Japanese Video Game Figure Thread

lilman

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This thread is dedicated to Japanese produced video game figures. In the past, Japanese figures were mostly used for manga and anime characters, but lately they have started making figures from video game franchises. This is more of an awareness announcement than a deal thread since figures can easily sell out long before they are available and the second hand market can be crazy expensive. Pre-ordering is usually the cheapest way to get a popular figure.

Released Figures:

To give you an idea of what Japanese figures look like, the following are some that have been released over the years:

Majora's Mask Link Nendoroid (April 21, 2016):
cB1FifX.jpg


Kirby Nendoroid (January 27, 2016):
ud0Oq0h.jpg


Rockman Nendoroid (January 14, 2016):
7KVFZ4K.jpg


Metal Gear Solid Snake Nendoroid (January 21, 2015):
Cu9jSHm.jpg


Luigi Nendoroid (June 24, 2014):
MUcku2k.jpg


Samus Varia Suit Figma (October 27, 2014) (re-release):
CVRU4tK.jpg


Wind Waker Link Nendoroid (June 2015) (re-release):
J8LMIup.jpg


Sonic Nendoroid (October 8, 2013) (re-release):
mc7o15.jpg


Skyward Sword Link Figma (September 2015) (re-release):
2ymehx1.jpg


Shizue (Isabelle) Nendoroid (April 2016) (re-release):
Mr7WyAS.jpg


Marth Nendoroid (May 10, 2016):
5vFuwLa.jpg


Zero Suit Samus (May 2016) (re-release) (exclusive):
NbL16GM.jpg


A Link Between Worlds Link Figma (August 2016):
SQ9YprG.jpg

DX ver includes additional accessories: hookshot, bomb, tornado rod, clay pot, rupee, baby Maiamai

Figma Fire Emblem Awakening Lucina (August 2016) (re-release):
cdL4RAu.jpg


Wind Waker Zelda Nendoroid (October 2016):
DQXupxZ.jpg


GSC 1/7 Skyward Sword Link (November 2016) (exclusive):
nHhJ8VW.jpg

 

Figma Zero Suit Samus (December 2016):

iVukTJr.jpg


Breath of the Wild Link Nendoroid DX Edition (June 2017):

2s69e1g.jpg


Pit Figma (April 27, 2013):

lq9Ox.jpg


Dark Pit Figma (April 27, 2013):
fBALb.jpg


Kongiku (May 8, 2013):
6mPGP.jpg


Momohime (January 18, 2013):

bTkVzCN.jpg


About Japanese Figures:
 

Scale figures, like Zero Suit Samus, are statues made of ABS and PVC. Scale are bigger than Figma, more detailed, and again for display rather than play. Scale figures are not posable and may not come with accessories or alternate facial expressions.

Figma is like an action figure but higher quality. Figma are very posable and come with accessories, alternate faces, and alternate hands to recreate poses from the source material (as well as make up your own scenarios). Check out all the different display poses they show off in pics. While they are designed with posability in mind, these are still meant for display rather than play. These aren't like action figures you would give a kid. Many Figma parts are compatible with other Figmas, allowing you to create interesting combinations of outfits and expressions.

Nendoroid are cutesy interpretations of characters. Each is about 4" tall and, like Figma, usually comes with various faces/hands/accessories to reproduce poses/scenes from the source material. Also like Figma, many Nendo parts are compatible with other Nendos. Faces, hair, hands, and outfits can often be swapped between characters.

Real Action Heroes (RAH) are like a blend of scale figure, Figma, and doll. They are still made of ABS and PVC, but the clothes are made of fabric, giving them a more realistic look. RAH are posable like Figma and typically include accessories and alternate faces. They are bigger than your average scale figure and very high quality. Accordingly, they are also exceedingly expensive.

Shipping:

Don't forget about shipping cost. SAL small packet registered should cost $10-20 and takes about 2-3 weeks to reach me in Florida. SAL may also be available unregistered for 410 JPY less, but you lose tracking and insurance (so if your package goes missing, you are sol). EMS is the best shipping and only takes about 2 days to arrive but is considerably more expensive. There is also SAL Parcel, but it is worth spending a little extra for EMS. You may have to use EMS if your item is too big to fit in a SAL box. I always use SAL registered when I can. If you pre-order multiple figures, you can combine shipping if they come out in the same month (assuming no delays) and save some money.

Shipping cost is based on weight. If you are ordering multiple figures at once, it is cheaper to request two SAL shipments than one EMS. It is also cheaper to combine items than do separate shipments for each. From my experience, 3-4 Nendoroid/Figma will fit in a single SAL box. A scale figure may fit with 1-2 Nendoroid/Figma boxes, depending on the scale and size of figure box used. Some figures come in larger boxes than expected. There is no way to know how large/heavy your figure will be before ordering. Some stores may offer an estimate at time of order or indicate that an item should be compatible with SAL.

