Displaying combiner toys - combined or separate?

How do you display your combiner group toys - in their combined form, or as separate bots?

After recently getting the Kreo combiners, I kinda want to have them as individual bots to go with the other Kreon Microchangers. But then, the
main feature of these toys are the combined modes, so I'm also thinking that I should have them displayed as their combiner form... which is having
me think that maybe I should get a second set to have both combiner and individual bots on display. (something I don't do with my collection - having duplicates)

So now that I'm leaning towards having both combiners and individual Kreons on display, it is making me want to do the same with the early
Hasbro Generation One combiners... the more iconic ones. Like the ones from the first 3 or 4 years, which wouldn't take much to collect, now that
four have been reissued recently (Devastator, Bruticus, Predaking, Pirranacon).

So, what do you think, or do with combiners?

- Have one set, as the combined mode
- Have one set, as the individual figures (either mode)
- Have two sets of all combiners you own
- Have two sets of just iconic combiners
- Have three sets to cover all 3 modes
- Something else

Combined...
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/blog/998.jpg

Individual bots...
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/blog/999.jpg

And their alt-modes...
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/blog/996.jpg

I usually display my complete gestalt teams combined for the simple reason that it saves more space. ;) So I voted accordingly. If I happen to have a spare of any figures, then I'll display the spare(s) individually. But that usually happens if I get a reissue or variant.

Exceptions are (not including members of incomplete gestalt teams):
+ G1 1985 Long Haul - my original was wrecked by another kid when I was little. I then super glued my original G1 Long Haul in Devastator-component mode, so he's basically mode-locked. I later got a 2nd G1 Long Haul, and that one's displayed in vehicle mode, while all my Encore Constructicons are individually displayed in robot mode.
+ Bristleback - got a free spare, so I'm keeping it in robot mode so I never have to transform my first one which is in Monstructor-component mode. Damn GPS. :rolleyes:
+ Slog - found one cheap at the last Parra Fair. Slog also suffers from GPS, so same deal as Bristleback.
+ Tackle - my only original G1 Multiforcer. The reissues are all displayed combined.
+ Energon Grimlock and Swoop - cos Mega Dinobot just looks that f'ugly... :rolleyes: :p
+ Sixliner - cos my 1991 Autobot shelf is pret-ty sparse, there's enough space to display them combined. My 1992 Autobot shelf is more crowded, so Sixtrain is displayed in combined mode.
+ Gusher and Pipeline. I don't have Tanker Truck Transport, and I already display Grit and Knockout in robot mode, so might as well display Gusher and Pipeline in combined vehicle mode.
+ God Ginrai. IMO Super Ginrai is too beautiful a toy to cover up with Godbomber, so I display them separately.

But those are exceptions... the majority of my gestalts & combiners are displayed combined. :)

The only combiner i have out at the moment, is the foc Bruticus. He is in combined mode.
Currently space is at a premium and i have a rotation system for display.
i i had the room and could afford it, i would be definately into this idea, devastator, defensor, menasor, predaking, bruticus, superion, Piranacon,......where to draw the line????
As i am still in the conceptual stage of my g1 collecting, I think i would only have the combiners combined, as they were designed for that purpose.

I'd go with having them stand with other Kreons in combined mode personally. They are a little bit more special that way when you compare them to other Kreons.

As for other bots, it depends on the group. If their colours all look similar and they match nicely, then the individuals standing next to each other make a good display. You can really see that they are a team. But then Combined modes are usually impressive.

If I had them on display, I'd alternate. But Kreons, definitely combined.

Combined mode for me :)

I've got 3 Combiners -- Magnaboss, Tripredacus and Magmatron -- and they're certainly suited to be displayed combined.

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Originally Posted by Tetsuwan Convoy

As for other bots, it depends on the group. If their colours all look similar and they match nicely, then the individuals standing next to each other make a good display. You can really see that they are a team. But then Combined modes are usually impressive.

