The Energon Pub

News Credits: 1082 · Sat Jul 03, 2010 8:25 pm

Alright, I admit it, space is not infinite and neither is money.

Knowing these two things, I have decided to cut back on my collecting. I am considering only Transformers toys, no more GI JOE, no more DCU, no more LEGO or Star Wars LEGO, no more Star Wars...

So where does one start to sell, put away, sort, and make choices for display, and what is worthy to be kept for my grandchildren's, grandchildren (hopefully there will be a better live action movie by then).

I think I have an answer and then I talk myself out of it. Consider that I am a more mature collector, I have a bit of EVERYTHING, and almost every recent Transformer made from RID to present.

I know I want to keep my G1 display (Masterforce, Headmasters, Zone, Victory, and of course, US G1).

I know I want to keep molds that represent newer versions of my old favorites.

I dig repaints and remolds though. Different versions of the same toy (if I really like it), or different iterations of favorite characters like Prowl, Hot Rod, Springer, and Optimus Prime.

I will also not part with my Black painted or Nemesis figure collection. Sure not all the black repaints are Nemesis, but yeah, they draw me in for some reason.

Any suggestions? I can't just keep buying them, and storing them as I have been doing. I have a huge storage space (no garage, and minimal basement, no attic space to speak of).

It's almost like to get a new Transformer I have to part with something I already have for it to work. Not really the way I want to do it, at least I don't think.

Similar problems? Feasible ideas for a solution? It's frustrating to feel this way.

News Credits: 1 · Sat Jul 03, 2010 8:36 pm

Well, if I wanted to start tossing things, I'd toss anything I don't really like that much.

You might want to go through your collection one day and try to make a "best of" display for yourself, based purely off your own desires and instincts. Things not on the shelf are things you might want to toss. Even if you may like it.

Things to keep would be any Botcon exclucives, if you ask me. Also Fansprojects stuff are things I'll bet on having a high value one day. Consider that Godzilla Grimlock KO people are after.

Sat Jul 03, 2010 9:50 pm

I have to agree w/Gauntlet101010; the third-party stuff is invariably the most difficult to part with, as it was that much more difficult getting my claws on it to begin with.

I've recently been having the same problem, Tigertracks24. I've been trying to come up with an "ABC's of Boxing one's past" and have yet to come up with anything conclusive. Merely the following points stand to reason:

1) Periodic reviews of "the box" lets me know which figures I've got doubles (or somehow triples) of, in which case, cha-ching, extra shelf-space. If I see something in the box and think to myself "what possessed me to get this" Then it's going away.

1b) Careful though, you might find yourself nostalgically entrenched, as I learned by 'accidentally' unearthing most of my Energon collection. Oh well.

2) As was suggested earlier, a 'best of' really does enhance my displays. I have the following themes represented on each shelf by the 'best of' from various lines:
-The Den Of EVIL: Unicron, Most Megatrons/Galvatrons since Beast Wars, the black/nemesis repaints.
-The Hall of Reichousness: If you guessed that this is where prime/primals are located, you're right.
-Gestaltorama: If it combines (and doesn't look like a dog's breakfast), then here it is G1,BW,RID,Energon,even animated ninja-suit prowl.
-Aquaticals: If it dives or swims, it's on here.
Any leftover space is left for the uber-nostalgic or the interesting but uncategorized. The rest go to the boxes pending next quarter's review.

Best of luck.
-Kronatron

News Credits: 1082 · Sat Jul 03, 2010 10:02 pm

Thanks for the replies so far folks.

I'm starting with the movie stuff that is purely movie stuff, and not a G1 homage. My Movie Sideswipe collection shall go, as shall any movie figures that are just hanging around.

Sun Jul 04, 2010 4:29 am

I think the Movie line is a good place to start pruning. They really don't have the "special" factor. You have to keep your MPs and Alternators/Binaltechs. G1 has to stay. Classics has to stay as well, generally speaking.....All lines have their merits.

As stated already, you just have to get rid of the things that you don't have an emotional connection to. Also, you have to keep figures that you like, no matter what line they are in. It is really just totally based on what you think is important and what you would regret getting rid of later on.