SAL unregistered (no tracking or insurance) does not require a signature upon delivery. All other shipping methods do, so try to be home on delivery day. If you miss the delivery, you can stop by your local post office for pickup starting the next day.

Payment:

For most Japanese shops, you don't pay until the figure(s) is ready to ship. The exceptions are some limited edition items (which you'll have to pay for in full at time of purchase, including shipping) and certain stores that require a % deposit. Payment is best done through PayPal.

The current exchange rate can be viewed in PayPal -> Profile -> My Money -> Currencies (disclosure arrow of PayPal balance). The PP rate is always a little more expensive than the current rate since they charge a fee for the exchange (I believe 2.5%, the rate you see is already calculated with that fee). You can also opt to pay directly from your PP tied bank account or cc when checking out with PP.. You will have to check your bank and cc websites for their rate info, including whatever % fee they use for the exchange. Best case scenario would be to use a credit card that doesn't charge foreign transaction fees.

You will usually receive an invoice the day after an item is released. Shipping usually occurs the day after payment is sent, depending on the store.

Japanese Shops I've Used and Recommend:

AmiAmi: http://www.amiami.com/
My favorite store. Among the best prices. Easily combine orders by month. Amazing pre-owned section. Shipping is usually a little more than other stores since they use lots of packing materials.

Hobby Link Japan: http://www.hlj.com/
My second favorite store. Usually a bit more expensive than the store listed here. In exchange for higher prices, you can cancel orders at any time. Private warehouse feature lets you hold items for up to 60 days to combine shipping, though you still pay for the figure at time of release. Excellent customer service.

Hobby Search: http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/
Can combine orders of the same month but not as nicely as AmiAmi. Can cancel a pre-order within the first week of placing.

Big in Japan: http://biginjap.com/
Prices usually a little lower than the rest. Good selection of prize figures. Can pay for pre-orders upfront. Can combine orders by month if you send them a message through your order history page. Can act as proxy or forwarder. Not good at responding to emails, so I don't use them now as much as I used to.

Tokyo Otaku Mode: http://otakumode.com/
Charges in USD $, pay upfront at time of placing order. Regularly offers coupons and bonus point campaigns. Has a Premium membership that is well worth getting since it pays for itself ($15 for 3 months gives you $16.50 in points), 5% off everything, slightly cheaper shipping, and better coupons. You get $5 in points when you register your account, plus another $5 if you signup through a referral link (referrer also gets $5), making your first order $10 off. Excellent customer service.

Amazon Japan: https://www.amazon.co.jp/

Thanks to their Global program, many of their figures are now eligible to be shipped directly to your house rather than having to go through a proxy/forwarder. This is only available on figures fulfilled by Amazon, including those sold by third-party and fulfilled by Amazon. Not all Amazon fulfilled items are eligible for Global shipping. Shipping cost is very good (around RSAL cost) and very fast (3-6 days). Japanese consumption tax (8%) is removed from the advertised price at checkout.

Plamoya: http://www.plamoya.com
Check for sales, otherwise usually overpriced.

Secondhand Japanese Shops I've Used and Recommend:

I buy a lot secondhand. The items are usually in great condition and, for most of my orders, have never been opened before. This lets me get figures I missed out on before I started collecting or couldn't budget at time of release.

AmiAmi Pre-owned: http://www.amiami.com/top/page/c/preowned.html
My favorite store for secondhand figures thanks to a daily updated selection, cheap shipping options, and combining pre-owned items with my pre-orders for that month. Items are rated by separate figure and box conditions. "A" condition means it looks brand new, "B" means there is some normal ware but should still be good, "C" or lower you should probably avoid (at least for figure condition, I personally don't care too much about secondhand box condition). Pricing is hit or miss, but usually good compared to other stores. Their selection is good and updated daily (except Sundays). Stock status is accurate when ordering.

Mandarake: http://ekizo.mandarake.co.jp/shop/en/
Excellent source for secondhand figures. Mandarake is a web front for a collection of B&M hobby stores in Japan. Their selection is huge, pricing is great, and new items are added daily. Many of their secondhand items have never been opened. The condition is commonly something like "not opened/box damaged" which translates to it will look brand new when you get it :3 Each order can only be from a single store since it will be shipping from that one location. Because these are B&M stores, an item you ordered may sell out that same day in store (this has happened to me a few times). In that case, the item is removed from your order, or if your order is just one item, the order is cancelled. You can check boxes for "cancel order if this item is oos". You'll receive an email the following day with the items they were able to secure (hopefully everything in your order), the total including shipping, and a link to payment.

