Types of scale figurines



Collecting toys is one of the all-time favorite hobbies of many people. This is because it reminds them of their childhood years. Aside from that, it is also relaxing to see a room filled with toys.



Scale figurines are good toys to collect. These miniature figurines have long been the favorites of collectors. They are very easy to store and maintain. Most scale figurines are handcrafted and hand painted, that is why they are so valuable. These figurines could be made of metal, plastic or paper. Metal figurines are traditionally made from an alloy of tin and lead. However, the increasing concern over the health effects of lead has led to toy manufacturers to make miniatures that are free from lead. Because metal figurines are more durable, they are more expensive. Meanwhile, plastic based figurines can be made from polyethylene, polyurethane and polystyrene. They are cheaper as compared to the metal ones.

Most miniature figurines are representations of historical or other important events, especially war events. They enhance the visual aspects of a setting or even a game. These figurines could be people or animals. They are commonly a part of miniature war games and role playing games. Small figurine scales are expressed in the metric system. Children and small characters are usually less than 28 mm, while adults and other tall characters have height of more than 28 mm. Smaller scales are used in war games, while bigger scales are commonly used in role playing games. Although the height of figurines from different manufacturers may vary, they are almost the same in artistic representations.

In historical war games, scale figurines usually represent soldiers. These small scale toy soldiers perfectly complement battle vehicles such as tanks and military airplanes. Most of these toy soldiers have articulating body parts. Aside from that, there uniforms have been meticulously researched so that they resemble the real uniforms. These action figures are also available with weapons as well as other military gears.

These miniature figurines can also be a part of a railroad setting toy. Model railroad manufacturers include people, animals and other accessories so that the railroad will look real. While the train is battery operated, these miniature figures are placed in different areas of the railroad. This is to make the entire setting exciting and realistic. Another favorite small figures are those created as companions of model cars. While the model cars are made of die cast metal, the miniature people are usually made of plastics. These figurines represent the driver, policemen, passengers and even pedestrians. Some figurines are even a replica of real drag racing drivers.