Collection End Game?

[Bo Shrek]

i guess i am the only person on this forum not having a batman or joker figure lol.

I don't do comic related characters in my collection and even I have Nicholson / Heath Joker and Batman Returns Batman!

 

[potato]

Nope. Ditto.

I finally bought a few DC Iron Studios pieces 1/10 to represent, or because I liked the piece (Aquaman and Mera) and/or they were on sale. I enjoy DC stuff but just never felt the pull to collect, except maybe the latest Keaton Batman - and that's only if I have points or a discount.

Thing is, at least for me, my HTs are loosely grouped by films/series. Get a Batman and then I'd feel like I needed Catwoman $$$$. Best not to open another Pringles can because then you don't stop eating just one chip.

i just dont like jokers color. purple, green just doesnt look good in the room. Jack's joker looks impressive

Keatonman looks good too he is the iconic batman but he would need to be displayed alone to look good, or with the batcar which is too big.

i am just not a fan of live action versions of comic characters i guess they made their colors more realistic and less vibrant which makes them stand out less, except ironman armors but i only have the removable armor mk2.

 

[Mondragon]

... purple, green just doesnt look good in the room.

That's like how to be a comic villain 101

 

[More Battle Damage]

I believe those colors were so popular due to their predictability in the 4 color printing process for the original comic books

 

[potato]

That's like how to be a comic villain 101

bad guys need to stand out using bad colors. good colors for the good guys.

 

[More Battle Damage]

I have been rearranging my basement figure storage during the holidays, and it has become painfully clear that I have no more storage space for new items. I have roughly 300 1/6 scale figures and cases and cases of smaller carded figures. It’s overwhelming, but I can’t get rid of any of them. 2025 must be the last year I buy any more high-end collectibles and diorama displays. I have about 20 figures on preorder, and the only exception I will make is the 66 Penguin, which I hope will go up for PO in January. I will still be appreciating all of my figures, as they remain on a rotating display throughout my house.

Transitioning from active to passive collector will probably be the hardest part of this experience, but this is not the first time I quit toy collecting (all my carded figures are from the mid 90’s-00’s and represent my first toy collection). Oscar Wilde once said “The only way to get rid of a temptation is to yield to it. Resist it, and your soul grows sick with longing for the things it has forbidden to itself, with desire for what its monstrous laws have made monstrous and unlawful.” I am hoping ignorance helps control temptation as well.

Some things I have observed about my collection:

• It is unfocused. Heavy emphasis on idiosyncratic characters and designs. I bought everything I liked at the time I saw it, which was probably a mistake. I am hoping to live with and continue to display all of my collection within the limited space of my home, but I hope the lack of focus allows versatility.
• My collection (to me) has an extraordinary amount of showstoppers: 1/6 Hulkbuster, 66 Batmobile, Delorian, Quarter Scale Endoskeleton on a custom travertine stone base and oversized cloche, and much more. I did not intend to do this, but I learned years ago that displaying figures lined up on a shelf is the least creative thing you could do with them.
• The thrill of finally getting a mind-blowingly cool figure in hand after a long wait will be missed most of all. That is a direct link to my childhood.
• I am an artist by trade, and for many years have tried to incorporate my collection into the artwork I have produced. It never worked, or I should say that in 15 years, it hasn’t worked yet. I settled by making dioramas in vitrines with elaborate sets and lighting, but until I build another building on my property, I cannot continue that work in the home I live now
• I imagine my collection is worth quite a bit of money, but right now, I care nothing about its value. It is only meaningful to me in the ways it gives me pleasure looking at it and creating displays. I remember meeting a well-known art collector in my city who lamented when his collection went up in value, because that raised his insurance premiums

So, yeah, I will probably be around less in 2025, but that is only to avoid the temptation of getting more stuff. The camaraderie on this board is unmatched; maybe I will just limit myself to the Off-Topic forums until I get my sea legs.

Happy 2025, everyone

 

[KitbashOfficer]

Just posting something made me think: Pragmatism. Starting or realizing that you need to be more straight-lined as a collector can help you keep things lean or escape down the road is the way to go. I forget who the collector is in here that has a "one figure only per character" rule but that is a good starting philosophy right there.

