Just started collecting UKG advice please.

[DarthTrump]

Bought my first UKG fig last week, 85 lando be spin, very clean, pleased with item.

Just received a bwing pilot and coin at an 80 grade but doesn't look in great condition. Seller seems genuine, figure not for the grading given.

Can folks recase these/swap figs in these acrylic cases, the guy I bought it from hasn't as I have seen that he bought it off eBay and just passed it on.

Chips to hands rub to nose wear to back of head. Not sure how to add a pic, sorry less someone's points it out. Can put eBay link to item up though.

Please help, I am getting back into my collection and looking to upgrade and get more items.

Cheers.

 

[Richard_H]

It is possible to do this but I really doubt this has happened in this case. UKG80 loose figure is not worth the effort. It's carded high value MOCs where this happens.

 

[Jez]

Hi, welcome to the forum. First of all why UKG? Ok that's better imo than AFA but why do you feel the need to buy entombed? If you're buying for the love and nostalgia like most of us why don't you just by loose? Forget about someone else's grade, choose figures you like the look of.
They are easier to display ungraded and you can handle them, pose/play with them and even smell them (Tie Fighter Pilot).
Just do what you like and want, if you need grades in your life fair enough (I feel bad for you).
Have fun mate.

 

[elcroz]

If you like the look of the Acrylic cases, you could buy decent loose figures and then buy similar cases from a very prominent member from this very site.
It is certainly cheaper and to be fair nobody really needs a third party to grade a figure and tell you that "you've got a decent condition figure" - we can all tell the difference between a beater or mint figure or otherwise.

Anyway whatever path you go down, happy hunting!

 

[DarthTrump]

Jez you are right I suppose, I collected from a kid and still have lots of my original worn figures as well as a nice line of cleaner u played ones, but with having kids my collection got stored away and forgotten about for the last six years plus. Have about six afa carded and thought, a set of quality afa/ukg would be a way to go to display and look after a complete set as I have started flogging boxed stuff off I got cash for smaller pieces. I also expected the graded stuff to be almost immaculate even at grade 80 but they aren't and that they would be an improvement of most of my existing stuff.

I only have 3 so no hardship.
So I think it might as well be back up grading loose, then using the spare dosh on carded.

I might as well add the question, MOC shall I waste money having stuff or buying cased and graded LOL.

Thanks for the advice guys, been out the loop a bit to long me thinks, any more much appreciated.

 

[Robstyley]

There's been much discussion about this lately. Personally I wouldn't bother mate. The grading doesn't have a standard so it's pointless and means nothing, other than you might pay 50 quid for a figure you could get in the same condition for 15. I've seen AFA or UKG 80's that look absolutely mint perfect and others of the same 80 grade with rubs all over them. It's much better to use your eyes and read a description on a sale to find mint figures rather than following a number in the belief it is proof of the condition.

 

[itfciain]

Without seeing the actual item then I can't comment specifically - however the damage mentioned may have occurred after grading - these things change hands quite often and may well have been in the postage system 4 or 5 times. One of the main flaws of having anything graded is that you can't protect the item during shipping - so with loose figures they can move about and rub up against the sides - and before anyone accuses me of bias - I don't think anything should be shipped in acrylic if it can be helped

 

[Robstyley]

You make a good point there Iain, never thought of that, the figures moving in the cases. Now you mention it though, that's another thing about grading, they are often sealed in different ways. Some are tightly sealed so they can't move and some rattle around like **** in there :?

 

[edd_jedi]

Without seeing the actual item then I can't comment specifically - however the damage mentioned may have occurred after grading

That's why I'm dead against loose grading, they have yet to come up with decent ways of either displaying or protecting the figures, so they often end up with rubs inside the case.

The unfortunate truth is that acrylic is great for display, but poor for storage (especially if being moved.) Carded figures are better off in star cases, and loose figures are safer in plastic bags. Hard surfaces rubbing against each other is a recipe for paint wear.

 

[theforceuk]

I've never seen anything get seriously damaged only because of the casing it's in, neither have I seen any proof of this, although I'm sure I'll be proved wrong. :roll:

This grading talk is doing my head in on both pros and cons, a loose grade of 80 is no where near mint and if your informed then you understand this, if your not then don't comment.

But if you have a high end loose item that is worth getting graded go for it, because it's worth it compared to an AFA/UKG 85 Prune Face. :roll:

Grading is not 'totally' bad for the hobby, it's the uniformed and greedy dealers that get stuff graded who are.

 

[Robstyley]

Nobody mentioned serious damage Adam, only that loose graded figures can get paint wear moving around inside the case. As for AFA 80 being nowhere near mint that's bullshit. It's got nothing to do with being informed, it's to do with using your eyes. I have a loose Walrusman I broke out the case, it was an 80, it's mint, there's no visible rubs to hands, boots or tusks. It's been proven many times with Moc's, the same grade does not mean the same condition.