any idea what happens to prototype action figures after events
 

hey

does anyone have any idea where prototype action figures that are displayed at toy fair and comic cons go after the event
do the companies keep them, throw them away or can i buy them from somewhere i mean the paint apps on the ones at toy fair etc are always so much beter then when they get released in the stores

Most companies keep them these days, especially for display at multiple events. In the 80's, they tended to end up in collectors' hands a little easier. Especially Hasbro and Kenner stuff. But companies are a bit more protective of their property now.

NECA, for example, keeps many of their 2-up (double sized) prototypes on display in the studio.

You can find some prototypes on eBay, but those are usually unpainted "Test Shots" to test the integrity of the molds and materials.

Gotta be careful about test shots too, some from overseas are just the figure spray painted with gray primer or they just strip the paint off it. Caveat emptor!

They go live on a farm where they'll be free and happy.

Sometimes they end up with the people who painted and/or sculpted them, so might be worth it to look up the names who had worked on a piece and inquire. A couple of years back, I was corresponding with a sculptor who had some castings and painted masters from a line I was hardcore into at the time. He had said he wasn't allowed to sell them openly and that any transactions would have to be under the table.

Just so that you're aware, companies will sometimes deface an old prototype in someway to make it undesirable to collectors. It's a bit hard to see in this photo, but several of the prototype figures have their foreheads stamped.

https://news.toyark.com/wp-content/u...r-Wars-001.jpg

I can't link the image but Seibertron.com has an image gallery of the 2007 Starscream prototype. Hasbro scratched a code onto the figure and put a red glob on its face.

That's cute that hasbro thinks that's a deterrent :D

lmfao

I had a friend who had various connections in the toy and comic books industry in the 80’s & 90’s. He had in his possession prototypes that were some of the earliest Toybiz figures, as well as the original box art. I had an original sketch of the tongue flicking Venom and Spider tracer Spiderman boxart. Unfortunately my mother sold all of it when my father passed away. She didn’t think I wanted any of “that junk” anymore and I was in another state.

I only wonder what will happen to the Cyborg and Aquaman sh figuarts prototypes.

Yeah, a stamp on the forehead is nothing. The ones I've seen are a lot worse off with paint chipping and broken limbs. The real deterrent was the price :eek:

They're waiting for the Cyborg movie to be relea...sorry, I couldn't say that with a straight face.

I have my paint master Trinity from N2 Toys when I came up with an idea for an exclusive version by kitbashing a couple of their figures. I also have a Crouching tiger hidden dragon figure paint master with a broken as arm the manufacturer sent me. Had a buddy who had several Star Wars prototypes he bought off of collectors about 12 year ago. He sold them off when he decided to get out of collecting.