Suruga-ya: http://www.suruga-ya.jp/
Warning: Suruga-ya is in Japanese and requires a proxy or forwarder to get your items (see below for details).
Huge selection and low prices. Sales on items can randomly start at any time. Adding more items to your cart can give you a % discount. Stock system is accurate, at least from my experiences. As the website is only available in Japanese, use MFC to find the Japanese name of the character you are interested in so that you can perform a search.

Recommended US Shops:

Big Bad Toy Store (BBTS): http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/ (allows cancellations, no money down required on pre-orders, warehouse feature, $4 shipping)
Crunchyroll: http://www.crunchyroll.com/store/ (check for weekly deals, free shipping at $75)
Tokyo Otaku Mode (TOM): http://www.otakumode.com/ (I also count them as a US shop since some of their items are fulfilled by US warehouse, free shipping at $150)
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/ (occasionally has some figures at good prices)

My Figure Collection:

MFC is an amazing (and free) community of figure collectors. It has info on all Japanese figures including release dates, pics, user ratings, reviews, etc. If you are interested in Japanese figure collecting, I highly recommend joining to keep track of your collection and follow the latest news on upcoming releases. Here's my MFC profile as an example: http://myfigurecollection.net/profile/Cantisama

CAG has an MFC club that you can join here: http://myfigurecollection.net/club/1219

Proxy and Forwarding:

There are two services when buying an item that cannot be shipped directly to your country, a proxy and a forwarder. A proxy is a business or person located in the host country (Japan in our case) that places an order on your behalf and then ships it to you.

With a forwarder, you are the one who places the order. You set the shipping address to that of the forwarder who is located in the host country. The forwarder then ships the package to you upon receipt.

Forwarding is typically cheaper than using a proxy since a proxy will charge a % fee based on order total that includes the cost of the item(s). Since with forwarding you are the one paying for the items directly, any % fee is only applied to the cost of shipping + a small forwarding fee. Using a proxy can be easier though since you don't have to place the order yourself on a website that may be only available in a foreign language.

There are many proxy and forwarding service providers. For Nendo Red from Amazon.co.jp, I used Big in Japan as a forwarder and the transaction went perfectly. Fees were also very reasonable.

My first proxy experience: http://myfigurecollection.net/blog/15573
My first forwarding experience: http://myfigurecollection.net/blog/16415

Sites offering proxy and/or forwarding services:
Big in Japan (proxy + forward): http://www.biginjap.com
dv8cag (proxy + forward): http://dv8cag.com/
 
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Any PAK collectors here? Just got my Solid Snake in yesterday. All nice and posed up with Gray Fox and Sneaking Suit Big Boss.

Dreading the next few months based on PAK alone. Spike, Vicious, Dante, Vergil, freakin half of the cast from MGS and Mass Effect. Gonna be rough.
 
My Samus Figma actually arrived at the post office yesterday. I had a note in my box saying they tried to deliver it.

So, I'm heading over to the post office at lunch to pick it up!
 
Picked up the figure just a bit ago.

It's a great figure. Customizations are awesome. My order from Nippon-Yasan arrived perfectly, and, well packed.

The one complaint: It's just not large enough!
Especially when next to ZSS...this figure could've been amazing had it just been a larger figure.

Still, it's a great piece, and, I'm very happy with it.
 
^ All Figma are that size. That's why they aren't crazy expensive. Like I just got this figure: http://myfigurecollection.net/item/78762
It is basically a 1/8 scale Figma, but the cost was over twice as much. Having a big posable figure with tons of accessories is awesome, but I prefer being able to get more characters than only affording a few.

Glad your Nippon-Yasan order came in well. I got my first order from them the other day (an anime Nendoroid) and the box was wrecked. The figure box had damage too, but luckily the figure itself was unharmed:
yVW8M.jpg
It's ok Louise, you're safe now.
Since box condition is very important to sale/resale price, receiving a busted box really sucks. I asked Nippon-Yasan what happened and they said it left them in excellent condition, so it must have been a shipping problem. Although SAL registered comes with insurance, filing a claim is probably not worth it unless the figure itself is lost or destroyed.
 
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Both Samus arrived today from AmiAmi. I've only opened the Figma so far:
Y6l38.jpg
Her joints have the perfect tension for posing. Even her toes are articulated. Mine has a blemish on each inner thigh (you can see it in the pic ^). I don't think they are paint mistakes, it looks more like a piece of something got wedged between her thighs and left an indentation in the mold. Anyway, she far exceeds my expectations. If you can only get one of the two Samus, the Varia Suit Figma is the way to go.

