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Action Figures

Add Some Excitment to Your Collecting

Tin Soldiers

Before there were action figures, children (and adults) played with tin soldiers.

Tin soldiers are accurate reproductions of various scales of soldiers, horses, weapons and other war materials varying on the period being protrayed.

In the 18th and 19th centuries these were acutually made of tin or lead. You can still buy the molds and materials you need to make authenic soldiers based on classic designs.

Because molten lead, tin or pewter can be dangerous to inhale, plastic or polmer clay can be used in the molds.

You can buy tin soldiers pre-made but unpainted or you can buy beautiful ready-made specimens as sold on this this website.

One very popular use of tin soldiers is to re-create minature battles, with soldiers in historically acurate uniforms, using period weapons and carrying the proper war flags. This hobby requires a lot of hand painting of individual figures to achieve that historical accuracy.

Another way to display tin soldiers is in a diorama, where troops are displayed as desired, whether fighting one another or not.

Collecting and displaying tin soldiers is almost a way of life. To do it properly, must avid collectors add buildings, grass, trees and plants, most of which they make and decorate themselves.

Fine sets of these collectibles are museum quality - many are actually displayed in top museums around the word.

If properly cared for, I do not think you will never lose money collecting them.

Toy Soldiers

When I was a child, many years ago, I used to have plastic soldiers, usually all green, modeled after US Army troops in World War Two. They were sold in big plastic bags and were very cheap.

I am sure these have been made before and since then, but they have lost a lot of their appeal with the introduction of modern action figures with all their bells and whistles.

If you are looking to start a toy collection on the cheap, these under-loved figures might appear as the next must have collectible.

Action Figures

Action figures have evolved over the years. First there was GI Joe, then came the superheroes like Batman and Superman.

With figures such as Transformers, the toys have gotten flashier and more complex.

Now the family of action figures includes sports stars, TV and movie characters, political figures and the newest addition - characters from the Bible.

Who knows what's next?

Me, and you. Believe it or not, there is a company that will make an action figure of anybody. Just send them pictures and they send back an action figure of you! If you're interested, go to Andgor.com.

The mold is made in-house by professional sculptors. The cost is $400 for the first figure and you can order additional heads for $40 apiece.

I think modern action figures will have a limited upside potential, since so many are being hoarded in the box as they are introduced.

If you like them, then certainly collect them, but just for the fun of it.

and on eBay

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