Introduction
When you hold a Bandai figure, a Tsume statue, or a Good Smile model kit, you are touching the result of a very precise choice: the right plastic. Not all plastics are the same, and each material brings specific characteristics that influence aesthetic appeal, durability, and even how the product is assembled or painted. In this guide, we explain the main plastics used in the world of collectibles, figures, and model kits.
PS – Polystyrene
Polystyrene is the undisputed king of model kits, both traditional ones (like Tamiya or Revell kits) and Bandai's Gunpla. It offers a smooth surface ideal for painting and responds perfectly to primers. One of its main advantages is its reaction to specific modeling glues (solvent-based), which slightly melt the surfaces, allowing pieces to be welded together and eliminating seam lines. It is the preferred material for modelers who love to customize and paint.
ABS – Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene
ABS is an extremely rigid, robust, and lightweight plastic, often used for structural parts of model kits (such as the internal frames of old Gunpla), in Yolopark products, or in elements that require high mechanical resistance. It lends itself to very fine details and resists impacts well. However, be careful with painting: ABS is sensitive to aggressive solvents (such as enamel paints or washes for panel lining); if the solvent penetrates cracks, it risks weakening the plastic to the point of breaking. For gluing, it is preferable to use cyanoacrylate glue (Super Glue).
PVC – Polyvinyl Chloride
PVC is the soft and flexible plastic used for the vast majority of "static" and articulated collectible figures: Figma (Good Smile), Sega figures, Banpresto, Pop Up Parade, and many others. It allows for the creation of complex shapes, dynamic hair, clothing, and accessories resistant to drops. PVC figures are generally pre-painted.
Note for collectors: PVC can release plasticizers over time (the phenomenon of bleeding), which makes the surface sticky if the figure remains sealed in its box for years. Storing figures in cool, ventilated environments away from heat sources helps prevent this problem.
Resin (Polyurethane Resin & Polystone)
Resin (often combined with stone powder in composites like Polystone) is the material of choice for high-end collectible statues. Brands like Tsume and Iron Studios make it their main material for creating museum-quality statues. Resin allows for capturing microscopic details and textures impossible to achieve with injection molding of traditional plastics.
Tsume is renowned for its majestic dynamic-style statues inspired by manga and anime, while Iron Studios stands out for its cinematic reproductions of American film and comic franchises (Marvel, DC, Star Wars). Resin statues are produced in limited editions, are very heavy, expensive, and fragile: they require great care in display.
HIPS – High Impact Polystyrene
A reinforced variant of polystyrene due to the addition of rubber, HIPS is used in model kits for parts that require a compromise between the workability of PS and the resistance of ABS. It has a slightly duller surface but is extremely easy to cut, glue (with normal modeling glues), and paint.
Nylon and POM (Polyoxymethylene)
In some advanced kits or articulated figures, technical materials such as Nylon or POM are used for joints, hinges, and parts subjected to continuous friction. These plastics are "self-lubricating" and incredibly resistant to wear, but they are almost impossible to glue and repel paint unless treated with specific adhesion-promoting primers.
How to choose the right product based on the material
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Are you a collector who loves to display your ready-to-use characters? PVC is your material: practical, colorful, and durable.
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Are you a modeler who wants to build, customize, and paint? PS and ABS kits will give you maximum technical satisfaction.
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Are you looking for a showpiece for your room, artistic details, and are you not worried about the cost? Tsume or Iron Studios resin statues are the ultimate goal.
Conclusion
Knowing the materials helps you make more informed choices, better preserve your pieces, and know how to treat them if you decide to customize them. In our shop, you will find products made with all these materials, selected from the best brands in the sector: Bandai, Good Smile, Tsume, Iron Studios, Super7, Yolopark, and many others.