[Zajac]

Hello everyone. I have some questions regarding 1/6th military action figures. ( please forgive/correct any wrong terminology I use! )

My three boys had been getting a bunch of these as gifts and they absolutely loved them. I kind of wish they wanted them still to pass on to their boys, but they just do not want them. And I notice that there is a pretty big collectors market out there.

With that said, I will be getting rid of them and just wanted to get an idea of how most people collect them, I figured this would be a good place to ask. Here are my questions:

1) My kids changed all of the clothing and accessories around so I essentially have over 20 naked(ish) figures and a pile of accessories. There is no way I would ever figure out what goes with what figure? Is that an issue? I may be able to at least match some jackets with figures and then match pants, but that is about it.

2) I have several different brands, Dragon, 21st Century, Lanard, Mattel, Hasbro.. Do collectors typically buy certain brands or does it not really matter.

3) I have a few that my kids REALLY liked.... I think they must have fallen from some very high places or were dragged behind a vehicle or something! I am assuming that those would still have some collector value?

I would just hate to sell the entire lot as one and eliminate someone because they cannot afford all of them. So I am thinking of breaking them up by brand, but then I am stuck with a ton of gear that has no owner...

That is my dilemma.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Zajac]

And just to be clear, I am not looking to sell, trade or anything like that with this post, I am just trying to get an idea how I should break up/sort my collection in a way that collectors would prefer. If I am breaking any rules, or this post should be somewhere else, PLEASE tell me so.

 

[dadrab]

I don't know your sons' ages, but I'm thinking they might be close in age to mine.

Much like your sons, mine outgrew their interest in action figures. Some of their figures, I adopted, but most of them, along with their clothes and accessories, I put into a large, clear tub out in my shop.

They're sealed up tight so no critters can get in with the "guys."

With any luck, I'll have grandkids someday and old grandpa will be ready with action figures aplenty when the younglings come to call.

Just a thought.

 

[Zajac]

They are 13, 16 and 18. I may just do what you are suggesting, that thought did cross my mind. I can only imagine how cool it would be if my Dad had saved a few things of mine when I was a kid

Truth be told, if I could cover the cost of one of my oldests college books, it may be worth it to me

I am in no hurry to do anything with them, so I think all options are on the table still.

 

[GregT]

I don't think played-with Hasbro/Lanard/21C figures retain much value, especially if the sets they came with are scattered and pieces are missing, even Dragon figures are a hard sell if the bodies are floppy..... you should sell them as a lot, or as the wise Dadrab suggested, just keep them and your kids will thank you someday.

 

[Zajac]

Thanks Greg, I should say that they played hard with a handful of them, they each had their favorites ( they like the Hasbro ones for whatever reason ) but they definitely switched out all the outfits from the ones they didn't play with and the ones they liked. And I do not think that any are floppy, if I am understanding that correctly.

Sounds like if I decide to sell them I should just do them as one big lot.

Thanks again.

 

[vince]

Go on E-Bay, sell all clothing as a "lot". Get all figures and sell them as a "lot".
Or, shoot a few photos of what you have ( all separated, clear shots) and post them on this website.
you may have things we need!

 

[mcorrigan]

I would suggest that if selling them is your decision, then group them into 'like' lots, and sell them that way. You could do lots of bodies by manufacturer, weapons by era, outfits by era and or manufacturer. And anything else as a lot of it's own. I know I often look at lots of like items, it is good for army building! LOL! I wish you luck! I put all of my son's up in the attic for him later!

 

[Zajac]

Here is what I am dealing with... oh yea, I mentioned to the wife that I may just bag them up and keep them and she dropped a few choice words and basically said that I already have way to much crap.

The pictures are a little blurry, just trying to give an idea of quantity, I still have more accessories in a bin I have not gone through yet. But I think I will break just break them up in lots like it was suggested.





Upper left are 21st, upper middle Dragon, Upper right Power Team, Lower left Mattel, lower middle Hasbro and lower right Lanard.

Guess I would try to get around 5-10 figures in a lot. I appreciate all the feedback already, thanks.

 

[crusader1xxx]

No disrespect but it is all low end stuff...great for the kids (5-8 yr olds). No real value to collectors really, more play value then anything. Throw it all together on Craig's list for $50 and see what happens....not much more $$ then that there...:goodluck

 

[Zajac]

No disrespect taken Crusader, that is the exact reason why I am asking here and I do appreciate your reply. It can be confusing when you see "similar" ones selling for ok money, and lots of accessories, but what I have is probably not what people will actually buy.

Guess I will throw them out there and see if there is any interest. ( maybe someone needs bodies for action scenes they create )

 

[onesixthpolice]

What a thinly veiled attempt to sell stuff here without the required number of posts, nor the required length of membership time.....although, if you want to GIVE all that stuff to me, I will withdraw my statement....

 

[CobraTrooper11]

zajac are you a collector?

 

[Zajac]

LOL, I am not going to sell anything here, I just wanted to know if it was a waste of time to sell them and more importantly if there was a preference from collectors on how they would buy them, i.e. by brand etc.

They will be sold elsewhere, pretty obvious where, but do not want to get accused of advertising here.

I collect all kinds of crap, but action figures are not one of them. I think it is because as a kid I absolutely destroyed all of mine... train tracks, fireworks, just plain ole burying them and forgetting where I did that, etc.. so I just could never get back to collecting them again.

 

[shovelchop81]

If you sell them on ebay as job lots separated as you have above, these can make attractive items to custom builders like myself who start with very basic materials (bodies, equipment etc..) , put a lot of time and work into creating new pieces but it has to be cheap to make all the extra work worth while.