News Credits: 1082 · Sun Jul 04, 2010 4:46 am

I think Beast Wars may suffer the fate of shelf removal next... minus Tigerhawk.

News Credits: 20 · Sun Jul 04, 2010 5:00 am

tigertracks 24 wrote:I think Beast Wars may suffer the fate of shelf removal next... minus Tigerhawk.

Because Tigerhawk is a ridiculously pretty toy. Dude, I wish I had some advice. I'm kinda in the same boat myself. No more Star Wars though, I cut that out years ago since I wasn't really a huge fan. It's all gone now. I recently stopped buying Mini-Mates, Mighty Muggs and GI Joe Anniversary figures. My DCUC shelf is overflowing as is my Marvel Legends bookshelf. My Transformers cases have been full since before Botcon 2009. My comics are out of control. Oh and the MOTUC? Nowhere to put those either. So, unfortunately I can relate. Best of luck getting it all sorted.

News Credits: 1082 · Sun Jul 04, 2010 6:15 am

Yeah, I forgot MOTUC.

And I have the Justice League Universe figures too.

I have to trim, I have to delegate for resale, and storage, and find a more efficient method of collection.

I didn't know how good I had it when I was just looking at the guidebooks, and collection books for TFs and dreaming. :-?

Let me know if you have any epiphanies... :-(

News Credits: 129 · Sun Jul 04, 2010 9:43 am

TT24,

If anyone can relate it's me. I feel like I got a second chance in a way.

When we were robbed in 2007, they stole almost all of my collectible stuff with the exception of Transformers. I honestly just think their hands were too full to get that stuff too.

I had a complete Marvel Legends collection as of the end of 2007 that was taken. After our door had been destroyed and we had to move out entirely in 3 days time, I had one of those epiphanies you were talking about.

The addiction couldn't go on. The addiction was really just buying cool stuff for me. I saw it as owning a piece of the stories I enjoyed.

Quite frankly, when I looked at replacing the Marvel Legends stuff, I got a little scared. I was like, "How?" and worse..."Why?". I mean, I liked the characters and toys, but I always knew that if I had to choose those or TFs, TFs would win every time.

Then I started looking at other collectible stuff and how I felt about it. If I couldn't enjoy it or display it, those things became a burden. They had to go. It was a long slow purge to get that Star Wars stuff and other items out. It wasn't easy. The way I looked at it, was that if I was going to continue with Transformers, this was necessary.

But then the hard question came. What if I really felt the same way about Transformers toys? This was something significant in my life and removing it would be removing something I liked and a group of people I enjoyed associating with.

But I did it. I looked hard at my collection. What did I want to do with it? What toys did I enjoy compared to what stories I enjoyed? I started transforming toys I had not handled in a year or more. I did parwise comparisons; this or that on a shelf?

I made hard decisions again.

Beast Wars and Beast Machines, much as I loved the story, were simply not good Transforming toys to me. They were gone.

I like the live action films, but the expanding cast of G1 repaints etc meant nothing to me. I kept the best of the film cast and the rest were sold.

Universe 2003 was a similar circumstance. I kept much of it, but got rid of things that were just not necessary from a display point of view.

Even among lines that I had a particular attachment to, I began making choices...Keep the Japanese or US release version? Did this get an updated figure that surpasses it? Gone.

I still collect a lot. I have a huge, rightfully huge collection. But I have mastery over it and my purchases now. The hunt no longer interests me.

Some of my friends try and get my interest up in other lines or figures. Alternity, THS, WST, etc. I'm polite, but the answer is always "No." Sure, there are occasional exceptions, but I refuse to drown in purchases anymore or the burden of clearing the stuff out when interest wains.

I hope that helps. I know it's kind of a lot to look at and if you want to discuss it a bit, give me a call.

News Credits: 13 · Sun Jul 04, 2010 10:15 am

i know this feeling all too well. my collection is reletivily small compared to most here but its still a pretty huge lot and im running out of space to put it all. i may have to consider getting a gorrila rack to replace my bookshelf and open up some space.

couple ideas that might be useful. consider which parts of the TF multiverse really have meaning to you and only collect/display those that fit those parts.

since beast wars/beast machines takes place in the G1 universe, maybe you can intergrate them into your G1 display

hope that helps

News Credits: 1082 · Sun Jul 04, 2010 10:17 am

I'm mulling it over, and thanks CP for the reminder that some people are forced to make these changes, and some get to make the choices themselves as to how to go about the making the changes.

