Featured Collections - under 100 toys.

[griffin]

Quite a few members are new to collecting, have limited funds, or are just very selective in what they collect. Either way, the size of a collection should not be judged big or small, as that just intimidates some collectors from ever showing off what it is that makes them proud of their collection.

So this is the topic for those of you with 100 toys or less, who may feel that other members here wouldn't be interested in seeing your collection, or fearing that we would consider it to be insignificant. On the contrary, we are interested in seeing any collection, and reading about what has made you choose those certain toys you are proud to have as your own.

From my own discussions with members, I've found it more inspiring and interesting to hear a person's feelings on selected individual toys, because they've had the time to focus and bond with each toy, instead of acquiring hundreds of toys and being unable to appreciate every single one of them.

Don't be shy.
Post up a photo or two in this topic, and let us know what inspires you, and why you've got certain figures in your collection.

Other members can leave brief comments on what you post up, but the focus of this topic is to reassure new and selective collectors, that your interest in the toys is just as important and valued as anyone else's, no matter how many toys you own.

[5FDP]

From my POV, I actually find 'selective' collections more interesting to see and / or read about because there is an obvious thought process that goes behind each toy rather than mass-purchasing for the sake of building a collection overnight.

I really hope people use this thread Great idea Griffin.

[Towers_Spy]

So I guess I'll get things rolling.. I am in no way a completist, I only buy characters that I really like, or that I find awesome in a design perspective.

At the moment I have TF:A, Robot Heroes and Masterpiece. I still want to get more Animated toys because I love that series, and the toys are so fun to play with! I am searching for a Takara MP Prime, then that'll be that completed for my taste I want to start on Binaltech as well, as I find those alt mode designs as well as the bot forms absolutely sexy!

So thats me as a collector. Have some pics
Attachment 1666 Attachment 1667

Oh and this is probably my fave bit of merchandise
Attachment 1668

[1AZRAEL1]

Very cool there Towers_Spy, even got a couple of figures I want. Also really like the sword you got there

[5FDP]

Awesome collection Towers_Spy. I'm a big fan of RH although I don't have many myself.

Where did the bed sheet and pillow set come from? I've never seen that before.

[Towers_Spy]

Cheers guys, I'm rather fond of my modest collection

Haha yes, my lovely Narsil, and his buddy El Cid. One day when I get my own place they'll be mounted on my wall for sure

As for the bedsheets, I have no idea where they came from.. I got them as a gift for christmas I've a feeling it might've been Kmart or Target though.

[Autocon]

its not about how BIG your collection is
its about how BIG your passion is!!!!!



awsome tower spy!

[liegeprime]

BIg or small it doesnt matter its how much the collection is loved I always say! Loving those bedlinens!! Thanks for sharing!

[christalcase]

Pics first:
Attachment 1682 Attachment 1683 Attachment 1684 Attachment 1685


A little background, started collecting in late 2007 (guess it was the movie), but was interested in Transformers before (watched first season Beast Wars, RiD and a bit of Armada) before I kinda lost interest and put that at the back of my mind. Currently only have 25 toys: 1 Animated, 1 Masterpiece, 3 Universe 2.0/Henkei and 20 Movie toys.

WARNING: extremely long, excessive (and most likely boring) read/reflective piece ahead:

Reasons/My Opinions on ‘Selective’ Collecting:

I’m following this style of collecting because of a combination of both limited funds and me being selective of my toys. I’m still studying, working casually to support myself on things such as transport and (annoyingly expensive) textbooks, plus, if I blow all my savings/money on toys (and I do have enough funds to buy another couple of hundred toys), I don't think my parents would approve very much…

Now the process: my basic rule is that I would like my collection to consist of ‘perfect’ toys. Whenever I see a new toy, I look at it first and think, what is my first impression of it? For some odd reason, the legs/feet of the toys are the most important part for me, that they don't look awkward or out of proportion, after that it’s the arms and torso. The head doesn't matter too much as long as they’re not pure ugliness, I then look at everything else such as the overall bodyshape (I hate out-of-proportioned robots) and gimmicks (I prefer poseability over something that interferes and hinders the robot).

Once that is done, I then look at what it transforms into, usually this doesn't matter to me since I do like a variety of alternate modes, but in the instance where the alternate mode is severely disadvantaged because of the robot mode, I will be instantly put off (Classics 2pk Optimus Prime pops into my mind…). I prefer realistic alternate modes, with as less seams as possible, I tend to dislike shellformers, but if it’s not that bad, I’m ok (ROTF Brawn was too much for me).

