The Energon Pub

I have run into the same problem I'm sure many collectors have... too many figures and too little space.

I had a display cabinet built and while I thought it looked really big, after putting in just a few lines I realised I would have to spill over or else end up looking like many collections I've seen: shelves crammed in a potpourri of colours only.

I've seen many of you display your figures on tables, in open shelves, on computer monitors etc. Couple questions:

1. What do you do to maintain them? Any special equipment? What schedule and how often? I'm assuming given the light weight of these figures, especially the deluxes, the good old feather dusting option just isn't an option.

2. What do you do to secure the figures in position? I know some of you even put them on computer monitors. Some figures already balance rather precariously. I suppose those non slip mats will work for figures with large bases, but what about those with a small base of support?

While having the air-con on and windows closed seems good, financially it's not an option for me.

Thanks!

I keep mine out in the open. I got a decent amount on a side table in the living room. Just got a small lamp by them that lights them up so you can see them and got a TF pic hanging on the wall behind them. It got pretty crowded at one point so I had to move some to a new area. I just keep my faves I like on this table. As for dusting, I use a swiffer and will sometimes damp paper towel them if I really want to get them clean. It's like me giving them a bath.

to keep them in place i use something called handy tac. i dont know if its called the same thing everywhere but it helps A LOT. and before i moved i just had a wall of shelves and kept them there. i have yet to un pack all of them. the only ones i have out are DOTM and i display them where ever i can.

Starscream's Girl wrote:As for dusting, I use a swiffer and will sometimes damp paper towel them if I really want to get them clean. It's like me giving them a bath.

Thanks! Getting them wet or even damp won't encourage any damage? The problem is that here we have really humid weather, so the challenge has been to keep them dry. I had to pay through the nose for a humidity controlled cabinet where only my most expensive and/ or favourite figures go. Do you find that making them damp encourages dust to adhere to them?

Doubledealer25 wrote:to keep them in place i use something called handy tac. i dont know if its called the same thing everywhere but it helps A LOT. and before i moved i just had a wall of shelves and kept them there. i have yet to un pack all of them. the only ones i have out are DOTM and i display them where ever i can.

Thanks Doubledealer25. Does the handy tac adhere to the plastic and in any way make them sticky when you want to rotate figures?

One of my huge issues is the dust. I'm not sure if we're more dusty than in the States or other places in the West, but dust plus humidity don't mix well at all.

Bonecrusher27 wrote:

Starscream's Girl wrote:As for dusting, I use a swiffer and will sometimes damp paper towel them if I really want to get them clean. It's like me giving them a bath.

Thanks! Getting them wet or even damp won't encourage any damage? The problem is that here we have really humid weather, so the challenge has been to keep them dry. I had to pay through the nose for a humidity controlled cabinet where only my most expensive and/ or favourite figures go. Do you find that making them damp encourages dust to adhere to them?

The paper towel is damp damp, no real water at all. I use it to get in those tiny spots a swiffer can't. And it's so damp, that no damage is done. I just do it to swipe the dust away. I even used a damped Q-tip on my PVC Starscream.

Bonecrusher27 wrote:

Doubledealer25 wrote:to keep them in place i use something called handy tac. i dont know if its called the same thing everywhere but it helps A LOT. and before i moved i just had a wall of shelves and kept them there. i have yet to un pack all of them. the only ones i have out are DOTM and i display them where ever i can.

Thanks Doubledealer25. Does the handy tac adhere to the plastic and in any way make them sticky when you want to rotate figures?

One of my huge issues is the dust. I'm not sure if we're more dusty than in the States or other places in the West, but dust plus humidity don't mix well at all.

the handy tac does not make the figure sticky or hinders the transformation and comes off easily. as for dust i recommend air in a can aka key board duster.

Doubledealer25 wrote:
the handy tac does not make the figure sticky or hinders the transformation and comes off easily. as for dust i recommend air in a can aka key board duster.

THIS! is a great idea!

Starscream's Girl wrote:

Bonecrusher27 wrote:

Starscream's Girl wrote:As for dusting, I use a swiffer and will sometimes damp paper towel them if I really want to get them clean. It's like me giving them a bath.

Thanks! Getting them wet or even damp won't encourage any damage? The problem is that here we have really humid weather, so the challenge has been to keep them dry. I had to pay through the nose for a humidity controlled cabinet where only my most expensive and/ or favourite figures go. Do you find that making them damp encourages dust to adhere to them?

The paper towel is damp damp, no real water at all. I use it to get in those tiny spots a swiffer can't. And it's so damp, that no damage is done. I just do it to swipe the dust away. I even used a damped Q-tip on my PVC Starscream.

i never thought to use a damp Q-tip! that is interesting ^_^

I know this doesn't directly answer your question, but I realized very early on I was going to have problems with both keeping figures clean and storing their packages. So here is how I have taken care of things:

1. I bought 4 Atlantic Allegra media storage cabinets for about $55-$60 each. They are typical MDF (fake wood) cabinets with glass doors, made to fit CDs and DVDs. They aren't airtight but they do a good job of keeping dust out, especially when you don't open them that often. They're perfect for Deluxes and Scouts but can fit anything from minicons to Human Alliance or even Ultras. Leaders would be tougher--maybe Optimus in truck mode, but I don't think Starscream or Jetfire would work. The model appears to be discontinued as I couldn't find it at the manufacturer's website anymore, but there may be similar models. You could also copy it--it should be possible between parts you can find at a local hardware store (shelving and such) and a glass shop (to make the glass for the doors).

http://www.fticomputer.com/scripts/product.asp?PRDCODE=1444-2213-5383&REFID=FR

2. I also bought a smaller but deeper cabinet I found at a local white elephant sale for $16. It also has a glass door. The shelves are not tall, but they are deep, allowing for leader class figures in vehicle mode and such.

3. I keep any packaging on cards, such as deluxe, scout, and PCC 2-packs, hanging from nails on the wall. That keeps them out of the way and makes the walls look neat, too. I am careful when I open packages and can simply put the figures back in their packaging if I want, making more space on my shelves.

4. I usually keep only a dozen or two figures out in the open, like on a coffee table or at work. I rotate the ones I keep out. Not on any particular schedule, but I'll leave them out for a few days or a couple weeks and then swap them with something else. So far I haven't had any stay out long enough to develop noticeable dust buildup.

5. I got two 4-foot bookcases from my old office for free, plus a few smaller ones for free from family or for $15 to $20 at Wal-mart and Ikea. I use those and the tops of my various cabinets to store packaging for things that don't come on cards, like Human alliance, Voyagers, Ultras, and Leaders. And once again, because I keep all the packaging, I can return any toys to their original package whenever I want.

6. I sell off ones that I don't think I'll miss after I've taken a few pictures. Sometimes after the magic of transforming a figure a few times, you realize it's not all you hoped for. So I don't have any problem letting figures go if something about them disappoints me or I find my interest wanes.