Guide to Collecting Action Figures (Or anything else)

This guide is aimed to educate a new collector and help them avoid some of the pitfalls associated with collecting. Although this is geared toward 1/6 Military Action Figures, the general principles apply to any collectible. There are 1/6 scale figures based on the middle ages, Roman/Greek Empires, Revolutionary War, Civil War, WWI, WWII, Korea, Vietnam, up through the modern military units from around the world. Another popular genre is figures based on military movies.
History
Hasbros G.I. Joe 1964-1978(Painted Heads, Adventurer, Adventure Team)is where it allstarted. They were the first"action figures." Fully poseable unlike the toy soldiers that came before them.
During the same time period Hasbro liscencedforeign versions of GI Joe (Action Man (UK), Geyperman (Spain), Takara gebat Joe (Japan)).
G.I. Joe 1992 Hall of Fame DUKEbased on GI Joe Real American Hero (RAH) cartoon series was released. He was dressed in the chocolate chipDesert Storm type uniform and was available exclusively through Target stores. This was thefirst 12 GI Joe in over14 years (the Dark Ages). The initial issue sold out the first weekend.
In 1996 GI Joe released the Classic Collection line ofmodern military figures;WWII,modern military, police,rescue and adventure series appeared in this line.
In 1998 21st Century Toys released theUltimate Soldier line that started with Vietnam era figures, WWII and also had figures based on police and rescue services.
A year later, in 1999, Dragon Models Limited released their first figure based on WWII. The majority of Dragon figures are based on WWII but they also have expanded over the years into other modern and police/rescue related lines.
Hasbro also released GI Joe Masterpiece Edition, Timeless Edition and40th Anniversary Lines that were replicas or re-releases of their original 1960-70s figures. Some accessories were made of metal instead of plastic and were marked China vice Japan or Hong Kong so collectors could tell the difference from a vintage piece and a remake.
Other Producers:
Blue Box Toys BBI (WWII, Modern Military from around the world, character figures, Police/Fire,Rescue etc.
Dragon in Dreams (DID) Mostly WWII but they also have delved into other genre's. Highly detailed figures and accessories.
Sideshow Toys- Movie related figures plus untapped military genres Civil War, Revolutionary War,WWI, Napoleonic, Monster, Sci-fi and more.
HOT TOYS- Hi grade/price movie related, some generic figures. They also sell Highly detailed modelkits which are action figures that have tobe put together in some way. They are movie based andhighly detailed and accurate.
Medige/Takara Japan Hi price Sci Fi/Action Movie charectors, Japanese Anime
In the Past Toys WWII German, Japanese figures, War Criminals of the 20th Century (Hitler, Himmler, Goring, Wittman, Paulis and more)
Today there are numerous gepanies producing high quality, limited quantity figures. Many are based on modern Special forces units and include Saturdays Toys, Toys City, Dr. Figures, Wild Works, Soldier Story, well, you get the idea.
With so many gepanies, so many genres, and such a difference in price and quality, where do you start?
2. How to decide what to collect
Before you start to spend your hard earned money on any collectible, you need to know why you're doing it. You MUST ask yourself (This is the MOST important information in this guide.)

Why am Icollecting? Personal Interest/Investment/Nostalgia/Regain lost childhood memories?
What is myinterests?
It isa personal interest in a certain branch of the military? Familyhistory with the military? A particular branch, unit or maybe place where they were stationed. What era is mostinteresting? Middle Ages, Revolutionary War, Civil War, WWI, WWII, Vietnam,Modern?
Do I wantto recapture toys Ihad when I was a child?
Do Iwant toys related to myfavorite movie or a historic battle?
3. START SMALL - Start with a narrow focus, its easier (and cheaper) to expand than consolidate.
One thing I can tell you is that its easy to fall into the gotta have it all craze when you begincollecting. When I started, I wanted all the toys Ihad when I was a kid. I wanted GI Joe, Big Jim,Capt Action, Marx Best of the West, Megos, Hotwheels Rrrumblers, Star Wars and more.
In 1989 whenI started, there was nogepany was producing 12 Action figures, so it was vintage figuresand uniforms or custom uniforms ($200plus each!) for me. This may be one reason I started to buyeverything I saw when Hasbro started producing the 12 GI Joe again in 1991.
My experiences have brought me to realize the following; although its nice having items that bringback memories, you have to focus or narrow your collection or youll have tons of stuff and no money, or worse yet, massive debt! I didn't have a guide like this to suggest that I start small, narrow my focus and figure out what I really wanted to collect.
I have stopped collecting many items I used to actively seek. When I narrowed my focus, I foundthat I could be more selective in what wanted, had more money to buy the higher quality items or I could buy more of the items I was really interested in.
4. RESEARCH
Do some research BEFORE you buy. What are you collecting? Check out some of themany books, websites and guidesavailable on the subject. Who produces what your looking for? If more than one gepany, what is the difference? Ask other collectors (like me). We're glad to help others out and welgee you to our insanity!
Many of thethe collectors I know have been involved in the hobby forseveral years and have nice focusedcollections.Some collect just one era, i.e. WWII, somenarrow that genre toWWII German and some even further toWWII German Fallschirmjagers(Paratroopers). You could also select one gepany only, or get one unit from all gepanies.
5. Avoid the Investment Pitfall
I know waaaaaay too many people who collect toys in general that thought that they could buy new toys and save them a few years and they would be worth more in the future. In the 60's and 70's there weren't large gemunities of people "collecting" toys, they played with them. Finding a 1964 GI Joe in the box is a nice find and can be quite expensive. Keeping your 1991 GI Joe Duke in the box for the next 20 years might not be as appealing. He was $24.99 when released and you're lucky to get $10 for him now. Of course it's only been about 20 years since his release but not a good sign.
Purchase figures (or whatever you're collecting) because you like it. It makes you happy, fills a void, brings back a memory etc. Investments aren't fun, toys are fun!
5. Bottom Line:
How specific or wide open you make your collection is up to you. Develop a plan or purpose for your collection. Remember to ask yourself whyyou're collecting.Sometimes whenyou see items outside your main collecting area, you get like a kid in a candy store and want to buy it all. Unless you can afford it, keep yourcool and focus onwhat you really want.
Remember, having a small focused collection will allow you to have a more detailed figure. If youhave $100 to spend, you might be able to get 10 loose figures, 2 or 3 boxed ones, or one highlydetailed or customized one.
6.Now that you're a collector, how do you display your figures?
Do youkeepthem mint in the box (MIB) or display them?
Keeping them in the box or displaying them is a personal choice, I have some figures I keep MIB,some I display with the box and still others, I cut them out of the box and display them bythemselves. Some I even customize, weather and paint to make them battle tested.
Again, the main thing to remember is what is your interest. . For some, the boxes can serve asdecorations. Many of todays figures have nice box art. If you bought them for an investment,MIB never opened is the best bet, but remember the pitfalls of buying for investment.
Displaying loose figures. Stands, Dioramas, With the box, without. Boxes take up a TON of room.Loose figures do not. Its also nice to pose your figure holding the weapon instead of watching himstand at attention in the box. On the other hand, it's a lot easier to dust off a box than it is a loose figure!How/where you display your figures is, like everything else in collecting, your preference.
Mysuggestion is to have fun with your TOYS!