I'm thinking that I will do a huge toy room redo this summer, and storage organization and cleaning.

This should help me decide what I really like and as you said, what can go.

Thanks for the input, I hope to put some of these suggestions to work.

News Credits: 7 · Sun Jul 04, 2010 11:12 am

Ooh, you could sell any WST to me :grin:

-Stixx

News Credits: 20 · Sun Jul 04, 2010 3:18 pm

Everybody has some pretty good advice but my TF stuff will never go. Like TT24 I just need to take a step back and evaluate. Aaand get more display cases. I've got easily a hundred or more TFs just lounging around, waiting for a home behind glass doors.

News Credits: 33 · Sun Jul 04, 2010 8:03 pm

I took the following two steps myself.

- Pick your favorite series and a few items of enormous sentimental value.
- Sell the rest.

The result is that I've trimmed my collection down to G1 1984 through to 1986\87 (of which I don't have that much anymore either). There's a couple of Armada and R.I.D figures in there, but that's because I got them as presents and have some meaning.

For me, this also allows my collection to retain some feeling of completion to it - I can see an end to my collecting one day, so I can move on to other things - Carebears, Gamesworkshop and Winx Club (don't ask).

News Credits: 5 · Sun Jul 04, 2010 8:44 pm

A couple of years back I had the same problem....and even til today...I still ran into the same situation, lol. When that happened, I usually gave the toys away to either my son or my nephews. The first cut was all of my DC Direct action figures, then the GoBots, Voltrons, TF Comic, TF RID, TF Binal Tech, TF Animated, etc.

Now, I only collect mainly the G1 line and that include mostly the original, reissue, the masterpiece line, and all of the Ultra Magnus incarnation (G1/RID/Animated/etc).

News Credits: 9 · Mon Jul 05, 2010 5:58 am

This doesn't help at all but I would *hate* to be in your situation. I only collect Transformers and I'd *HATE* to have to part with any, even the ones I don't like much like Classics Jetfire.

I hope the day never comes when I need the money.

Mon Jul 05, 2010 9:28 am

Not that this helps you out now; but, in a way, trimming down starts before you build up. Pick certain lines of TFs that mean something to you to focus on. Don't just buy ever TF under the sun just because its a TF. This saves money, time, and space. It is just my opinion that a more focused collection is more impressive and valuable than a just buy everything because it has "Transformers" on the label collection.

For example, after seeing the original pictures I thought about picking up the War for Cybertron figures. When I actually saw them in person, I wasn't as impressed with them the way I thought I'd be. Then I coupled in the fact that I have no intention of playing the game. I decided that my money and shelf space could be best suited elsewhere.

To me focusing on a few specific lines instills more of that "hobby" feeling. Its more of a challenge to complete a specific line than it is to accrue a massive number of Transformers. Also, the sense of pride would be exponentially greater if you ever actually complete a whole line of figures.

As far as trimming now, well I guess I'd start with the lines of figures that don't mean much to you and just axe the entire line. EVERY line has some very good/sentimental figures in it. It will be easier to part with some of these figures if they are part of a bigger cut. For me, my movie line would get axed first. Granted my collection isn't very big yet and my movie line only consists of 6 figures. However, one of them is the "Concept Camaro" deluxe BB, probably the best figure that came out of that entire line. I'd definitely WANT to keep him if I had a choice. But he'd look out of place compared to the rest of the collection without any other movie figs in it. It would be an easier pill for me to swallow if I got rid of the entire line and BB was just a victim of circumstance. What are you going to do? Its not Bee's fault that his toy line is uninpired and full of not so great toys that have led to an over-saturated market of shelf-warmers. (swear to God, if I see another Tuner Mudflap I am going to puke)

I have recently decided to focus my collection as well: G1, Animated, and G1-inspired Classics/Universe/Henkei/Genrations. I'm done with Movie and spinoff lines that mean absolutely nothing to me. This will aid in the trimming down in the future. If I get to the point where I am out of space, I know that my collection doesn't come with a lot of fat to trim. So I either need to get rid of the whole thing or buy a bigger house.

