shipped in lower numbers than other figures in its release cycle. Chase figures are more common in collector-oriented lines like Marvel Legends and WWE Classics.
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Common questions
What is a model figure and what materials are used to make them?
A model figure is a scale model representing a human, monster or other creature. These objects exist as either kits for enthusiasts to construct and paint or as pre-built collectable figurines ready for display. Plastic usually takes the form of polystyrene while polyurethane resin and metal including white metal serve as alternative materials.
When did military modeling figures become popular and what scales were common in the 1980s and 1990s?
Military modeling figures were largely produced in 1:72 and 1:35 scales during the early 1980s and 1990s with other scales such as 1:48 and 1:32 holding a smaller market share. Tamiya Testor's Revell Monogram and others produced 1:35 scale miniatures covering World War I through Vietnam with the largest portion centering on World War II.
How much does the global animation merchandising market from Japan generate annually?
The global animation merchandising market from Japan is estimated to be worth around 663 billions Japanese yen. Model figures based on icons like Hello Kitty characters appearing in anime manga kaiju series science fiction fantasy films and video games form a major part of otaku fandom.
Which company was the largest producer of monster figures in the 1950s and 1960s before their molds were sold?
One of the largest producers of monster figures were the Aurora Plastics Corporation who produced many thousands figures from each mould. In the 1970s Aurora's figure molds had been sold to Monogram and by the mid-to late 1970s the models had been discontinued and were difficult to find in hobby stores.
What are garage kit figures and when did companies begin licensing them for mainstream sales?
Garage kit figures are produced by both amateurs and professionals usually cast out of polyurethane resin. In the mid- to late 1980s two model kit companies moved the monster model kit hobby toward the mainstream with Horizon Models in California and Screamin' Models in New York beginning to license vinyl model kits of movie monsters.