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Heh, I'm the opposite in that regard -- I prefer to have more similar-coloured individuals combined and have the more differently-coloured set displayed individually. As you said, it makes it look more impressive in gestalt mode.

e.g. I have my 2003 Wal*Mart exclusive RiD Landfill displayed combined, but my 2001 RiD Build Team members are displayed individually.

Oh, another exception I have are my CR/RiD Combaticons - they're displayed individually too in vehicle mode. I display my G1 Combaticons individually in robot mode, Encore Combaticons combined as Bruticus, and CR/RiD Combaticons displayed individually in vehicle mode. That way I have at least 3 versions of each Combaticon mould displayed in their robot, vehicle and combined modes. ;) I like to try to display redecos of the same mould in alternate modes if space allows for it. :)

I have my in their combined form, due to space restrictions. But occasionally will pull them down into their individual robot modes.

Generally combined. But occasionally I'll break them up into the individual modes. Just to mix it up.

All mine are combined, only really have one set of each. Aside from FOC Bruticus, I will have 3 sets of him once i get my takara version off hursticon.

I too lean towards having 2 sets of kreo combiners, as i love their robot modes but i want them as combiners too

I have 2 sets of the iconic combiners - G1. Still working on getting a complete second set for Computron though. I like to display them in combined mode 1 set, then the other set in individual bot mode. I still haven't opened my Reissue Predaking for this, also haven't really opened 3 of 4 of my Kreon Combiners, but I have to rearrange my Kreon display to accommodate the combiners . Ive only taken out Bruticus Kreon and he's on gestalt mode on display.

G1 decepticon combiner shelf
http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/b...2/DSC02187.jpg

Gi autobot combiner shelf
http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/b...2/DSC02186.jpg

For G2 I keep them in individual bot modes. There's enough space for that anyways, for now.

Most recently completed a second set of Monstructor - got Bristleback cheap at the last Parra fair heheheh
http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/b...ps60ef4bf6.jpg


except for Liokaiser which I only have 1 set, I have these in bot individual mode, I didn't wanna fiddle with them as they're pretty expensive and some fig suffer from GPS so if I ever do come across an extra set I can afford then Ill put that in combined mode.
http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/b...2/DSC02188.jpg

my BW combiners are in their combined mode to save space as there's a lot of kibble going on with BW figs. But I keep Magmatron in separate beast modes rather than in combined beast mode.

http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/b...2/DSC02201.jpg

RiD combiners in individual bot mode
Energon/ROTF combiners ( same mold) - in combiner mode to save space, also the newer repaint in ROTF are fitted with the 3rd party upgrades so they're always going to be in combined mode instead.

Gestalt. It's what they do and saves on valuable shelf space.

you've got to have a least 2 complete sets of each combiner for combined and individual modes but 3 would be better.

Mine are generally combined, sometimes i split them up and pose them but not for long. The Exception tends to be things like optimus super modes (ie: savage claw mode or jetfire prime) or omega prime.

Ooh, that reminds me... I keep my Armada Super Mode Optimus Prime and Overload uncombined, but my Powerlinx Armada OP and Jetfire are combined. My ROTF Leader Class Optimus Prime and Jetfire and uncombined, but the Legends for both are combined (I think it's so cool that they can do that at that scale and price point!). My DOTM Ultimate Optimus Prime is combined with his trailer in wingaling mode (I used to display it in vehicle mode, but it took up too much space -- the Deluxe version w/ trailer is displayed in vehicle mode now). My Super Link Super Mode (gah) Grand Convoy is combined with his vehicle drones, but the smaller one is separate, but the TV Magazine exclusive version is combined with TV Mag Rodimus. Most of my Energon Powerlinx Autobots are combined, but a few aren't; often where I have the Hasbro and Takara versions I'll keep one combined and the other separate.

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Originally Posted by iamirondude

you've got to have a least 2 complete sets of each combiner for combined and individual modes but 3 would be better.

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I could easily collect all of my gestalt teams in triplicate...

