My first 1/6: Seeks suggestion and advice

Welcome to this addictive hobby. You're in luck, 1/6 is in a renaissance right now but it comes at a cost. I suggest you forgo older releases (unless you really want it) and get the new ones. Gathering parts can be expensive. I say be active in this forum and after you're eligible you can take advantage of the Open Market section. From time to time there are always members here who are liquidating their collections at affordable prices. Or you can join Docski's group buy and get the parts you need at fair prices.

Oh and don't buy VHT (Very Hot Toys) they're crap and I don't recommend you get Toys City accessories, they're mediocre and their rifles sometimes over-sized. Go buy Soldier Story Ranger in Afghanistan figure. It's easy to assemble and highly underrated IMO. You're gonna enjoy it.

@CC - Thanks! The reason for the BS is that it had high rating for pose-ability and that's what I usually look for in my figures and the accessories seems like a good deal for the price. Even though it's dated, the review for it has been above standard during that time I guess and I just thought it would be a good way to start my collection. I will definitely check out Crazy Dummy and the MARSOC from DAMtoys. You're certainly right about the cost of building one from scratch... I haven't even count all the different accessories.

@Doly - Thanks for your advice. I will certainly be hanging out here more often and try to be more active in posting. I did visit the open market once but still new to the whole scene, not really sure what to look for yet. But I'm sure with time and when I really decide to start my first kitbash, there should be some good deals there. Will be checking out SS Ranger in Afghan figs.

BTW: how do I go about deleting a thread? I think I accidentally create a duplicate... I didn't see any options under edit... =\

Hi WhiteWabbit! Welcome to the hobby and to the OSW

I don't think we can delete threads, but if you edit and change its title to delete then it'll just die off or the mods sweep it away.

I totally get the articulated fingers thing, I have some articulated Hot Toys Iron man or War Machine hands for little reason save for the articulated digits themselves. I can't even put them on normal figures!

I think I'll tread carefully on recommendations per specific figures but it does seem like you have an idea of what you like and an idea of what you're willing to sink money into.
I tend to wait for overseas reviews/previews of military figures before fully committing and sometimes check out pieces on ebay that have been parted out by Asian sellers to get a nice first hand look.

The BSgt body is very articulated but have mixed reviews with loose joints. That could be remedied by the superglue trick (dab superglue between joints and play with it til dry to add friction) but there are a lot of bodies out now.
The HT body is tried and true and nearly the same (except for some of the muscular kinds), and despite its detractors it's currently the most widely copied body in different iterations.
The SS body isn't too bad either but you're limited to their heads unless you modify the heads a little bit; and there's the omission of a double jointed neck which isn't necessarily a detraction.

When I and a lot of people start out we bought whatever random thing looked cool that week. It obviously "wasted" money but it let you get a feel for what is out there and what you want, i.e. I don't have a strong taste for DML products anymore but do come back for their solid weaponry.

Like the others I tend to prefer Soldier Story and the occasional Crazy Dummy/DAMTOYs figures. Their level of detail and expected quality have spoiled me so.
I feel the same way as Doly about the two companies to wary of though. TC has some good stuff but beware of their plastic stuff's quality.

As noted it can be true that a kitbash can cost as much as or more than a boxed figure but it doesn't have to be true. It won't be inexpensive either but if you wait and watch long enough sometimes you find great deals or you make do with what you can find and afford. Or make. I think I mainly enjoy making things for my figures now as much as I once did collecting.

I hope you start off with something really cool and that you will really enjoy

@Saiko - Thanks for sharing your expertise with me, I obviously still have a lot of learn about this hobby.

The Hot Toys Iron man series is actually what got me started into looking at 1/6 figures. I might get one eventually, probably when the MarkVII becomes available. I do hope military figures will release some articulated fingers/hands in the future(might be some available already?), as separate accessories.

I will take everyone's advise and save the BSgt as a later purchase, just so I can experience the quality of a different brand and use its parts in a kitbash.

Currently I'm leaning towards the following:
Crazy Dummy US Navy Seal Team 8 MK48 MOD1 Gunner
Crazy Dummy US Army Ranger Gunner In Afghanistan
Soldier Story 1st Battalion 75th Ranger Regiment

The upcoming releases from SS and CD looks really good too, but I cannot wait till March to own one. Any comment and suggestion about the above figures will be helpful. Thanks!