Zero Suit Samus looks exactly like the prototype pics. Very shiny, very pretty. The eyes still look a bit off to me, but they match the prototype and box art so oh well. I think she just needs to be positioned at the right angle. The Metroid looks awesome and will be used to terrorize the Figma. I got that box damage warning from AmiAmi, but mine came in perfect. I'll have to clear more display room before I can open her up :p

[quote name='Lightning00']Do anyone know if Wonfest today? I forgot the exact date[/QUOTE]
I think it started yesterday.
 
[quote name='lilman']Both Samus arrived today from AmiAmi. I've only opened the Figma so far:
Y6l38.jpg
Her joints have the perfect tension for posing. Even her toes are articulated. Mine has a blemish on each inner thigh (you can see it in the pic ^). I don't think they are paint mistakes, it looks more like a piece of something got wedged between her thighs and left an indentation in the mold. Anyway, she far exceeds my expectations. If you can only get one of the two Samus, the Varia Suit Figma is the way to go.

Zero Suit Samus looks exactly like the prototype pics. Very shiny, very pretty. The eyes still look a bit off to me, but they match the prototype and box art so oh well. I think she just needs to be positioned at the right angle. The Metroid looks awesome and will be used to terrorize the Figma. I got that box damage warning from AmiAmi, but mine came in perfect. I'll have to clear more display room before I can open her up :p


I think it started yesterday.[/QUOTE]

Got both of mine as well and my figma has that same blemish is perfect- there was some plastic stuck there, it was a blemish. The box for the figma also had two minor tears near the front plastic window but not a huge issue.

I really like the figma. I'm normally not a fan of pose-able figures (even the Play Arts ones, which I honestly think are crap given how expensive they are) since their joints look really bad but damn, this thing is really well made. Not as big fan of the ZSS... it's damn pretty but the suit is too shiny and to go with Rig's complaints, I wish these two figures were the same size. Maybe they'll make a ZSS figma but until than, figma Samus will have to wait until figma Link arrives.:)


BTW, the Zero Suit Samus is back in stock at Amiami.
 
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I have a question for the more experienced figure collectors, I have this figure that I got a few months ago, brand new. But I didn't have the space to display it at that time, so I decided to keep it in the box and put it down in the basement, because it seemed like the most "cooler" place of the house. But now I took the figure out yesterday and saw an "oily" substance running down it's back, is that a bad sign? or it's just something normal?

The figure is this one:
115066_s0.jpg
 
[quote name='elessar123']What counts as a video game figure? This thread is so confusing.

What about Touhou Project? IdolM@ster? Visual novels?

Here's a boring Saber figure:
http://www.amiami.com/top/detail/detail?gcode=FIG-MOE-6591&page=top[/QUOTE]
I think those all count as video game figures. The op is going to focus on the ones that would appeal most to a western audience (like Samus and Link), but anyone can leave a reply with any game related character.

I agree, that Fate/Zero Saber looks so boring. I have the Motored version and she is amazing! Soon GSC shop is going to open orders for re-release of the exclusive Saber Caliburn. I'll be passing on it since I have the similar looking Saber Lily and four more Sabers already on preorder (Saber Triumphant and Saber Lily, Saber Lion, and Saber Motor Nendoroids).

[quote name='Rig']My Varia Suihas the same mark on the inner left thigh. I noticed it when I opened it.[/QUOTE]
Checking her user pics on Tsuki-baord, it seems some users got the same thigh marks while others are perfect. I emailed GSC support to see if they'll send me replacement legs. I've never tried contacting a figure maker before. I'll post again when I get their reply.
 
[quote name='lilman']Soon GSC shop is going to open orders for re-release of the exclusive Saber Caliburn. [/QUOTE]

WHAT.

THIS. WHEN?

Does Good Smile have a practice of re-releasing old figures? Also, thank you for mentioning the nendoroids. I need something to offset the cleavage.

I thought Figma Samus was made by Max Factory. Why would GSC replace their parts?
 
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[quote name='Rasen']WHAT. THIS.

WHEN?[/QUOTE]
Here's the quote from Tsuki-board:
This product will be available at the GOOD SMILE ONLINE SHOP from the 6th August 2012 (Mon) at 22:00JST until the 20th August 2012 (Mon) at 21:00JST. Figures will be made to order.
This will be sold through GSC shop only: http://goodsmile-wf-global.ecq.sc/
Expect shipping to be 2000 yen with a max of 5 figures per order. Some people form groups to share the shipping cost.

