Tips on collecting figurines/statues?

I haven't really collected any figurines or statues before, but I just came across a piece that looks like there were a few more Fiona Belli from Demento/Haunting Ground ones made at Wonder Festival in 2008.

If anyone in Japan or else outside of, that collects figurines or statues - could you give me any tips on stores to try and find some or prototype figurines of this sort?

I've absolutely no idea what to look for, other than trying to avoid shitty recast plastic things that I tend to see in Paddy's Markets here in Sydney.

Because it's either this, or maybe I try and get some ball-jointed doll parts and make some of my own... I'm just not sure if it may be impossible to find out some more regarding the Fiona one I found... I did find some prototype pictures and think I may have found the original sculptor's blog - the first one was shown at Tokyo Game Show 2006, so would it be worth trying to contact him about it because it would be just my luck as of late for there to have only been a couple of prototypes produced since I haven't found anything else out.

 

Yep, I collect statues/figures, you're one step in the right direction - you know how to spot a fake! Amazingly enough there are so many in Australia :/
So on the topic of gathering these statues/figures I suggest a few of these sites.

- CD Japan
- YesAsia
- HobbySearch
- Anime Export
- Figure Haven
- Hobby Link

To avoid recastings a great site I use is myfigurecollection, many images of the statues you maybe looking for. You can find other suppliers from MyFigureCollection site, I know you mentioned prototype figures, but people do sell their stuff or link when they find something interesting there.

Well good luck!

 

Heh. My camera sucks enough it might be difficult to convince real from fake. Part of why I haven't taken selling figures seriously.

 

Thank you mate. I had a look through the sites, no luck. Do you know of any other events that older garage kit type ones would be likely to show up in?

As for all the fakes - I know right? Just walking into the majority of stores that stock game or anime merchandise around here... Just filled wall to wall with fakes. Sad part is, a friend's mother owned a store and had been under the impression that the bulk amount of stock she got was real - had to break it to her that the reason she wasn't selling her stock is that those were fakes (namely fake Final Fantasy jewelry, I have official ones and compared them).

So I've been quite weary of coming across fakes, because I don't want to shell out a few hundred and get completely ripped off. >_<;

Ah, I actually came across the Fiona one via MyFigureCollection. I had forgotten about the Fiona figure after seeing the prototype in pictures from Tokyo Game Show 2006 because there wasn't any further information, but when I saw a complete and painted one finally... Apparently was finally released in 2008 for a few months.

I had a look on there, nobody seems to have it and I can't even find an exact stock amount or anything on it other than some prototype and painted prototype images from the members of the circle that got permission to make it which was Gill Gill Circle.

Driving me a little crazy. On top of that bonus pre-order glass, I now need to try and get my hands on one of these. *Banging head on desk* Oh well. Back to adding in content pages for my CT/HG site... now that I have to put this on there.

 

I have a Yahoo Japan proxy you can use to get stuff. Might be cheaper (I've not checked prices at those stores). It's probably better for older/used stuff though. There's a learning curve, but you can often be rewarded greatly.

 

Would that be the most cost effective way to get a PC Engine controller? Or should I ask someone to locally look in Japan?
Western sites mostly have higher end models I don't need much.

 

Thanks for the links!

 

There's many places in Japan that specialize in garage kits, I'll try and bring them up again but no promises on that one :/

Only other suggestion is check a few hobby forums or something and ask around - I'm more of an pre-painted statue collector more than anything else, and oh how they empty my wallet

If you know someone in Japan, they maybe able to look out for you. Some members here will be happy to do that, being over here is a pain in the ass sometimes.