- 105 / Gypsum
- A Prototype used for production department approvals. Its size is 105% of the final product. Typically this is the rarest item from the pre-production process because the factory tends to destroy their copy in the Tooling process. Generally only one of these items is ever sent to the manufacturer for review. In many cases they are sent back to the factory AFTER review for the factory to use. 105's can be painted or unpainted.
- 5-Panel Box
- A box with a fifth panel or flap usually covering a window in the front of the package. Used to protect the window during shipping and to give additional space for artwork and / or information.
- Action Figure
- A representation of a character done in a specific scale that allows both the ability to play with and display within a collection. Most people assume that an action figure will have several Joints that allow multiple poses.
- Articulation
- The set of Joints that give a figure movement. Most Figures these days have at least 5 joints but some Hyper Articulated figures are approaching 40-50 Joints
- Artist Proof
- A limited number of Polystone pieces run through the actual production line and sent to the manufacturer for FINAL final review before the actual production run. This allows the manufacturer to catch errors that only occur within the assembly line during actual production.
- B&M
- Brick and Mortar. A term for a Retail store with a physical location where you can shop.
- Ball Joint
- A Joint formed by a round end piece that fits into a cup or socket giving the joint movement in many directions. Ball joints are often found at the shoulders, hips or neck
- Blind Packaging
- A form of packaging that does not allow you to see which Figure is inside. This type of packaging will have the exact same graphics and text on every box regardless of its contents. The idea behind blind packaging is similar to trading cards, you purchase a number of figures and if you end up with a duplicate you trade it with a friend or on the secondary market to complete your collection. This usually allows for packaging costs to be greatly reduced resulting in a lower SRP on the figure. Blind Packaging is usually done as a box.
- Blister
- A form of packaging where the Figure and a paper backer are sealed inside a molded clear plastic box. Somtimes refered to as a Clamshell.
- Carded / Card Back
- A form of packaging in which a Figure is placed into a plastic bubble which is glued to a cardboard backer.
- Case
- The shipping container used by the manufacturer to get a Series of figures to the retailers who have purchased them. A case can hold a single large boxed Playset or several sets of figures. In the instance of an Exclusive the case may contain many copies of a single figure
- Case Assortment
- The set of Figures and the number of each figure that make up a single case. A case assortment may include a single instance of each figure in a Series, multiple instances of some figures and single instances (Short Pack) of others or only some portion of figures from the series (Good Guys case / Bad Guys case)
- Chase Figure
- A Figure that is Short Packed within the Case Assortment. While a short packed figure is usually found in every Case a chase figure is often found only once in a number of cases.
- CG
- Computer Graphic, usually a 3 dimensional computer Prototype used in place of an actual sculpture. The CG prototype allows the production team to look at changes, including multiple paint schemes, in a short period of time.
- Con Exclusive
- An Exclusive offered only to attendees of a specific convention.
- Cut Joint
- Sometimes called a swivel Joint or a pin Joint. A simple slice through the Figure with a pin in the center that lets the piece rotate on a single axis. Found most often as a mid thigh or mid bicep it can sometimes be used for a waist or hip joint
- Display Stand
- A Figure Base that includes some small amount of detailing so as to add to the presentation of a Figure. It may be a logo, shape or design such as floorboards. Many times Display Stands are designed in such a way as to allow them to be linked together to create a Diorama.
- Double Ball Joint
- 2 Ball Joints side by side, either one cup inside the first Ball or with balls on either end of a very short post. This Joint creates a more realistic shoulder or a neck joint with a wider range of movement.
- Double Hinge Joint
- 2 Hinge Joints side by side. This Joint is used to create a more realistic movement in a knee or elbow.
- Diorama
- A scene or setting in which the figure can be displayed and can interact with other Figures. The Diorama is usually assembled from several Display Stands or from scratch by a customizer.
- Exclusive
- Usually a Repaint or Variant of a Figure but it can be a new sculpt not seen in the regular Line. Exclusives are usually offered at Cons or through a specific retailer but can also be offered from the manufacturer's web site, as a pre-order incentive, or from a club as a membership item. Exclusives are usually shipped in their own Cases.
