Playscale

1:6 scale modeling, a.k.a. Playscale Miniaturism, is a hobby focusing on the collecting and/or customization of commercially produced 1:6 scale action figures and accessories.

The term "Playscale" originally represented the domestic, urban or civilian expressions of the scale, especially when coed, and not, usually, exterior genres, like military and adventure themes. As such, it came to represent cross-genre miniaturism, as well, which routinely includes elements from the former. Miniaturists who focus exclusively on exterior themes tend to prefer the protologism sixthscale.

This scale is fairly new to the modeling world, having been standardized in the early 1960s through Barbie and G.I. Joe toys (it is not clear exactly when these figures were first used for mainstream modeling purposes). Most of this style of miniaturism is constructed around posable plastic figures. The average 1:6 figure stands roughly 30 cm (12 in) tall, representing a 1.8 m (6 ft) tall human. Figures can be outfitted in a wide variety of mass-produced, limited-production, and custom clothing and items. Some people undertake vehicle projects ranging from tanks and helicopters to sand rails and jeeps. Talented "customizers", miniaturists specializing in construction of one-off and limited production items or the extensive modification of stock products, are limited only by their imagination.

A significant focus of supporting manufacturers is military subjects of many different eras, but many crossover miniaturists will reassign them to science fiction, fantasy, pop culture, or civilian themes. Further emphasis on the military genre can be found in the article, Military miniaturism.

Playscale miniaturism (with emphasis on articulated figures) emerged as a hobby in 1964 when the toy company Hasbro introduced the first fully articulated action figure: G.I. Joe. The figures originally represented American military men; as American involvement in the Vietnam War continued, war toys and figures fell out of favor with parents, and G.I. Joe's sales declined. A change to a less martial Adventure Team theme did not revive sales, and by 1976, GI Joe was no longer produced in 1:6 scale. The UK had two equivalents; Action Man and Tommy Gunn; the latter first appeared in 1966 while the former continued through various incarnations until 1993 in the "vintage" form and in a revised form to the current day.

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