I’d also prefer to have a look at video reviews of the toy first (I know, this is considered cheating by people, but hey, I don't have the luxury of buying everything, if I see a review, I count that as I have ‘owned’ it, and with sighting a toy, I get really excited, even if it is one I don't want, and I count that as having ‘experienced’ the toy), since that shows the transformation. I desire toys with innovative, elegant and (relatively) simple transformations, something that’s too complex just kills it for me. I admire the engineering as much as everything else; marvelling at how the designers are able to make something so elegant, to change from one form to another, integrating bits and pieces of the alternate mode, while revealing other robot-only parts.

I judge the toy as a toy, and not by its identity, so if it is a character I like, great, an extra incentive for me to get the toy, but if it’s a character I hate, so what? You have to admit he/she’s got an excellent toy, and it’ll be a waste not to get it, I can always grab it and give it a different name.

I tend to avoid retools and repaints, I find them too ‘repetitive’, if I get it, the transformation is (largely if not identically) the same, which stops me from being in awe at the ingenuity coz I have already done that! Unless there’s something special that really distinguishes it, I won’t be interested. TFCC’s Punch/Counterpunch is an example of a retool I really like, coz it appeals to me in that it uses the mold very cleverly, I might have gotten it (I have the mold already) had not the price been so high. Another instance I’ll get a repaint/retool is if I haven’t gotten the mold already and I really want it, this is the reason why I got 2007 Cliffjumper, coz I couldn't find Bumblebee (I’m more interested in the mold than the character).

I also do ‘intensive’ research over potential toys, to see if there is any critical flaws, common QC issues and generally what people think, if the consensus is that it’s a pretty bad toy, that’ll put me off, but if they praise it, it makes me want the toy even more (in a way, I like how Australia doesn't get toys as fast, coz I can see how people rate it globally). If there’s a retool or repaint coming out that looks more tempting, I’ll hold out on the original toy and wait for the later release instead, an example is Animated Samurai Prowl, I held out on the original toy as I thought the sidecar addition made Prowl cooler and ‘better value for money’.

And after all this, I’d finally get the toy and I do prefer getting one at a time, with a long period between each toy, coz I fiddle more with the one I have gotten, and find maybe some panel here improving the robot, or some hidden feature; I appreciate it more (after coming back from overseas and opening one per day over eight days, it seems that I have neglected them, specially compared to the amount of time I’ve spent on previous toys, I got bored of the new ones faster, coz there were others grabbing my attention).

So that’s the whole aim of my collection, as something that consists of the ‘crown jewels’ of Transformers, the best of the best, where each and every member is a toy that I love, that’s what makes me so proud and happy of my collection. This is also why I don't see the point of getting everything for the sake of completing a line, coz there’re bound to be a couple you don't like, and that ruins the whole feeling, I can't justify spending something that I don't like. If I am able I try to not buy the toy at RRP, I feel a twinge of guilt and jealousy when I see that if I had waited, I could have gotten it cheaper. I try to get a variety of figures in my collection, different lines, styles, alternate modes, but as you have seen, my movie toys far outnumber the other lines, but that’s a byproduct what was offered these few years. My recentness of deciding to collect transformers had led me to miss out some toys in the past that I would have loved to get, BT/ALT Tracks being the main one.

I prefer MISB, coz I like opening the box, freeing the toy for the first time, and I hate paying for PnH, I can't rationalize it, it’s like me paying more for the toy. As you can see, I do have quite a strict and harsh set of criteria deciding which toys to get, and that’s why my collection is so small (for now…), I want it to be ‘perfect’ in my eyes, I buy transformers for my own enjoyment, and I can never imagine myself selling any one of them, I have never regretted buying a transformer yet (except maybe HA Skids, but I’m starting to grow on him).

One last note, I support Hasbro! And with this, thus concludes my essay post.

*Sorry guys, I just had to get this out, it was bursting from me, I had to share it somehow, hope you guys don't think I’m weird.

[5FDP]

Nice collection christalcase. I really enjoyed reading what inspires you to collect certain pieces.

I completely understand your method of avoiding retools / repaints, I used to do the same until I realised I was close to finishing a series.