- FEP
- Final Engineering Prototype, A Prototype with all of the bugs worked out and the legal line stamped on. FEP's are almost always painted.
- Figure Base
- A small stand to help the Figure stand up. It usually has no design or paint scheme.
- Fine
- A level of Grading one step below Very Fine.
- First Review Sample
- The first sample of a Polystone piece. Used to make any final changes before going into production.
- First Shot
- The first Figures the factory produces from the molds or Tooling. Often made from several different colors of plastic. There will be many errors at this stage that will need to be adjusted before a Second Shot is made. First shots are almost never painted.
- Grading
- The process of setting a value on a Figure. Grading is usually done by a third party with some form of reputation for their knowledge of figures and the market. Grading can include completeness of the figures (does it have all of its accessories), cleanness and accuracy of paint, rareness in both the primary and secondary markets, and, if the figure is still in its packaging, the condition of the packaging (No bends, tears, stickers, creases, etc.) Having a Graded figure sometimes raises the price of a figure on the Secondary Market but could also limit the number of people interested in the item.
- Hinge Joint
- a Joint that allows a fold or bend in a single direction. While it can be used for knees and elbows it is more often seen as a part of ankle or wrist joints.
- Joint
- A point on an Action Figure where 2 pieces come together in a way that allows for movement.
- Limited Edition
- Usually used with Polystone pieces. A limited Edition has a finite number of pieces that will be made at which time production will stop. Each piece should have its Edition Number written on the base or bottom. (Piece XXX of Edition YYY)
- Line
- A group of Figures based on the same license and manufactured by the same company
- Loose
- A level of Grading one step below Fine.
- MIB
- Mint in Box, A way of describing a Figure still in its packaging which is in Mint condition.
- Mint
- A level of Grading meaning perfect condition.
- MOC
- Mint on Card, A way of describing a figure still in its packaging which is in Mint condition. Also used to describe a type of collector who keeps his figures in their packaging (MOCer).
- Near Mint
- A level of Grading one step below Mint.
- Open Edition
- While a Limited Edition has its production quantity made public an open edition production quantity is never made public. This allows a manufacture to go back and make additional production runs at the factory if sales warrant.
- Peg Warmer
- A term used for an item that seems to just sit on a retails shelf or peg hook without actually selling. If a Figure, or even an entire Line, becomes known as a peg warmer then it could hurt chances of retailers picking up any more or even canceling orders for the next Series.
- Playset
- A factory manufactured Diorama.
- Plush
- A fabric based toy with a soft filling like a Teddy Bear. Remember your Raggedy Anne & Raggedy Andy?
- Polystone
- A ceramic like resin used for statues.
- PPS
- Pre-Production Sample. A Prototype the same size as the final but still has all of the revisions / bugs left to be worked out. PPS's can be painted or unpainted.
- Prop Replica
- A version of an item, usually from a movie or comic / novel, done at a 1:1 scale, or actual size.
- Prototype
- A sculpt or CG design used to start the production process. Prototypes will go through many revisions including, but not limited to FEP, PPS, 105, First Shot, Second Shot and / or Review or Artist Proof.
- Repaint
- A new paint scheme for an already released Figure. The Repaint is usually offered in the same series or as an Exclusive and in a lower quantity than the regular figure.
- Retail
- The sale of products, either through B&M or an online store, to individual consumers (you & me)
- Retail Exclusive
- An Exclusive that is offered only through a single retailer. Retail exclusives will not be packed in the Case Assortment case. A retail exclusive will be offered from only one location (B&M or online). That location has the option to sell to other resellers if they so choose.