[quote name='Rasen']Does Good Smile have a practice of re-releasing old figures?[/QUOTE]
GSC had a huge poll this year to celebrate their 10th anniversary. You could vote online for any of their past figures that you would like to see re-released. The poll was divided into three categories (scale, figma, and nendoroid), and you were allowed five votes per category. The results of the poll are here: http://gscmikatan.wordpress.com/201...roject-rerelease-and-product-request-results/

Results do not guarantee that a figure will be re-released. Some they have already re-released weren't even in place 1-5 (like 7th place Nendoroid Flandre Scarlet from Touhou Project). Saber Triumphant, which got 3rd place in scale, is being re-released in September. Second place scale Shiki, another TYPE-MOON character, is being re-released in November. I have both of these on preorder. Most people weren't expecting 1st place scale Saber Caliburn,to get a re-release since the poll mentioned that exclusives were not allowed, but here she is ^_^
 
[quote name='lilman']Here's the quote from Tsuki-board:
This will be sold through GSC shop only: http://goodsmile-wf-global.ecq.sc/
Expect shipping to be 2000 yen with a max of 5 figures per order. Some people form groups to share the shipping cost.[/quote]

I see Good Smile ships to the US, but what do they mean by US - All other states (x)? Is the x their way of saying "no"?
 
[quote name='Rasen']I see Good Smile ships to the US, but what do they mean by US - All other states (x)? Is the x their way of saying "no"?[/QUOTE]
I haven't ordered directly from them before, but I think anywhere in the US is acceptable.
 
[quote name='lilman']I think those all count as video game figures. The op is going to focus on the ones that would appeal most to a western audience (like Samus and Link), but anyone can leave a reply with any game related character.

I agree, that Fate/Zero Saber looks so boring. I have the Motored version and she is amazing! Soon GSC shop is going to open orders for re-release of the exclusive Saber Caliburn. I'll be passing on it since I have the similar looking Saber Lily and four more Sabers already on preorder (Saber Triumphant and Saber Lily, Saber Lion, and Saber Motor Nendoroids).


Checking her user pics on Tsuki-baord, it seems some users got the same thigh marks while others are perfect. I emailed GSC support to see if they'll send me replacement legs. I've never tried contacting a figure maker before. I'll post again when I get their reply.[/QUOTE]

Dam Im so jealous that you have the motored one I was planning to buy it but man 50 dollar shipping isnt something I can afford at the moment :
 
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[quote name='Lightning00']Dam Im so jealous that you have the motored one I was planning to buy it but man 50 dollar shipping isnt something I can afford at the moment :
 
[quote name='lilman']Yeah, with shipping Saber Motor was 14245 yen (~$181). I won't lie, that hurt. She is very impressive. I intend to have a display section dedicated to Fate/stay once I get better organized.

Distant Avalon looks better than Golden Caliburn to me too. Got her from Figure Haven for $150 (great US based figure seller with very limited stock, more expensive than Japanese sellers, but each figure is just $5 to ship). If Saber Caliburn ends up being cheaper than that, then she will be quite appealing.

I haven't heard of leaning problems with Saber Triumphant, but I bet it could happen. I live in FL, and inside my house is just ~84 degrees during the day. If anything is going to lean, I'm sure it will happen here :p


I've also heard oily substance can natural arise from pvc figures. I would just wash it lightly with some water on a microfiber towel or qtip. Make sure to use plain water only, no alcohol. I've read about the freezer trick but would never want to do that.

I picked up a makeup brush and use it to dust my figures every so often. I use dry Swiffer wand to clean the display area. Sometimes I'll use a wet qtip for sticky areas. In case of paint transfers like from putting a clothing accessory on a figure, a white eraser works wonders if you notice early.


I'm loving it but not for video game figures. There's a great list of Wonfest announced figures on Tsuki-board: http://myfigurecollection.net/blog/3727
Will definitely be getting: (non game figures)
Lucy Heartifilia (Fairy Tail), Kanade Tachibana (Angel Beats!), and probably Belldandy w/ Holy Bell (Ah! My Goddess)
[/QUOTE]

Im going to wait for FigureHaven to sell the Saber Motored and hopefully it would be a better pricing in total then amiami xD. I bought Distant Avalon first release but after market and end up paying 210 for it lol, and then a few months later it came out with a re-release oh well. I never heard of Saber leaning to but I own this figure and she felt like shes going lean soon and she has a somewhat same pose

Yeah tbh I would wipe with a wet cloth then putting it on the freezer but I read that when the figure is oily that wiping it would make smear the oil and make it worse. Though I'm not too sure since I never had that problem and my also my house is a bit hot as well and prob around the same temp. as well xD

Omg I didnt know Lucy was going get a figure.. but Im a Erza fan =P I really hope they do release a Erza figure
 
Thanks guys for the help, the figure is not sticky at all. I also read about the freezer trick, but I wasn't so sure to do it, but after reading your posts I decided to do it just for "science" :whee: I put it in the freezer for 20 min. and I was surprised to see the oily substance completely gone. I put the figure back in the box and I'll check in a few weeks to see if the oil is back.
 
