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Post by spockoda on Jan 21, 2018 18:53:32 GMT -6
Well, I guess I can say that as far as collecting, it's back on for me. This won't really make a huge difference in what I'm doing now for the most part but I want to get some stands for the figures I do have and my collectibles room in shape to display as many of my figures as I can without looking too crowded.
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Post by 10incher on Jan 22, 2018 13:16:23 GMT -6
My collecting has dwindled over the last number of years, mostly due to the fact that any vintage stuff that I still want/need is so hard to find that it rarely shows up for sale. I do still pickup some newer figure lines like Marvel 3 3/4" and Walking Dead.
My focus over the last few years has shifted to my son and collecting Marvel 3 3/4" (mostly), Star Wars and Disney Infinity figures with him. The thing I like about it most is that (mainly for the Marvel stuff) we track down any of the superheroes he likes and don't really have to worry about completing a figure line or anything. Then rip them open when we get home and have massive battles.
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Post by spockoda on Jan 22, 2018 17:25:05 GMT -6
My collecting has dwindled over the last number of years, mostly due to the fact that any vintage stuff that I still want/need is so hard to find that it rarely shows up for sale. I do still pickup some newer figure lines like Marvel 3 3/4" and Walking Dead. My focus over the last few years has shifted to my son and collecting Marvel 3 3/4" (mostly), Star Wars and Disney Infinity figures with him. The thing I like about it most is that (mainly for the Marvel stuff) we track down any of the superheroes he likes and don't really have to worry about completing a figure line or anything. Then rip them open when we get home and have massive battles. You open the figures? Unheard of! Seriously, it's good to hear of figures actually getting opened and played with. I am going to focus on displaying my figures that are in my collection and keeping them dusted, which is a chore in itself, and try to add to my collection when I am able to. I purchased the German Mechanic from the 2011 "lost wave" of Indiana Jones figures from Hasbro after not having been able to look for one to buy for quite a while by cutting out other things I had been into but lost interest in. Now all I need is the Marion Ravenwood from the same series but she'll be another figure with a higher price tag.
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Post by Thor Laserpunch on Jan 22, 2018 22:06:53 GMT -6
Well, I guess I can say that as far as collecting, it's back on for me. This won't really make a huge difference in what I'm doing now for the most part but I want to get some stands for the figures I do have and my collectibles room in shape to display as many of my figures as I can without looking too crowded. Congratulations/my condolences. I don't have a huge amount but I might could hook you up with some stands. I have some acrylic bases, a few extra flight stands, and some kaiser doll stands.
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Post by spockoda on Jan 23, 2018 16:28:02 GMT -6
I need some stands for some figures that are 6" and for 3.75" figures, if you have any like that. I'll probably never completely stop as long as blood still flows through my veins although the out of control-ness of the 90's will never happen again. I have to be pretty choosy as to what I can collect.
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Post by Thor Laserpunch on Jan 23, 2018 17:05:26 GMT -6
I have a handful of acrylic stands you can just have that are good for 3.75/4/6/7" depending on the foot pegs. I kinda stopped using them around last year and only kept the ones I hadn't replaced yet. The Kaiser stands are great though. And you probably have more Mego stuff than I ever had and they are perfect for them. I use them for 6" and NECA scaled figures as well. Actually I got a figure that is like Mego but 9" and it suits him fine. I think the particular ones I ordered would not be usable under 6" though.
And then the flight stands I have are good for 3.75 up to about 6" but they are not particularly robust for what I'm using them for, and my plans for this year probably include purchasing heavier figures, not lighter ones. You can get figs almost horizontal like flying poses--for instance, I have had a 6" Rocketeer on one for probably a year and a half in an almost 90 degree angle and it held him fine and also had him at about a 45 with no drooping or anything. I also had Black Series Boba Fett on one but he is a bit heavier and I was mainly able to get him to stand only if I had straightened the arm rods out completely. I still have a diecast 6" scale Iron Man on one and he's a tough customer because he's so heavy but I can get good use out of these stands in a variety of poses. I'm just looking for a tougher quality with tighter joints. These are not that great for just straight standing poses though because the pieces separate if you angle the arms too much.
PM me your address if you want. I'll send ya a little bit of everything to help ya out.