 

[shells075]

This is hopefully the year I really stream line my collection. Been cutting it down since about yr 2020 from a high of around 250 figs. I had a quick head count yesterday and Im down to 84. Its nice to see a lot more cleaner spaced out collection room now. It will be harder from here on in though because Im down to the figs I haved ummed and ahhed about getting rid of in the past.

 

[More Battle Damage]

This is hopefully the year I really stream line my collection. Been cutting it down since about yr 2020 from a high of around 250 figs. I had a quick head count yesterday and Im down to 84. Its nice to see a lot more cleaner spaced out collection room now. It will be harder from here on in though because Im down to the figs I haved ummed and ahhed about getting rid of in the past.

With 84 figs, maybe not all on display, I would say you are at the sweet spot. The goal is not to dwindle down to nothing, is it?

 

[HyperDrive]

I’m at 33 right now and I already think it’s a lot lol. Ideal goal would be to have 60 max

 

[shells075]

With 84 figs, maybe not all on display, I would say you are at the sweet spot. The goal is not to dwindle down to nothing, is it?

I am looking to get down to about 50 then see where I am. When I had well over 200 a lot of it was still all boxed up as I had no space to display it.

 

[xipotec]

I have posted this before. I have a max of 8 for detolfs.
That all.
No more.

So I think anything beyond 3 figure per cube looks terrible and loses all aesthetic value, (with the exception of my zombie horde shelf (10 figures) and my Gremlins shelf (8)

3x4x8=96 that's my theoretical max. Now I do have a few statues and larger pieces out side the detolf area, but with limited space for those larger items it becomes self limiting.

Also 1-2 of the detolf cubes are dedicated to a single large figure.

So yeah, in that area (16 foot wall) it maintains at that level , and still looks great.

Clutter sucks and I see so many OCD collectors who have crap crammed everywhere and it looks terrible.

 

[pixletwin]

179 in my collection. Very embarassing.

 

[bangkok_wolf]

It's always interesting reading thread like this, resonating with others' view on the hobby of choice, collecting experience and moving forward. Will find the time to read up all the replies.

If i recall correctly, it first hit me in 2014 (turning 30) that "hey, you are an adult now - need to start making rational financial decision", but nothing changed until the discussion of schooling for my son came up and I realization that the yearly tuition fee is almost a quarter of my annual income and will continue to be so for the next 20Y (that's how it is here - private school is the preferred route to go). He started school last week.

Fortunately, I have never been fully invested in any franchise/story (except Metal Gear) and I only collect figurines - so even when I'm buying what I like, it has never gotten out of hand. I have approximately 40ish 1/6 figures and 5 statues. I skipped HT-Batman (DKR), HT-Alien, HT-Iron Patriot, Verycool-Mai and will probably be skipping a lot more figures this year. Also selling off some of what I have (e.g. Worldbox-Kratos, TE-Vulture, Iconiq-Ryu, and will do so for Lim-Drake soon).

I don't really have an end-game. May be it'll happen the same way my gaming life "more or less" ended, without realizing, that one day was the last time I powered on my PlayStation.

 

[potato]

179 in my collection. Very embarassing.

what about those smaller action figures etc not in calculation?

shameful dispray indeed.

 

[pixletwin]

what about those smaller action figures etc not in calculation?

shameful dispray indeed.

Nope. Didn't even count the smaller scales. That would kill me.

 

[shells075]

I have posted this before. I have a max of 8 for detolfs.
That all.
No more.

So I think anything beyond 3 figure per cube looks terrible and loses all aesthetic value, (with the exception of my zombie horde shelf (10 figures) and my Gremlins shelf (8)

3x4x8=96 that's my theoretical max. Now I do have a few statues and larger pieces out side the detolf area, but with limited space for those larger items it becomes self limiting.

Also 1-2 of the detolf cubes are dedicated to a single large figure.

So yeah, in that area (16 foot wall) it maintains at that level , and still looks great.

Clutter sucks and I see so many OCD collectors who have crap crammed everywhere and it looks terrible.

Yeah I agree with that rationale. 1 fig on the shelf looks really clean, 2 looks ok, especially if they are a double act like the MIB figs, 3 is starting to push it. Yeah Gremlins or Zombie hoards you can definently get away with having loads of them on the same shelf.

 

[shells075]

179 in my collection. Very embarassing.

Your a disgrace.