...if I had money to burn. ;)

I can't afford to have two or three of each figure otherwise I would have combined, single bots and alt-modes all set up next to each other. The only exception to this is that I have FoC G2 Bruticus as well as the G1(ish) coloured ones. I've also got all the green and all the yellow G1 Constructicons, but my yellow ones don't combine.

Personally it's easy:

Low shelf space = combined
Lots of shelf space = individual

The problem these days is that you can by individual bots that are way larger than the G1 gestalts which makes them look less impressive on a shelf. Might have to make an exception to the rule for Predaking though - looks awesome! Also I like to group characters together, so I may have every version of Brawl displayed in a group etc which necessitates them being separate.

Right now the only combined gestalts I have on display are my MISB Piranacon and MISB FoC-G2 Bruticus. Everyone else is an individual.

I've got the KreO Combiner packs - haven't opened them yet but when I do after trying all modes will prob display them as individual bots - that way when I get them the likes of Blast Off can join their teammates.

One set's enough for me. What do i need 2-3 sets of the same thing for? If i want a bit of variation i split them up.I can use the money to buy different toys.

well my wife looks at me like i'm a nutcase for having that many but i always use to buy large lots on ebay and as always there would be a few in them packs and i've never gotten around to listing them up on ebay so they go up on display until i do. and the truth is i dont think i've ever paid more than $20 to complete a set of combiners.i,ve even gave fellow member grevious 2 complete sets(bruticus and defensor) and i've still got a load of them left.

I see that my initial/current display method has earnt zero votes so far - I've been displaying the combiner teams in their individual bot forms, as the combiner form was really just a gimmick originally... and it helps with the counting/numbers, as the individual bots were the default characters (in the cartoon and comics, they were rarely combined, spending more time as the individual bots).
But since combined modes have grown into an impressive, fan-favourite concept (that Hasbro loves to milk), it's now starting to appeal to me as something to display in addition to the individual characters we actually see more of in cartoon & comics (which my collection features).

The comments and voting has certainly given me a lot of insight into this though.

Well I suppose if one had the funds, the space and the rescources to track it all down the ultimate would be to do the following:


Using Combaticons as a guide:

*Combined form of Bruticus
*Combaticons in individual robot form
*Combaticons in alt-mode form
*MISB of each character
*Japanese packaging MISB of each character
*Combaticon Gift Set MISB
*Then repeat all of the above with their G2 colours

Then of course for the Seacons you would have to add in the 5 smaller ones Targetmaster modes on display. And with the Pretender Monsters have their shells as well. It would be massively expensive but damn it would look good!

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Originally Posted by Sinnertwin

One set's enough for me. What do i need 2-3 sets of the same thing for? If i want a bit of variation i split them up.I can use the money to buy different toys.

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^+1. :) Yup, agree with this. For this reason I generally don't buy the exact same toy for anything. There is also the other point that when you collect exact duplicates, you're leaving less in the "pool" for other collectors to have. What I sometimes do is collect variations -- having said that, I'm not a full on serious collector of variants by any means. Most of these variants are reissues.

With G1 -- I collected G1 in the 1980s and 90s. So my G1 collection is also my childhood collection, and having had these toys for so long, a lot of these toys are just getting worn. When a reissue comes out, it gives me two main opportunities:
1) A chance to replace old toys. When I get a reissue, my original G1 toy becomes 'retired' as a display piece, whereas the reissue becomes my new play piece! Some G1 toys have been "forced" into retirement because they've become so fragile, e.g. Slog and Bristleback. I really wish they would reissue the Monster Pretenders so I can play with Monstructor again!
2) A chance to collect all the little weapons and accessories that I've lost. I used to keep a LOT of my accessories in my old S.T.A.R.S. bases... I've since lost them, and the weapons (and tech specs!) they contained. :( :( Collecting weapons separately is too time consuming and would probably cost just as much as buying the reissue in the end.

But keep in mind that often years if not decades pass between when I buy one toy, and then a reissue of it. e.g. I collected G1 Devastator in 1985... at $9 each, it was relatively easy to collect the whole set in a few months (although my friends and I had collectively completed the set before I'd done so individually -- I remember we would come to school with our different Constructicons, and assemble Devastator at lunch time. ;)). Then 26 years later I got the Encore reissue.

