How to Grade Your Figure
Grading Figures accurately and fairly is an art not a science. One person's C8 is another persons' C6. So, with that in mind, here is how I grade figure condition.
The 'C', or Condition, scale is a 1 to 10 scale with 10 being perfect. Perfect in this case does not necessarily mean 'perfect', it means in the same condition as the factory produced it. It may have mold marks, it may have color variations in the plastic, it may even have a blemish. In order for me to grade a piece as C10 it has be truely without any defects and still 'shiny' new.
Figures are complex and made up of different materials that may age differently. As you look through the charts remember that most of the aspects (heads, body, joints, springs, etc.) have to be within the range for the whole figure to be graded in that C category. For example. A C9 figure with a broken joint would be graded as C6 or C5. A C8 figure with a terrible head may be downgraded to a C5 or C6.
Since different aspects of an figure affect it's condition, I'll try to give examples.
Grade C9
- Head and Hands: Soft as new, No cracks or blemishes
- Hair: No or 'very' little hair rubs, nice shiny paint (if on original)
- Body: Original color. No scratches, nicks, rubs or mars. Odor free. Not brittle.
- Rivets: Rust Free, 90-100% paint
- Joints: Smooth rotation and bending. No binding or looseness
- Springs: Rust Free, tight
Grade C8
- Head and Hands: Soft as new, No cracks, tiny blemishes
- Hair: Little hair rubs, nice shiny paint (if on original)
- Body: Original color. Little scratches, nicks, rubs or mars. Odor free. Not brittle. Looks played with but not damaged. No cracks or chips.
- Rivets: Rust Free, 75-100% paint
- Joints: Smooth rotation and bending. No binding or looseness
- Springs: Rust Free
Grade C7
- Head and Hands: Soft, may be slightly stiff, Creases or tiny cracks, some blemishes
- Hair: Hair rubs, paint fading
- Body: Original color. some scratches, nicks, rubs or mars. Not brittle. Looks played with but not too damaged. No cracks or chips.
- Rivets: Some Rust, 50-100% paint
- Joints: Some stiffness in rotation or bending. May be loose but still unbroken.
- Springs: Small amount of Rust or slighty streched
Grade C6
- Head and Hands: Slightly hard or discolored, Creases or tiny cracks, blemishes
- Hair: Hair rubs or patches missing, paint fading
- Body: Fading or changing color. Scratches, nicks, rubs or mars. Not brittle. Looks hard played with. No cracks or chips.
- Rivets: Some Rust, 25-100% paint
- Joints: Stiffness in rotation or bending. May be loose but still unbroken.
- Springs: Rusty or streched
Grade C5
- Head and Hands: Hardening or discolored, Creases or cracks, blemishes
- Hair: Hair rubs or Large patches missing, paint fading
- Body: Fading or changing color. Scratches, nicks, rubs or mars. Plastic brittle. Looks very hard played with. Some chips.
- Rivets: Rusty, 0-100% paint
- Joints: Stiffness in rotation or bending. Very loose. Chips surrounding joints. but still unbroken.
- Springs: Rusty or streched
Grade C4 - C1
- Head and Hands: Hardening or discolored, Creases or cracks, blemishes
- Hair: All or most of hair rubbed off, repainted
- Body: Faded or painted. Scratches, nicks, rubs, chewed off parts or mars. Plastic brittle. May be used for parts
- Rivets: Rusty, 0-100% paint
- Joints: Glued, very stiff, may be broken
- Springs: Rusty or streched