 

[shells075]

It's always interesting reading thread like this, resonating with others' view on the hobby of choice, collecting experience and moving forward. Will find the time to read up all the replies.

If i recall correctly, it first hit me in 2014 (turning 30) that "hey, you are an adult now - need to start making rational financial decision", but nothing changed until the discussion of schooling for my son came up and I realization that the yearly tuition fee is almost a quarter of my annual income and will continue to be so for the next 20Y (that's how it is here - private school is the preferred route to go). He started school last week.

Fortunately, I have never been fully invested in any franchise/story (except Metal Gear) and I only collect figurines - so even when I'm buying what I like, it has never gotten out of hand. I have approximately 40ish 1/6 figures and 5 statues. I skipped HT-Batman (DKR), HT-Alien, HT-Iron Patriot, Verycool-Mai and will probably be skipping a lot more figures this year. Also selling off some of what I have (e.g. Worldbox-Kratos, TE-Vulture, Iconiq-Ryu, and will do so for Lim-Drake soon).

I don't really have an end-game. May be it'll happen the same way my gaming life "more or less" ended, without realizing, that one day was the last time I powered on my PlayStation.

Yeah I was big into video games right from the NES days until about five years ago. I would play video games for hours on end. Then I just stoped playing them period. It was not a conceous decion to stop playing video games. Maybe I just grew out of them or something like that?

 

[MeatHookGekko]

I've found a second wind.

Discount outlets and 1/12th have kind of given me a bit of a shot in the arm. I'm happy to still dig around the bargain areas, see what's out there, sometimes it's something pretty cool. For example, the Black Series Endor Rebel Commando was 7.99. That's a fun figure. Lots of accessories. I saw it on a shelf. No preordering, no waiting, no wait list, no payment plan, no jumping through hoops. It's not paying the 275-350 range for a higher end 1/6th figure now. Obviously that's not the common case and you have to be a little lucky, but there's a nice range of Star Wars Black Series, Marvel Legends and GI Joe Classified that can be had for good pricing ( Ebay, loose lots, discount retailers, small trades, etc) to keep things interesting.

I don't think I am "out" but my list of wants in 1/6th have dwindled dramatically. I only had really four "grails" left. I was fortunate to remove one and got an amazing deal on a Durasteel HT Mando from @fireball117 . I still have him, he's great, and I found a loose Grogu at a good price too later to add to him. He was my only real "full purchase" since I've been back in the hobby. Thank you @fireball117 , wherever you are right now out there brother. There are only a few thing left in 1/6th I'd want or heavily pursue now.

What I think is pushing me out of 1/6th is not just the growing price points, and also more of a shift to quasi statues instead of actual action figures ( that point is where McFarlane loses me sometimes, he make some interesting stuff, no doubt, but his stuff is really more like a quasi statue instead of an real full fleshed out "action figure" ) but it's the "crowd funding" strategy used now. Pay upfront and we'll get you the figure in 18 months. Maybe 2 years. If it's a small brand, now I see it as a 50/50 coin flip where they might just steal your money and run. With something like GI Joe Classified or mainline Transformers, for the most part, if I order it, it's going to be delivered in a week or so timeline wise. There's brick and mortar access. Clearance potential. Online "big box" retailers. Larger trade potential. Better chance at loose lots on Ebay potential. 3rd party support. Smaller footprint. Dramatically less in total cost. And without all the drama that 1/6th now self creates.

I know of three people, who talked to me in private, within the span of the last six months, who have left this forum completely. They pre-ordered a figure from a brand and have been waiting five plus years now. They are gone and will never ever come back. They don't believe they will get their figure at all and I don't blame them. I can't do it, I can't ride through what's left of this hobby like that. I also can't handle when others attempt to gaslight me after they've stolen my money and my stuff.

When I'm occasionally in a Target or a Ross, if I want something, if I see something I like that's there, I can buy it right then. Take it home. Open it up. Mess with it Have a few laughs. I don't have to jump through hoops like timed flash sales, or intentionally limited runs to drive 75 percent of the collectors crazy or just the non stop typical aggrieved "pained artist" lamentations from art house brands as if they are doing you a favor by taking your money and failing to deliver. Don't get me wrong, brick and mortar and mainline release access is not perfect, but there are just way more ways to minimize the carnage than current 1/6th SOP right now. But that's just my perspective.