1:6 SCALE MODELLING
Also known as Playscale Miniaturism.
A hobby focusing on the collecting and/or customization of commercially produced 1:6 scale 12”action figures and accessories.
This scale is fairly new to the modeling world, having been standardized in the early 1960s through Barbie and G.I. Joe toys.
Most of this style of miniaturism is constructed around posable plastic figures. The average 1:6 figure stands roughly 30 cm (12 in) tall, representing a 1.8 m (6 ft) tall human. Figures can be outfitted in a wide variety of mass produced, limited production, and custom clothing and items. Some people undertake vehicle projects ranging from tanks and helicopters to sand rails and jeeps. Talented "customizers", miniaturists specializing in construction of one-off and limited production items or the extensive modification of stock products, are limited only by their imagination.
Brands:
Dragon Models Limited (DML),Blue Box Toys (BBI), Toy Soldier Workshop, ACE, DiD (Dragon in Dreams), Toys City, Hot Toys, Phicen, ZC, Enterbay.
COLLECTORS vs. MINIATURIST
Collectors a person who simply choose to display their figures in the original box while Miniaturist is an enthusiast who make their own custom uniforms, weapons, helmets and equipments.
Kitbashing is component of playscale miniaturism which involves mixing and matching of clothing and accessories from different sources to achieve the desired look. Other modifications to basic collectibles include the sculpting and painting of new heads for figures; altering bodies to achieve a specific look: more human, or even alien; as well as weathering. Some miniaturists also construct and paint custom accessories from scratch using materials like styrene, Sculpey, or Aves Apoxie.
Diorama work is fairly common despite the large size of the scale, and custom- or scratch-building buildings, furniture, vehicles and armor all complement basic figure work.
Terminologies:
KitBash/Bash - using a mix of gears from different manufacturers or 1/6 releases on a figure.
KOTM - Kitbash of The Month, voted by forum members the thread is usually stickied at the top of 'general talk'.
BDU - Battle Dress Uniform.
DEVGRU - short for NAVSPECWARDEVGRU which is in turn short for Navy Special Warfare Development Group, formerly ST6 or SEAL Team 6, maritime SOF under the Department of the Navy.
DiD - Dragon in Dreams, 1/6 maker.
DML - Dragon Models Limited, 1/6 maker.
Enterbay - 1/6 maker.
Femme Fatale - alluring and seductive woman that leads men to do dangerous things, a common 1/6th theme.
FrankenJoe - a vintage GI Joe figure pieced together from parts from many different sources.
GI Joe - a line of 1/6 figures introduced in 1964 by Hasbro.
Headsculpt/HS - The head of a figure.
HT - Hot Toys, 1/6 maker.
Loading Toys - Loading Toys, 1/6 maker.
M&C Toys - Manufacturer of Power Team Toys.
MD - Monkey Depot, 1/6 store.
Medicom - Medicom Toy Corporation, 1/6 maker.
MIB - Mint In Box.
SST - Side Show Toys, 1/6 maker.
Weathering - Process of applying art materials to give objects an aged 'Weathered' look.
WIP - Work in Progress.
