Just wondering why people buy unpainted toys. Are they mainly for people who will customize their own paint versions? Are they mainly produced for customizers? Just wondering

Abe should have a very nice answer to this query.

Some people believe that good sculpts don't need paint and speak for themselves when bare. I definitely lean to the side of painted, but have some blank figs I love dearly which of course glow brighter lacking restraint from paint. I think blank figures tend to look better in groups, rather than mixed displays with paint apps. Also consider not painting a figure saves time/money/manpower for a company.

I like test shots.

A lot of time Japanese companies release unpaints in really limited quantities (think under 10), so sometimes they are the hardest to come by. Of course, lines like KT's Blank line are mainly for people to customize.

They are ALL unpainted, underneath the paint.

Just a nice contrast from painted figures. I wouldn't collect a whole bunch of them, but a few scattered about is interesting, especially if the base colour is unusual or if they glow. Example, I went for the unpainted Secret Base GID All Stars that glow in blue.

I think unpainted versions bring out the sculpt since the paint can sometimes hide the subtlties of the sculpt design.

unpainted black toys or GID look so good bunched in groups

yes they sure do...

To me the heart of the toy is its sculpt.
Paint can enhance or not work on a figure, but if the form isn't right on I wouldn't buy the toy even if it had the greatest paint job ever.
And an army of black vinyl is the raddest thing you'll ever see.

some of my favorite pieces are the unpainteds I have...it shows off the sculpt...

Unpainted toys are ugly and ghetto and I only collect them because while everyone else is chasing the Neo-Kaiju of the moment theyre selling their unpainteds for bargain prices to finance the next big thing.

Actually I just like the way they look w/o paint theres a primacy to a Kaiju figure in crayola red that paint apps cant compete with. Kind like army men or cowboy and indian toys from back in the day.

Perolinga

Guts Seijin

Gasugegon


And an old shelf group shot.


That said please dont buy unpainted theyre shitty...

The real reason toy makers sell unpainted copies is to make money off of their test shots, which would usually just get dumped in a corner of the office.

Goodness! Thanks for all the info and opinions. I still don't know how I feel about unpaints (even though all toys are unpaints beneath the paint ). I was looking at a photo of a lot of toys I purchased using Celga, and there are a few unpaints in the lot. Don't know whether to keep them or ??? Abelincolnjr, that group of unpaints looks very retro and makes a nice assemblage--thanks for sharing your pics. For some reason, they make me want to go out and get a bag of salt water taffy to snack on

Mr Humphrey Id be happy to take a look at any unpaints you may have and take em off your hands if they are rad

Thank you Abelincolnjr! I'll keep you in mind when I get to my Celga box. I think there are a few unpaints there--will have to see if they are rad or not

i never understood paying top dollar for unpainted protos.
i usually find mine in the produce department, around $0.89/lb.

awesome pics slm!

I love my flesh Zag and unpainted black RxH minis.

Great idea for pics SLM. I never saw those before, did you get them in a lucky bag or something?

yes. the last round of dm lucky bags were unpainted smoking stars. to my knowledge there were red, green, clear yellow, and white. i pulled a clear yellow, but picked up these 2 off of grumble toy (they peaked at the prize). they might still have a few of them left...

and i should have snapped a pic of the way the guy stocking cabbage was looking at me during this all. that was classic.

The unpainted green-, yellow-, and pink-glow Butanohana dino minis are some of my favorite toys EVAR.

That set is sweet, wish I could swing the pricetag.