I got my Samus Figma and it's a beauty. I like that is feels heavy/sturdy. It does have the inner thigh marks like the rest. It's good to know I didn't get a special defect on mine.
 
I got a reply from GSC about the defects on Figma Samus's legs. They said they are sending me replacement parts!

If you have the same problem, you should try emailing GSC at: [email protected]
Be sure to include a pic of the defects and your shipping address.

This is great. Other than those defects, she is the perfect Samus figure :3
 
[quote name='lilman']I got a reply from GSC about the defects on Figma Samus's legs. They said they are sending me replacement parts!

If you have the same problem, you should try emailing GSC at: [email protected]
Be sure to include a pic of the defects and your shipping address.

This is great. Other than those defects, she is the perfect Samus figure :3[/QUOTE]

This is great news. Does this mean Max Factory is a part of GSC?

Also, what is this oil people have been speaking about, and should I be freaking out about it? (I'M MELTING! MEEEEELLLTIIIIING! Oh whataworld....)
 
Official Saber Golden Caliburn re-release announcement: http://www.goodsmile.info/product/en/3614/Saber+Lily+Golden+Caliburn.html
9000 yen figure + 2000 yen shipping = 11000 yen total (~$141)

Very cute Monster Hunter Tri G (3DS) Nendoroids coming out. There will be a male and female version. The boy already has a prototype and is available for preorder, while the girl was only recently announced.

Male Monster Hunger Tri G (November 2012):
Qmlj4.jpg

Male MH3G from amiami (3000 yen, ~$39): http://www.amiami.com/top/detail/detail?gcode=FIG-IPN-4731

[quote name='Rasen']This is great news. Does this mean Max Factory is a part of GSC?[/QUOTE]
I think GSC is the publisher for Max Factory. All of my Max Factory boxes have GSC on them.

[quote name='Rasen']Also, what is this oil people have been speaking about, and should I be freaking out about it? (I'M MELTING! MEEEEELLLTIIIIING! Oh whataworld....)[/QUOTE]
No need to freak out. It's something that naturally comes out of pvc. Some people put their figure in the freezer for 20 mins to get rid of it. I haven't had to do that to any of my figures. Sometimes the surface of one of my figures gets a little sticky (probably the same oil), and I just use a wet qtip to lightly scrub it off.
 
Ok, so it's nice to see that I don't have to worry about the PVC oils (though I will continue to do so), but are there any general guidelines for the care and maintenance of PVC figures? How/how not to clean them? Perhaps temperatures in which not to store them at?

I'm suddenly a lot more worried, because I just noticed a tiny PVC figure of plug-suit Ayanami that I have is purple in places that have no business being purple. I can't say with certainty that those colors weren't there when I got the figure (I got it used from dv8, and he shipped it in a bubble mailer, I think), but I can't tell whether the color came from somewhere else, or it's a sign that the paint is coming off the figure. Thus, I don't know whether I can clean it off, or just have to leave it be and find ways to keep it from getting worse.
 
[quote name='Rasen']Ok, so it's nice to see that I don't have to worry about the PVC oils (though I will continue to do so), but are there any general guidelines for the care and maintenance of PVC figures? How/how not to clean them? Perhaps temperatures in which not to store them at?

I'm suddenly a lot more worried, because I just noticed a tiny PVC figure of plug-suit Ayanami that I have is purple in places that have no business being purple. I can't say with certainty that those colors weren't there when I got the figure (I got it used from dv8, and he shipped it in a bubble mailer, I think), but I can't tell whether the color came from somewhere else, or it's a sign that the paint is coming off the figure. Thus, I don't know whether I can clean it off, or just have to leave it be and find ways to keep it from getting worse.[/QUOTE]

Well for me I buy a detolf so I dont have to worry about dusting the figure too often. Though if you display your figure in a open area then you can clean it up with a wet cloth, a brush, or a q-tip but dont rub too hard cause it might rub off the paint. As long you dont store in a hot area or in direct sunlight then you shouldnt worry too much the figure getting oily.

For paint smudge there's a couple of way to clean it and here's a blog someone having some problem about it and in the comment there's some method of removing it:
 
[quote name='Lightning00']As long you dont store in a hot area or in direct sunlight then you shouldnt worry too much the figure getting oily.[/quote]

Thanks for the reply! I've managed to avoid sunlight (bane of my existence), but what's considered hot? 80, 90, 100 deg? Summer's been a bear lately...
 
[quote name='Rasen']Ok, so it's nice to see that I don't have to worry about the PVC oils (though I will continue to do so), but are there any general guidelines for the care and maintenance of PVC figures? How/how not to clean them? Perhaps temperatures in which not to store them at?[/QUOTE]

Even non-direct sunlight will eventually damage it. UV is what causes out, iirc. Cold and heat are both bad. Heat can cause the plastic to soften and droop. Don't use solvents to clean them, like alcohol.
 