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Originally Posted by BigTransformerTrev

Well I suppose if one had the funds, the space and the rescources to track it all down the ultimate would be to do the following:


Using Combaticons as a guide:

*Combined form of Bruticus
*Combaticons in individual robot form
*Combaticons in alt-mode form
*MISB(/MOSC) of each character
*Japanese packaging MISB of each character
*Combaticon Gift Set MISB
*Then repeat all of the above with their G2 colours

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Also...
* Combined form of Bruticus, metal variant
* Combaticons in individual robot form, metal variant
* Combaticons in alt mode form, metal variant
* Japanese packaging MISB separate boxes
* Japanese MISB gift set
^repeat for all other variations! ;)

Each display is different. Display space and cost usually influence personal preference too. Once combined, looking at an individual figure can be a pain (esp. a leg + the combined forms are always at the back of any shelf).

I would rather track down the hard to get stuff and expensive items on my wants list before looking for doubles. And if someone comes over and wants to see Bruticus i think it is more fun to build him right there then to squeeze him out from the back of a shelf.

I will say that after combining my Kreon Combaticons into Bruticus last night I like how he looks much better than as individual Cons - so I may have to change my mind on them and have the combiners together in the back row :D

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Originally Posted by BigTransformerTrev

I will say that after combining my Kreon Combaticons into Bruticus last night I like how he looks much better than as individual Cons - so I may have to change my mind on them and have the combiners together in the back row :D

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Yeah Kreons are different in that they are all the same height (so the teams only stand out by colour) and some really don't look much like their g1 versions. I dont think they stand out much on their own and really do look better combined.

All of mine are combined
Partly due to space restrictions but mainly due to the fact that IMO they were made to be combiners so that is the way they should be displayed.

If i want to fiddle then i can separate them and have a play but for display they will always be in combined mode

There is an appeal to having the gestalt members displayed separately -- and that is so that one can visually appreciate each individual member as a Transformer in their own right, as opposed to just being a body part. And I think this is one advantage Australian G1 collectors had during the 1980s-90s because the gift sets never came out here, we had no choice but to collect the gestalt members individually. And as kids lacking disposable incomes, we often collected them slowly. This allowed us to really appreciate each individual toy as a toy in its own right. e.g. my first gestalt TF was Long Haul (and Scavenger, which belonged to my brother at the time) - which we got in 1985. We played with these toys as individual Decepticons. Eventually we collected the whole set (at $9 a toy, it wasn't too difficult ;)), and finally constructed Devastator - but that took several months. So because of that, I've always appreciated each individual Constructicon as a Transformer toy in its own right, and not just a component of Devastator.

When you collect a gestalt all at once, it's harder to gain that same level of appreciation, unless you purposely set time aside to do so (e.g. forcing yourself to stagger the opening of each toy, or setting time to play with each gestalt member in isolation from the rest of the team). e.g. I purchased all the FoC Combaticons at once, and at first I played with them as a set -- Bruticus. But then after that, I played with each Combaticon in isolation away from each other so I could have a better appreciation for each individual toy, and not see them just as components of Bruticus.

When you look at each gestalt-former separately, you can see them as individual Transformers who happen to combine together to form a single robot, as opposed to seeing them as components of a single robot that happen to transform into separate robots. :o Have a look at each gestalt member and ask yourself... what do you know about that character as an individual?
e.g. Hook is arrogant, Swindle is conniving, Breakdown is paranoid, Groove is a pacifist, Blades is an adrenaline junkie, Silverbolt's bravery masks his own insecurities etc.

