Useful items for sixth-scale environments (continuously updated)

DarthJ wrote:

GubernatorFan wrote:I like what you did there, DarthJ, especially after I spotted the tiny "real" camera in the hands of one of your lovely assistants. Posing a 1:1 article (as itself) with 1:6 figures could be fun, but would not fall under the category of a 1:6 environment/diorama/whatever. But you found a way to make sense of it, which works very well indeed.

That is the photographer, the other one is the model wearing (but not for long) a Francie (Barbie range) poney fur coat.
This thread allows to use objects of every scale, why not 1:1 ?  An object is its own ultimate scale model.

I think you misunderstood my intent -- you certainly can use a 1:1 object, if it makes sense in a 1:6 environment, and yours did make sense in this setting.

Stryker2011 wrote:Interesting camera — never heard of them. Bootleg camera? Maybe of a Pentax?

No, this Praktica is very real. About 80 of the best ordinary B200 were handpicked from the production line, received some extra care and became B200S. They were meant for use by journalists of the official East German Press Agency. Seemingly a lot ended up in the UK.
Today one was sold on Ebay for 300 Euro.
Little secret : the electronics were of Japanese origin.

This one is already on Flickr. Think "mice" and "elephant".

I was browsing MoreZMore's ebay store looking for something else entirely, but came across these glass micro beads and thought they might be useful if anyone needs 'bubbles' for a diorama: 





https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/M00690-MOREZMORE-1-oz-Tiny-6mm-Iridescent-Glass-Bubbles-Bead-Microbeads/202316900584?hash=item2f1b06e8e8:g:LmUAAOSwGXtXgYFT

skywalkersaga wrote:I was browsing MoreZMore's ebay store looking for something else entirely, but came across these glass micro beads and thought they might be be useful if anyone needs 'bubbles' for a diorama 

Neat. Thanks for showing these off and reminding me I've been meaning to order something from Morezmore.

Hmm, could work great as pirate treasure. Thanks for showing.

A few more toyshop boxes, this time from the Democratic Republic of East-Germany. Styling looks 1960s or earlier, probably still used in the 1980s.

However, as a bonus, who recognizes the Phicen (with a plastic frame) behind those boxes ? She is missing her clothing.

The boxes look pretty good, though definitely retro. No idea about the body, but I would think the gloved hands should be a dead giveaway for anyone who was familiar with their products from BSSS (Before Stainless Steel Skeleton).

The mystery girl was sold as "Schoolmiss". Nothing else on the box, not even mentioning manufacturer Phicen. She would date from 2013 and reference would be PL-NT001. Beside the (missing) uniform she also owns a Katana (that I got).
The Sword Is Mightier Than The Pen.

Found some cool letter-opener swords.
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/33054542116.html

The one-handed swords are too large for one-sixth but there are two two-handed swords that are perfect for one-sixth. The one I bought is modelled from the sword in the game The Witcher 3.

Thanks for the tip. Also saw some of these a few month ago on ebay.
I also bought a magic wand, but it was too heavy for my likings. The sowrd seems to be a bit better in that regard.

Da Riddel of Steel, daaargh! (Arnie sounds)

Great finds.

I agree, it looks great.

Indeed great looking letter-opener swords.

Since I used one of the images for the Happy Easter! post, and since I don't think we've had this above, here is another look at the Walmart 12-compartment beading boxes by Darice, which work very well for storing most types of neck-less sixth-scale head sculpts. When I last checked, they were only available in-store.

Just because we don't have Walmart in this country : do these Organizer compartments provide enough space for long haired heads such as the average barbarian or a fair share of the female population ?

DarthJ wrote:Just because we don't have Walmart in this country : do these Organizer compartments provide enough space for long haired heads such as the average barbarian or a fair share of the female population ?

Excellent question. Their main limitation is head sculpts with integral molded neck and/or head sculpts with long/hefty sculpted/molded hair. When it comes to "real" hair (i.e., hair made of natural or synthetic flexible fibers/strands), that is flexible, so it would be no problem. If the hair is particularly ample, or if it has the tendency to get bent out of shape and keep that bend, it might not be ideal. The compartments are fairly tight, and I make sure I place the head sculpts in little transparent ziplock baggies before putting them in (when it comes to actual storage, not just the showcasing above), just in case they get knocked about lest the paint gets chipped.

The tricky part is that Darice apparently makes this particular container just for Walmart, and Walmart doesn't ship it (you can get it only physically at a store). Perhaps because it is so inexpensive (around $4 US) that mailing it would be financially impractical.

I think this is a listing for this very box, so you can see:
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Darice-12-Compartment-Clear-Plastic-Bead-Box-1-Each/22027053

I found this dryer from PIKO. Today they mostly produce miniature trains and buildings but in East-German times they also produced a lot of other toys.

Such as this dryer.  It's functional (as East-German toys had to prepare children for adult life), just put some wet miniature clothing inside and use the crank to get the drum spinning.

Not especially meant for dolls but rather as a child's own (miniature) dryer.

How very unique -- thanks for sharing! And your ladies look great with it.

I agree, great find.

Pretty cool!

If you think your domestic duties end with a swinging dryer, you are wrong.

This set was released by VEB Spielzeug-Elektrik Meiningen :



Everything is there for ironing and hanging your clothing, except supports for the ironing board.



And it all fits 1/6 figures. Odd because 1/6 figures, even Barbies, were (officially) not really important back in the DDR.

These do look pretty nice. For the most part they don't seem to require a repaint to make them look believable, which more than what can be said for so much of the stuff that comes with Barbies.

As I mentioned before toys in the DDR were meant to prepare children for adult life and hence had to be realistic.
And before a toy could be made it had to pass a (severe) board where everything would be discussed from its usefulness and quality, to the exact materials needed, costs involved and fixed sales price.

The open multi-coloured basket in the middle is made of "recycled" plastic, one of their favourite shortcuts.

If you have a dryer, you need a washing machine. Found one, East-German too and it's actually a combination of washing machine and dryer.
A 1-in-a-triangle logo, this is a quality product. Part metal, heavy. Cost 25.50 M new,  that wasn't exactly cheap.



The box, design looks older than it really is.



The machine.



This thing really works, on a battery powered motor ! Add water (max 50°C) plus washing powder and you are ready to wash & dry your doll clothing.



As a "bonus" I got an original East-German 4.5V battery. Out of power but doesn't leak. Note the vague country of origin, "Germany" instead of GDR. A trick to get their products sold in foreign markets where "Commie" products were not really appreciated.

Pretty cool find. Love the old school style box art.

DarthJ wrote:Note the vague country of origin, "Germany" instead of GDR. A trick to get their products sold in foreign markets where "Commie" products were not really appreciated.

LG does the same thing today. They used to mark their products "Made in Republic of Korea." Now that their stuff is made by forced labour in North Korea, they mark their products, "Made in Korea".

bit of a weird one, but if you need costumed bodies for kids/dwarves dressed as marvel characters these will work great by the looks of things: https://sdccblog.com/2020/07/beast-kingdom-san-diego-comic-con-online-2020-exclusives/

Interesting links jaztermareal; I do wonder about the articulation: there appears to be some in the arms.