ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene)
One of the two most common plastics used in the manufacturing of toys and action figures. ABS plastic is generally harder and more brittle than PVC.

Articulation
Movement in a figure

Bronze Age
1970 - 1984

Cold-Cast Porcelain
Combining resin and porcelain powder and pouring it into a mold.

Diorama
A three-dimentional landscape or scene accompanying a figure or statue, usually as part of the base.

Epoxy
A two-part bonding agent

Garage Kit
Amateur or semi-professional model kits, usually created in someone's spare time.

Golden Age
1938-1955

Injection Molding
A manufacturing process for forming objects, as of plastic or metal, by heating the molding material to a fluid state and injecting it into a two-part mold.

Justice League / Justice League Unlimited (Animated Series)
Animated television series on Cartoon Network that is based on the Justice League and associated comic book characters published by DC Comics. Justice League aired from November 17, 2001 through February 7, 2004. After its second season, it became Justice League Unlimited, and ran an additional three seasons airing from July 31, 2004 through May 13, 2006.

Maquette
A reference model for animators.

Modern Age
1985 - present

Mold
A form in which an object is cast or shaped.

Pad Printing
Decorative designs, graphics or logos are printed directly onto a product using a silicone rubber pad which is similar to a rubber stamp, but can transfer multiple colors and transfer to relatively uneven surfaces with great detail.

Platinum Age
1837 - 1937

PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride)
One of the two most common plastics used in the manufacturing of toys and action figures. PVC is a thermoplastic, which means it softens as it is warmed and hardens as it cools.

Redeco
More involved than a simple repaint, something other than the paint scheme has been adjusted.

Repaint
A figure that has been painted in new colors, whether as a production change or to create a new figure.

Resin
A two-part polyester or polyurethane mixture which hardens in a short time.

Rotocast
Liquid material is poured into a mold that is rotated on two axes. The liquid coats the interior walls and solidifies as it cools, creating strong yet thin hollow shapes with smooth interiors.

Scale
Scales are most often calculated using a six-foot tall adult as follows: 1:1 = 72", 1:2 = 36", 1:4 = 18", 1:6 = 12", 1:8 = 9", 1:12 = 6". For example, a standard Barbie Doll measuring 11.5" is modeled in 1:6 scale. Therefore, in real life, she would be 5'9" tall.

Silver Age
1956 - 1974

Spray Masking
Paint that is applied through an automated process by being sprayed on specific areas of a toy where pre-formed "masks" cover portions that are not to be painted with that color.

Tampo Printing
See "Pad Printing" above

Tooling (Re-Tooling)
The use of various sculpting and modeling tools in order to prepare a surface for the next step of a process. i.e. shaping, carving, smoothing, sanding, puttying, etc.