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Toy Reviews by Materials

  • ABS (4,194)

    Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) is one of the most commonly used materials in toys. ABS is used for parts that require a harder edge and sharper details, such as armor on a mech. The LEGO brick is a good example of ABS plastic.

  • Aluminum (1)
  • Cloth (238)

    Woven flexible fabric can accentuate and add a sense of realism to a toy.

  • Cold Cast Porcelin (3)
  • Color binder (1)
  • Diecast (1,261)

    The term diecast here refers to any toy or collectible model produced by using the die casting method. Typically the metal used is Zinc Alloy.

  • Glass (2)

    Proper glass, none of the plastic crap.

  • Glow (31)

    Glow-in-the-dark plastic or paint, or Phosphorescence.

  • Hair (16)

    Rooted artificial hair used on dolls or action figures.

  • Lead (2)

    Before it was found to be deadly, Lead was a common material used in toy making. Banned in the US in 1978, Lead has been the source of many safety recalls of toys. The most famous of which was the Matchbox Voltron Lion set, which was recalled due to led paint in the 80s.

  • Magnet (101)

    How do they work? We don't know. But Magnets are often used as connection points and alternative points of articulation.

  • Nylon (4)

    Nylon is a generic designation for a family of synthetic polymers, more specifically aliphatic or semi-aromatic polyamides.

  • Paper (18)

    Paper can be used as accessories to toys, or often the toy itself is paper.

  • Pewter (3)

    Pewter is a malleable metal alloy, traditionally 85–99% tin, with the remainder consisting of copper, antimony, bismuth and sometimes, less commonly today, lead.

  • Plastic (1,931)

    Plastic is a material consisting of any of a wide range of synthetic or semi-synthetic organics that are malleable and can be molded into solid objects of diverse shapes. We use this term when we don't know which specific plastic is used to make a toy.

  • Plush (10)

    Generally, plush toys feature a fabric shell that is stuffed with some kind of cushioning.

  • Polyethylene (203)

    Shampoo Bottle Plastic, commonly used on Jumbo Machinders

  • Polystone (3)

    Polystone is a compound made up largely of polyurethane resin mixed with powdered stone additives that gives it added weight and a porcelain or "stone-like" feel.

  • POM (290)

    Polyoxymethylene (POM), also known as acetal, polyacetal and polyformaldehyde, is an engineering thermoplastic used in precision parts requiring high stiffness, low friction and excellent dimensional stability.

  • PP (1)

    Polypropylene (PP), also known as polypropene, is a thermoplastic polymer

  • PS (41)

    Polystyrene can be sheet or molded (parts for model kits) or foam (Styrofoam). It is known by the abbreviation PS

  • PVC (2,968)

    Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is a harder vinyl that can vary in stiffness and durability. It is offered in both rigid and flexible forms, making it suited to a wide variety of toy making applications.

  • Resin (63)

    Resin casting is used to produce collectible and customized toys and figures like designer toys, garage kits and ball-jointed dolls, as well as scale models, either individual parts or entire models of objects like trains, aircraft or ships.

  • Rubber (404)

    Soft flexible plastic, often used in jointwork, tires, and treads.

  • Sandstone substrate (1)

    Material used in 3D printing

  • Soft vinyl (541)

    Soft vinyl, while similar to PVC, is actually a bit different. Known in Japan as Sofubi, Soft Vinyl is a PVC powder suspended in a resin-like matrix. It is typically roto-casted, and toys made from soft vinyl are typically hollow.

  • Steel (9)

    Steel is an alloy of iron and other elements, commonly used in support structures for toys, but occasionally in the construction itself, like the legendary Tetsujin-28.

  • Tin (20)

    Tin is a lightweight, flexible yet sturdy metal commonly used in early wind-up toys.

  • Wood (4)

    You know, from trees. Do we have to explain what wood is?