[quote name='Rasen']Thanks for the reply! I've managed to avoid sunlight (bane of my existence), but what's considered hot? 80, 90, 100 deg? Summer's been a bear lately...[/QUOTE]

Tbh like elessar said both cold and hot is bad so Im not sure on definite temp. number but whatever I think room temp should be fine. If it does get too hot some people do use a fan on their figure

[quote name='elessar123']Even non-direct sunlight will eventually damage it. UV is what causes out, iirc. Cold and heat are both bad. Heat can cause the plastic to soften and droop. Don't use solvents to clean them, like alcohol.[/QUOTE]

Yeah I think its the UV that does damage, though if you put it in direct sunlight it'll damage it faster. I think people only use alcohol is to clean a paint smear/smudge on a figure but even then a person shouldnt put too much cause it might eat into the real paint also.
 
[quote name='lilman']I got a reply from GSC about the defects on Figma Samus's legs. They said they are sending me replacement parts!

If you have the same problem, you should try emailing GSC at: [email protected]
Be sure to include a pic of the defects and your shipping address.

This is great. Other than those defects, she is the perfect Samus figure :3[/QUOTE]

I did the same, and, they're also sending me new parts. Cool!
 
[quote name='Rasen']are there any general guidelines for the care and maintenance of PVC figures? How/how not to clean them? Perhaps temperatures in which not to store them at?.[/QUOTE]
Good figure maintenance article: http://radiantdreamer.net/anime-pride/figure-care-dusting-cleaning-and-leaning/

If you have a lot of figures, it's a good idea to get yourself a Detolf from Ikea: http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/10011055/
This is the most commonly purchased figure display case due to its quality and price. Available in light or dark, Detolf offers an enclosed glass display with several levels and even a light at the top. Since it is enclosed, you rarely have to worry about dusting. Glass all around allows you to see your figures from all angles. I don't have one yet, but I would be careful that the dome light isn't too hot that it affects the top shelf of figures. Some people place these diode strips on the edge of each shelf: http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/20119418/
 
My Samus figma and Zero suit arrived today from Hobby Link Japan. Varia suit seems to have the same blemishes as everyone elses', but they're smaller than I thought they would be. From lilman's picture, I thought they'd look like chunks were ripped out of the legs, but these aren't so bad. (I couldn't even seem them when she was in her packaging) If this was an American made toy, I'd have thought it was just the natural state of things. I'm still going to request replacement, legs, but good gravy she's pretty.

Regarding Hobby Link Japan, they seem pretty good. Zero suit's box is a little compacted from when they bundled the two figures together next to a cardboard sheet and wrapped them in plastic ala Amazon, but overall things look good. No paper invoice, but maybe that's a good thing.
 
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Tonight I also sent an email requesting replacement parts. I hope to hear back from them soon. I think it's great they are willing to send out replacement parts. I'd like to see pictures of Figma Samus without the inner thigh defect.


I'm also very curious where that Ridley originated from?
 
[quote name='Vinny']Where did you get that Ridley from?[/QUOTE]

I bought it off ebay about a year ago. It was a custom made piece.
 
Just got an email from GSC. They're sending me replacement legs. Man, I hope they don't lose too much money from all the replacement parts. I guess it's a good thing that as a figma, they don't have to replace an entire figure. Hm. Has anyone ever had defects on a pvc figure, and gotten a replacement?

Also, bully for them for being so wonderful about defects.

AAAaaaand....Lily is preordered!
 
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Got my replacement Samus Figma thighs from GSC, and they have the same marks. The replacement left thigh is about the same as my current one, but the replacement right thigh is much better so I swapped it out.

Saber Golden Caliburn is up for order exclusively on GSC's online store: http://goodsmile-wf-global.ecq.sc/
Orders open from Aug 8-20 and figures will be made to order.
 
So what's proper protocol here? Send back the defective legs? Should we keep asking for replacements until they send nice ones out? That feels rude, but if they're willing....

For those with Saber/Distant Avalon, is her dress (and sleeves) of a pink-ish hue? For some reason, I feel like when I saw it before, it was all white...Also, I can't shake the impression that the re-release of Avalon came in a blue-tinted box, while the original was silver? Or is it the other way around?

Also, packages arrived from Mandrake. Little beat-up, but such is the peril of traversing JFK, I suppose. Mandrake like bubble-wrap, so it helps cancel that out. Also: JFK sucks at updating when packages leave.
 