As a kid I used to display my gestalt teams individually... then I displayed them combined as I started running out of shelf space. The funny thing was that I hadn't completed all of my gestalt teams yet at that time, so I'd sometimes mix gestalt teams up and form "mixed up" ("scrambled!") gestalts just to save space! Here's a picture of me playing with one of my scrambled gestalts in 1988...
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y22...th_g1_1988.jpg
^a combination of Protecobots and Technobots forming... Compusor or Defensotron. ;) I had various other mixed up gestalt teams, but that's the only one that I actually have a picture of! :) So yeah... did that for a few years until after I finished collecting all my gestalt teams (thank Primus for the 1990/91 Classic reissues! :D)

Hey Goktimus, check this out:
http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Abomenaticus
Plenty of mix and match G1 action going on :)

I have mine combined - they look cooler and take up less space.

Plus after reading up on GPS I'm too terrified to touch Monstructor again.

Birdbrain, Wildfly, Icepick and Scowl are fine. It's just Bristleback and Slog that suffer from GPS. Bristleback is the worst, because so much of him is gold plastic, and in structural places too. Slog's not so bad because the gold plastic isn't as "load bearing" as Bristleback's. :rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by snaketales

I have mine combined - they look cooler and take up less space.

Plus after reading up on GPS I'm too terrified to touch Monstructor again.

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Agreed, which is why I was searching for the second set passively, coz I couldn't separate monstructor coz of that GPS issue, didn't wanna risk it, luckily I finally got the second set, even with GPS it's easily fixed. Also the fact that MOnstructor components are horrendously overpriced online. I'll track down an affordable Computron yet.

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Originally Posted by GoktimusPrime

Birdbrain, Wildfly, Icepick and Scowl are fine. It's just Bristleback and Slog that suffer from GPS. Bristleback is the worst, because so much of him is gold plastic, and in structural places too. Slog's not so bad because the gold plastic isn't as "load bearing" as Bristleback's. :rolleyes:

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True, Bristleback's legs just shouldn't have been gold plastic or at least they could've made it not so tight. It's what breaks it, the joints simply need a bit more firce just to move em.

So far with the Kreon combiner Ive still only opened Bruticus... it's in combined mode due to shelf issues (space) but yeah, I think Ill settle for now for it to be in Gestlat mode. The individual bots are nice to display too but I wont be getting an extra set - not for Kreons.

Given the funds I'd probably go for two sets of combiners, one to keep combined on display and the other to play around with/display individually.
The curator in me wants to say three sets, one to keep MISB, but that's just frivolous and takes them out of circulation for others to enjoy.
But first priority for me will be to continue to collect different characters first, the money is better spent that way in my opinion.

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Originally Posted by BigTransformerTrev

Well I suppose if one had the funds, the space and the rescources to track it all down the ultimate would be to do the following:


Using Combaticons as a guide:

*Combined form of Bruticus
*Combaticons in individual robot form
*Combaticons in alt-mode form
*MISB of each character
*Japanese packaging MISB of each character
*Combaticon Gift Set MISB
*Then repeat all of the above with their G2 colours

Then of course for the Seacons you would have to add in the 5 smaller ones Targetmaster modes on display. And with the Pretender Monsters have their shells as well. It would be massively expensive but damn it would look good!

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The you'd need more sets as the different limbs. Using combaticons:
1 set with Brawl/swindle as arms, vortex and blast off as legs. etc etc.

That way you'd probably own every combaticon in existence!

Depending how you classify combiners I have a few complete combiner sets.

Encore Devastator, Encore Predaking and a 1990's Classics Menasor from G1. Menasor is no shape to display. My Devastator and Predaking are both in combined mode.

From Masterforce I have Ginrai/God Bomber combined.

I have JRX and Optimus/Magnus from RID. JRX is combined Optimus and Magnus are in truck mode.

From Cybertron I have Optimus/Leo Convoy (Universe) and Megatron/Nemesis Breaker. All in uncombined robot modes.

And from the movies I have Buster Prime/Jetfire and G1 deco Devastator. Both in combined mode.

I'm thinking about picking up a Anime Devastator and Encore Bruticus.

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Originally Posted by DELTAprime

I'm thinking about picking up a Anime Devastator and Encore Bruticus.

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You can get Anime Devy $100 shipped here on Anime Export, last time I checked. :cool:(30% off- I think;))