"Are our models "toys"?" Topic

I recently saw a news report claiming that 90% of the world's "toys" are made in China. I wondered if military miniatures and wargames models used counted as toys, and if they figured into those economic calculations. Are any wargames miniatures made in China?

All the collectible "Clix" type figures are made in China

For purposes of that report I dont know if wargame figures count as "Toys" but, what are they? My vote is for them being Toys.

Al

By volume or cost our hobby is small fry!

Call them what you will, but I collect paint and use wargaming figures and models.

Well my wife calls my minis "dolls", as in "my husband paints up dolls and plays with them in the basement"

So I'll take "toys" over "dolls" anyday :)

I think all the collectible minis games are made in China. I know all of the Wizarsd of the Coast (DND minis, SW minis, Axis & Allies) lines, the NECA/Wizkids Clix lines, and Privateer Press' Monsterpocalypse line are. I believe that the Rackham prepaints are also made in China, but I don't have any handy to check.

I'm fine with "toys". But remember that they are fragile (bent spears, flaking paint jobs, etc.) and that they should be kept out of reach of infants (I've never heard of a baby choking on a DBA army, but I also never want it to happen).

I don't know. Toys, figures, models, game pieces, collectibles? Is it wrong to play with toys at age 50?

At the Bengal Club we call them "Little Lead Dollies".

"Toys" is just fine by comparison.

They're toys for grownups, I think.

Toys

I think "dolls" is ignorant. Toys is acceptable,but I prefer "minis". There so much more work and care that goes n to the majority of the figures than something you pull out of a plastic box,sit on the floor,and just play like a child. I play with enough toys with my 4 year old.

They are toys.

FWIW, a Porsche is a toy, too. As is a bass boat.

Canada Customs dictates that they are toys…helps us save on duty!!

Yes, they're toys. Get over it.

Toys….because we PLAY games with them! 8>)

I have noticed that Orientals refer to miniature figures as "dolls"! Forgive them! Judging from the Chinese word for "Air Conditioner" is made up of the words "wind blowing", "cold air" and "box", they probably never created a "proper" word for them!

(I'm still "playing with that translation….it could be the other way around for refridgerator….) />)

Best
"Toy" Dye
GFI

Speaking of "toys" and interesting metal content, anyone know how that testing law from earlier in the year has shaken out?

Toys. As Dye said, "We play games with them."

Aren't all things played with 'toys'. Cameras, cars, playstaions, teletubbies, miniature model grown up hand painted figurine metal dolls !!

What's in a name, who realy cares what you call them?

Well I call them toy soldiers, at least in front of my wife!
Wargames Factory figures are all made in China.

Of course they're toys. I'm not embarrassed as some by the fact.

There are toys, if they weren't we would have to take things seriuosly.

The sactings may be considered toys but according to the chart used by banks for loans for casting equipment and support items, we fall under the jewelry category.

I like considering my castings as more than just toys! LOL

Jewelry? I never saw that one coming!

They aren't Toys;
they're "collectibles".

Clix is toys, sure,
and I do some Toy gaming with my Son;
Basically any plastic crap is a Toy,
whether made in China, Japan, Mexico, or the ol' USA.
BUT

Anything made out of Solid Lead ain't no Toy, bucko

according to the chart used by banks …we fall under the jewelry category

Oh,now -that- I Like!!!

and anyway my models aren't toys they are my friends my best friends my only friends and late at night i take them out and talk to them and sometimes they talk back and then they tell me things secret things dangerous things and then my wife says its time to visit the happy place and put on my i love me coat and visit with that nice doctor that smiling doctor with the cold cold eyes again and take the bad tasting m&ms until my little friends stop telling me the things secret things dangerous things and then maybe i can come home again if im good
i like Pi

Toys….

Technically cheaper (in the short term?) than that 1:1 Lamborgeni Diablo or the two 23-year old 44DD 'blond, living dolls' (ala Hugh Hef's GIRLS NEXT DOOR), that you could also have riding in the car with you….(and less likely to get you shot by your wife or S.O.)….

'Dolls'….Hef might not mind folks saying he 'plays with dolls'…(he's over 80 now??) and even has a life-size nude BRASS casting of Barbie Benton (one of his ex's), in the mansion…NOW that's a 'metal figure' you could really use as a conversations piece!

I think part of it is HOW your wife/S.O./Mom or whomever REFERS to your 'hobby' and if they feel it's 'ligitimate' or not. If they say 'little men/dolls/toys' in a DERISIVE or negative connotation (as in, they disapprove/think it's a waste of money/time etc)…then it doesn't matter what they call them.