- Scale
- Is a referance to the size of figure compared to 'real life'. A 12" figure may be refered to as in 12" scale but it can also be refered to as 1:6 scale - 12 inchs = 1 sixth the size of an average 6 foot human. Scale breakes down as:
1:1 - Full Size / Life Size - 1" = 1" -> Marvel's Life Size Busts
1:2 - Half Scale - 1" = 2"
1:3 - Third scale - 1" = 3"
1:4 - Quarter Scale - 1" = 4" -> Sideshow's Premium Format (24")
1:5 - Fifth Scale - 1" = 5" -> Tonner Dolls (14")
1:6 - Sixth Scale - 1" = 6" -> Mattel's Barbie, Shideshow's Star Wars line (12")
1:8 - Eighth Scale - 1" = 8" -> GI Joe: Sigma Six, Mego's World's Greatest Super Heros (8")
1:10 - Tenth Scale - 1" = 10" ->Appleseed Trading Figures Snap Kits
1:12 - 6" Scale - 1" = 12"(1') -> DC Direct, Marvel Legends (6")
1:14 - 5" Scale - 1" = 14" -> Mcfarlane's Halo Line (5")
1:18 - 4" Scale - 1" = 18" -> Hasbro's Star Wars and GI Joe, Takara's Microman (3.75")
1:20 - G Scale - 1" = 20" -> G Scale Model Trains
1:24 - Half Scale - 1/2" = 1' -> Takara's Binaltech and a premium format for vehicle collectors
1:32 - 32nd Scale - 3/8" = 1' ->MiniMates, PALz, I-Men, I Scale Model Trains
1:48 - 4th Scale - 1/4" = 1' -> Games Workshop and HeroClix, O / O27 Scale Model Trains
1:64 - 64th Scale - 1/5" = 1' -> Matchbox, Hot Wheels S scale Model Trains
1:72 - 72nd Scale - 1/6" = 1' -> Bandai's Gundam MISA Line
1:87 - HO scale - 1/8" = 1' -> HO Scale Model Trains
1:144 - 144th Scale - 1/12" = 1' ->BanDai's Gundam Fix Figuration Line
1:160 - N scale - 1/16" = 1' -> N Scale Model Trains
- Second Shot
- A sample from the factory showing how the final piece will work in plastic after modifications have been made to the molds or Tooling from comments made on the First Shots. Second shots are where many bugs in the Articulation will be worked out.
- Secondary Market
- The sale of products between consumers. This could be an actual sale or a trade of any sort. The classifieds, eBay and other auction web sites, swap meets, flea markets and yard sales all are Secondary Markets. This is the best way to find things that are older or no longer readily available at Retail.
- Series
- A series is a group of figures from the same Line offered together in a Case Assortment. A series could be as few as 3 figures but, technically, has no maximum other than what the manufacture wants / can afford to include at one time. Most lines will run from 1-5 series while others can continue for many more.
- Shared Exclusive
- An Exclusive or Retail Exclusive shared by 2 or more retailers. Not packed in the Case Assortment at all.
- Short Packed
- A Figure with fewer numbers in the Case than any other figure in the case.
- SKU
- A numeric or alphanumeric code created by a Retailer and assigned to a Figure as a way of maintaining and replenishing their stock. Depending on how the retailer manages his inventory a SKU could represent a single figure or an entire Line.
- SRP
- Suggested Retail Price, The price that the manufacturer suggests retailers sell at. This price is just a suggestion and Retailers have the option of selling at a higher price or even at a lower price.
- T-Crotch
- A set of two Cut Joints at the hips done in such a way that the pelvis area looks like a T. The two Joints are parallel to each other and allow the legs to move straight forward and straight back.
- Tooling
- Sometimes called molds, Tooling is the metal forms that the plastic or Polystone is poured into during production. A single tool can include parts for several different Figures.
- Tooling Pattern
- After the 105 comes a Tooling Pattern. This is a Prototype of each individual piece of the Figure used to create the tooling that all other steps, and the final production, will come out of.
- UPC
- The Universal Product Code, a 12 digit number with a corresponding bar code used to identify an individual Figure. The first half of the code will designate the company or manufacturer while the second half represents the figure itself. These numbers will be unique on most figures.
- V-Crotch
- A set of two Cut Joints at the hips done in such a way that the pelvis area looks like a V. With the two hip Joints at an angle to each other the legs splay outward into a V shape when they are brought forward.
- Variant
- A figure with some portion re-sculpted such as a new facial expression or with / without a mask. The Variant is usually offered in the same Series or as a Retail Exclusive along side the series and in a lower quantity than the regular figure.
- Very Fine
- A level of Grading one step below Near Mint.
- Windowed Box
- A box with an area cut out to allow the Figure inside to be displayed without actually opening the box.
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