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[quote name='Rasen']So what's proper protocol here? Send back the defective legs? Should we keep asking for replacements until they send nice ones out? That feels rude, but if they're willing....[/QUOTE]
I'm going to keep what I got. It's obviously a common problem. I'm happy that I went through the process since the right thigh replacement was much better than my original (the defect on my original right thigh was very noticeable), but once you have a set that isn't so obvious I would just let it go. Also, since we don't live in Japan, these don't come with a warranty. I'm surprised they offered a replacement at all, let alone sent it so fast.

I got some Madoka Figma recently (anime series) and they have little defects. It's the cost of mass production of tiny, detailed things. Sometimes you get lucky, but usually you have to accept a flaw or two. If these were $100+ figures like Saber Golden Caliburn, that's when you get serious about little things.

[quote name='Rasen']For those with Saber/Distant Avalon, is her dress (and sleeves) of a pink-ish hue? For some reason, I feel like when I saw it before, it was all white...Also, I can't shake the impression that the re-release of Avalon came in a blue-tinted box, while the original was silver? Or is it the other way around?[/QUOTE]
I have the re-release from 1/2012. Her dress does have a very light pinkish hue. In the official pics, the lighting makes it look more white than it is, so that may be what you were referencing. Here's a good close up shot from Tsuki-board of Saber Distant Avalon (closer to camera) with Saber Golden Caliburn: link
They both seem to have the same pink-creme color, although Caliburn may be a little lighter.

The re-release box for Distant Avalon is blue, and I think the original was more silver.
 
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[quote name='lilman']I have the re-release from 1/2012. Her dress does have a very light pinkish hue. In the official pics, the lighting makes it look more white than it is, so that may be what you were referencing. Here's a good close up shot from Tsuki-board of Saber Distant Avalon (closer to camera) with Saber Golden Caliburn: link
They both seem to have the same pink-creme color, although Caliburn may be a little lighter.
The re-release box for Distant Avalon is blue, and I think the original was more silver.[/QUOTE]

Thanks for letting me know. That's a weight off my mind.

Also, speaking of pre-orders, do you know if there's a usual time-frame before retailers/makers stop taking them? Like, a month or two months before release? I ask because I hate pre-orders, since it means making sure you have available funds for a period of time and that can become a pain. I'm trying to decide when to pre-order those ridiculously adorable Saber nendoroids.
 
[quote name='Rasen']Also, speaking of pre-orders, do you know if there's a usual time-frame before retailers/makers stop taking them? Like, a month or two months before release? I ask because I hate pre-orders, since it means making sure you have available funds for a period of time and that can become a pain. I'm trying to decide when to pre-order those ridiculously adorable Saber nendoroids.[/QUOTE]
In general, a popular figure can sell out at least two months before release. There's no fixed rule though. I would say preorder a month in advance at the latest. It's a lot different from video games where it is usually cheaper to pick one up a few weeks after release. With figures, the preorder price is usually cheaper than msrp, while buying after release is usually >= msrp and often difficult to find (like Figma Samus).

I have all those Saber Nendo on preorder from AmiAmi. The only one I'm interested in but missing is F/SN Super Movable, but I have the Lucky Star F/SN Nendo cosplay set :3
 
Hey, I just had a weird thought. It's not so much about models as it is about pre-ordering across nations. Pre-orders don't usually charge until the item is shipped, right? So does it take into account exchange rates at the time of the pre-order, or do they check only when they charge?

So for example, if the global confidence in the US drops to an unprecedented low, and the dollar goes for a single yen, do all these pre-orders suddenly become clocks to bankruptcy? (The obvious flipside being if consumer confidence in the dollar soars, we profit and get things on the cheap?)

Edit: let's hear it for Hobby Search, who has managed to sneak through JFK quicker than Amiami. I question their packing sense, as they seem to do it to immobilize the contents, rather than protect them. Not that the two are mutually exclusive, but in this case....
 
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[quote name='Rasen']Hey, I just had a weird thought. It's not so much about models as it is about pre-ordering across nations. Pre-orders don't usually charge until the item is shipped, right? So does it take into account exchange rates at the time of the pre-order, or do they check only when they charge?

So for example, if the global confidence in the US drops to an unprecedented low, and the dollar goes for a single yen, do all these pre-orders suddenly become clocks to bankruptcy? (The obvious flipside being if consumer confidence in the dollar soars, we profit and get things on the cheap?)[/QUOTE]
You don't pay for preorders until they are ready to ship, and the agreed upon preorder price is in another currency, so you could say preorders are potentially clocks to bankruptcy. The reality is that within the time period of placing a preorder and it is ready to be payed, currency rates do not change that much. Worst case scenario, you don't pay for your preorder and that store doesn't let you order from them anymore. It's not like it will hurt your credit card or you're forced to sell a kidney.
 
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