News Credits: 1082 · Mon Jul 05, 2010 11:01 am

joesaysso wrote:

Well said, thanks for the advice. I am getting a hold of my collection more now, and I think that I will actually keep some figures for each line, if they fit in my little sub-collections.

Great suggestions.

Mon Jul 05, 2010 11:11 am

Counterpunch wrote:If I couldn't enjoy it or display it, those things became a burden.

Too true. Sometimes (OK, quite a bit) I remember my college days when I could fit all of my worldly possessions in a '91 Nissan Sentra, and I do miss it.

News Credits: 20 · Mon Jul 05, 2010 5:46 pm

So, I kinda took this as a kick in the pants to start organizing, sorting and selling off a bunch of stuff that has felt like a burden to me for a good while now. I'm just starting and it doesn't really solve my space issues but it will certainly help to clear my head and concentrate on what it is I'll have to do to make that work. If anyone's interested I have some of that stuff in my trade thread until I can start listing it all on ebay. Not really trying to pimp my sales here, it just felt like the most appropriate place to say such a thing.

News Credits: 60 · Mon Jul 05, 2010 5:56 pm

Keep G1 and the occasional FP. Will take a look at IT's "Arcee" then that's it.The movie stuff doesn't give justice to the figs with the exception Prime and Jetfire(just my opinion people....freedom is the right of all sentient beings)

Post G1, I have like Beastwars II default figures(no exclusives (6), Beastwars Neo(just 3),RID(4 figs),ML (5),SL (6),GF(6)............very tame no?

Heck despite my small collection, I've already have like so small a living space in my room.

News Credits: 1 · Mon Jul 05, 2010 11:26 pm

My focus is Neo G1 with a focus on guys who are in the animated movie. For a long, long time the Animated movie was my main exposure to TFs. That and the Return of OP.

I agree with the sentiment of being picky with TFs. However you do it: by focusing on "lines" or by achievable goals of one sort of another, it really helps. I'm hesitant to part with ANY of my things, so this is a must for me.

News Credits: 11 · Tue Jul 06, 2010 11:58 am

I think you need to get some of those pesky Sharkticons.

I hear they clutter up your collection like mad. :lol:

News Credits: 1 · Tue Jul 06, 2010 8:24 pm

Prime Riblet wrote:I think the Movie line is a good place to start pruning.

This thread has made me realize that I have too many transformers in storage. I mean it has always been in the back of my mind. As a collector it made me think about what transformer figures I really want.

I've started axing my movie figures after reading this thread. Cash off that will be invested in buying stuff I really want like an mp grimlock, mp ss,mp meg, buster prime, leader SS. and hopefully one day an mp rodimus etc. I'd rather have 5 really good display pieces which I love than 25 figures I just wanted to hoard at the time and not worth displaying for me.

I started collecting again with the movie line and I thought well, that's all there is to buy. Don't blame me now. I was a total noob. I discovered sieberton.com and ebay this yr. Now I know I have many, many choices.

There are some characters I truly love and I think I'll be giving them 1st priority when it comes to my purchases from now on.

Thanks for bringing this up and to everyone who responded. It has been very insightful. I hope digging through my collection and parting with the figures will not be as painful as I imagine.

News Credits: 1 · Tue Jul 06, 2010 11:07 pm

kirbenvost wrote:I think you need to get some of those pesky Sharkticons.

I hear they clutter up your collection like mad.

One day, man. One day.

Sharkticons cost too much. Even KOs cost way too much. If iGear ever releases that 3 pack, that's what I'll get. Hell, the Quints are 3rd party guys, so why not their minions, right? My collection is Neo-G1, but some G1 guys still work and Gnaw is one of them. He's never gonna be out of shark mode anyway.

Maybe I'm more "lucky" in that I can't devote too much $$$ to my collection. Because it'd exand like mad if I had absolute free reign. I want too much. Even so I find that I've now reached a limit on how much I can display. Im a saaaaaaaaaad panda.