Hmmm, well coming from a different country where TFs are really pricy toys, I received my first official TF ( which I still have) Soundwave with Buzzsaw in 1986 from my aunt who was on holidays from ironically - Australia back to Phils. Ironic coz now I am living here and had to migrate the toy back here. Wasnt able to collect at all coz as Ive mentioned these toys are considered more of a "luxury"... food first is my parents motto. MOm always said " you can buy all these toys when you're already earning your own" which is what is happening now. So for the meantime I diverted to getting the Marvel TF comics instead as its cheaper and I still get my fill of TFs and also getting GiJOes - well cobras actually.

Also to bide my longing for real tfs I fostered my creative side by making my own figures from craft paper basing it from Catalogues I got from my classmates who didnt want them.... see pic below for sample of these craft paper TFs( i believe I posted this before somewhere in the forum) til G2 era


Started really collecting when G2 came out. I only started getting the figures I liked. I saved my allowances so I could purchase for myself a constructicon set (the orange one I have now) then a reissue God ginrai and so on and so forth until I got 123 figs ( G1 and G2), TFs are still very pricy there but I was only getting what I wanted anyway. I skipped BW, but watched the Series non judgementally, but didn't get any of the figures. Still went about buying ol comics of TFs as well.

Fast forward, migrated here 2005, Got most of the Cybertron small figures first then discovered Ebay ( a boon and a Bane) from 123 figures left back in Phils collection swelled in 2 years to 500+. Migrated the first 123 here last March making my collection finally one and all here. Currently have about 760+. Mostly collect G1s ( even though some of the figs are dreadfully rolling bricks - as most of us here would say I DONT CARE ), Some BW, some.... veeery few Armada, select Energon and of course Cyb and most of the current lines now.