Of course…in those cases…you could always come back about 'troll beads' or purses or the Imelda Marcos Shoe Museum Miniature Shoe series from Frankling Mint….as a bit of a 'spend-thrifty/playing with toys, etc' thing too?

I'm lucky…my better half is THRILLED that I would rather stay home and 'paint/kit-bash/collect' etc my miniatures and gaming figures…(and even tries to keep track of some of the DIFFERENT TYPES)…than out 'carousing', etc.

She's gone to more than once 'gaming convention' with me and even helped me at two that I had a 'booth' at…and I, in turn…help her with her beaded jewelery booth at local farmer's market…and we sometimes travel for bead-shops as well as miniatures….and use the internet to find stuff for each other too!

I don't know everything about her beading and she doesn't know everything about miniatures and gaming…but we DO 'communicate' and try to show REAL interest in what the other is doing and in that attempt…we both get to do things we enjoy and we grow closer together in that process.

Toys? meh….it's whatever WORKS for you!

'Say HELLO to my little friend….he says…SLISH!!!!!!'

Sgt DWW-bartentacle on duty!

They're toys.

Doug

They are Toys, but then so are golf clubs, tennis rackets, pool cues, playing cards, and speed boats. They all help you engage in activites that you and your friends enjoy and that others may find silly.

This just about says it all

picture

LLC aka Ron

"Is it wrong to play with toys at age 50?"

I certainly hope not since I'm 57 and love my little wigger figgers to death!

It depends on your definition of "toy." If you mean "object for children to play with," then miniatures are probably not toys. If you mean "luxury item to spend money and free time on" (like a fancy boat or car or electronic gadget) then they probably are toys.

Personally, I think miniature wargaming doesn't quite fit into either category. When you are really playing a game, you are engaged in a competitive mental exercise that isn't they same as what a child does when playing with toys, nor what a rich guy does when tooling around in his snazzy car.

To respond to the question in the original post--I doubt that miniature sales are significant enough in volume or value to sway those figures one way or the other. Most likely, they weren't counted at all by whoever compiles such data. Its easy to forget exactly how invisible our hobby is to the larger world.

I'm with the 'toys' crowd.

clearly toys and it makes them immune to government taxes .. vat , customs duty whatever …

Collectible Ornamental Metal Figurine Items ( COMFI )

Mail some overseas. On the customs form you have to identify the contents… closest category? TOYS

They are toys, no doubt… no shame either for that matter.

They are a hobby accessory, so clearly toys.

They are my toys and I like playing games with them. I am a believer in the old adage that "it takes a real man to stay a boy forever."

Problem is there is a terrible stigma around them. I dont know about the rest of you but professionally, I had to keep my hobby a secret for years. Id have been laughed out of the office and had my professional credibility threatened should the idea of my playing with "little army men" gotten around.

They are toys. I think just about 90% of EVERYTHING comes from China these days.

Perris, the bad thing about being regarded as jewelry, due to casting of pewter metal, is that jewelry hasthe highest default rate of any industry except restaurants. So the amount of interest is very high for loans in our industry.

Warmaster Horus –

I feel your pain, my mother in law also calls my minatures "Dolls". Aside from that, she is a really nice person.

They are toys. And action figures are dolls. Make sure to mention this to any prospective women that you are trying to date when she comes over and sees your collection.

I don't mind the terms 'toys' or 'dolls'.
'Toys' are just something you play with… and everyone plays with something.
A 'doll' is just a 'toy' that represents a person… not only for girls, not only for kids… G.I. Joes are 'dolls', this is a 'doll' picture , this is a 'doll' link … not cute, not 'girly'… nothing to be ashamed of.

Yes; yes they are.

I play with my miniatures, so they are toys. My web site has been called "Tim's Toys" since 1999, so this isn't new to me.

On "dolls". I have only heard this directed against my miniatures as a term of derision by types who somehow feel that labelling a male as playing with something that is traditionally female somehow makes them feel better about themselves… I'd still be cautious about anyone calling them dolls. I think of dolls as things you dress up, brush hair, have tea parties with and go to sleep with.
--
Tim

Sure they are toys. They are distinct artifacts with no purpose other than play. Rather like my neighbor's sports car, but with less angst if one gets a scratch.

toys. and I aint ashamed to admit they are:) wouldnt mind a 23 yr old redhead doll though…1:1 and willing. the wife would raise hell though…