treswright wrote:DeputyDan wrote:With the world of technology getting more and more crazy, now i begin to wonder if people can 3D print false prototypes?
Anyone else had these thoughts?
I just love my POPS! and now that I've started collecting these prototypes, I want to make sure I'm buying the real deal.
Well like Scott said 3D printing uses a plastic material that does not look or feel like vinyl, so that's not an issue for now, until the technology changes. But there are plenty of other concerns...
First let's describe what a "real" proto is so we can discuss the difference. A real proto is one that was made in a limited run by the manufacturer and given to Funko so they can review it before it goes into final production. Most people like to collect protos because they're a part of the design process- they were held and examined and touched and commented on by Funko designers, sculptors and executives. That is where the value comes from, and provenance is everything.
Now, let's talk about the many items being floated out there as protos that are not legitimate:
Scrappers- Pops that may have had a flaw or flaws and were pulled from the assembly line before the painting process, but instead of being thrown away were snuck out of the factory. Just about any "prototype" that is being sold on eBay out of China is in fact a scrapper. These are actual Funko products, but they are not prototypes, so they look like the real thing. The problem with the proliferation of these is that once they start circulating, they will come back up being sold by US sellers, so it can be hard to tell. That's why Huse and others stress knowing who you are buying from.
Strippers- unscrupulous sellers take a standard Pop and strip the paint off of it and sell it as a proto. Typically it will smell of the stripping agent and have paint residue in the crevices.
Mindstyle- This is the latest issue that makes collecting protos a headache. Mindstyle is a Chinese manufacturer and distributor, and they've started selling/ giving away "prototypes". Usually the color, sheen and texture is off on the Mindstyle prototypes, but some of them are close enough to be hard to distinguish. The issue here is again, these were never in the US and never in Funko's hands and in that respect are not legitimate prototypes.
If you want to start collecting protos, join one of the FB proto groups and read, read, read. There are a lot of discussions about what to look for and what to avoid. Make friends with established proto collectors, they are a wealth of information. And get ready to rumble, because there are a lot more people chasing the more popular lines than there are protos to go around
Strong write up friend
Collector, convention manager, all around nerdy weirdo!!