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Post by spockoda on Feb 2, 2018 19:55:59 GMT -6
I started dusting my collection, which I don't think I've done since 2015 or 2016. I wear a surgical-type mask and still get some dust contamination when I breath in. Getting stands and rearranging figures will have to happen over time. I like The Earth stands for modern Star Wars-era 3.75" figures but they hit me with a major curve ball when they wanted $23 shipping and handling to send me $30 worth of stands. I'm looking into other options so I'll have to regroup as I'm not going to pay that amount for somebody to put some stands in a ziploc bag and throw them in a yellow mailer envelope. All my stuff looks so much better when dusted but keeping dust off of it is impossible when the figures are sitting out in the open.
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Post by rihia2k on Feb 2, 2018 22:10:36 GMT -6
. All my stuff looks so much better when dusted but keeping dust off of it is impossible when the figures are sitting out in the open. What's the main factor that's contributing to your dust build up, you reckon? Just curious. My current toy room has really surprised me in regards to how little dust builds up in there (I do have the windows sealed over and always keep the door shut). But I remember one place I rented in Brisbane, the environmental dust that built up comin in from outside was crazy. Like, wiping black grime from shelves and window sills every second day, crazy.
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Post by spockoda on Feb 3, 2018 23:16:55 GMT -6
My collectibles are in a bedroom in the house and I have central air. Maybe the dust is just constantly getting recycled through the system? We live about two blocks from a grain elevator, that could potentially add more dust to the equation(?). I have lived in the same town since 1995 and I just don't remember things getting this dusty so fast where I lived before but that was me still living at home with my folks and then briefly living in a small apartment and my collecting was in its infancy I would say at that point so having a bunch of items to dust wasn't so much of an issue.
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Post by spockoda on Feb 4, 2018 10:28:32 GMT -6
This was kind of a bummer, I picked this figure up to dust him and his right side came apart. I guess the rubber band snapped. I don't think replacing this guy would be cheap so since his primary function was to be looked at in my collection I may just glue him back together and be done with it. This recently happened to me with a 3.75" Ertl Star Trek Scotty and I had several of the 7" Sideshow Toy Universal Monsters figures break at different areas as well.
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Post by rihia2k on Feb 5, 2018 5:29:04 GMT -6
That grain elevator could be a contributor to dust, with trucks comin and goin also. I've read that a large percentage of household dust accumulates from particles entering from outside the home. I think the air redistribution thingies are only a problem if they're in poor condition. My ceiling crawlspace is heavily dusty but whatever filter my air unit uses works well to prevent anything comin down into the house. I think two other factors are keeping my dust down; a) it's Summer here, I'm surrounded by livestock, and have to keep EVERYTHING shut (bar one insect screen) or else the insane amount of flies would take over within minutes. b) since my cat passed away I've only just realised sofas don't need a compulsory extra layer of fur at all times.
Also, my condolences for the Gorn figure (at least it still looks awesome). Damn shame not all those old figures are as easily repaired as GI Joes.
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Post by Thor Laserpunch on Feb 18, 2018 12:59:31 GMT -6
This was kind of a bummer, I picked this figure up to dust him and his right side came apart. I guess the rubber band snapped. I don't think replacing this guy would be cheap so since his primary function was to be looked at in my collection I may just glue him back together and be done with it. This recently happened to me with a 3.75" Ertl Star Trek Scotty and I had several of the 7" Sideshow Toy Universal Monsters figures break at different areas as well. I thought you just had to rubber band the arm to the leg? And Scotty should be pretty easy too since all you really need is a GI Joe o-ring.
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Post by spockoda on Feb 18, 2018 14:41:37 GMT -6
This was kind of a bummer, I picked this figure up to dust him and his right side came apart. I guess the rubber band snapped. I don't think replacing this guy would be cheap so since his primary function was to be looked at in my collection I may just glue him back together and be done with it. This recently happened to me with a 3.75" Ertl Star Trek Scotty and I had several of the 7" Sideshow Toy Universal Monsters figures break at different areas as well. I thought you just had to rubber band the arm to the leg? And Scotty should be pretty easy too since all you really need is a GI Joe o-ring. I was able to replace the Ertl Scotty for a pretty good price and I got on the Mego Museum forum and a collector offered to re-string the Gorn for me. Another collector had sent a link that showed the re-stringing process but after the 15th step I started feeling like it may go over my head....
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Post by Thor Laserpunch on Feb 18, 2018 15:04:07 GMT -6
Guess I thought it was more simple than it really is. I did one one time but I don’t remember what was involved. I think I had the torso apart, not sure. I guess not every company that does the Mego style is necessarily the same though.
GI Joe size o-rings can probably be found at hydraulics shops for a few cents. Or you can get a bag of them for a few bucks. The one Joe style figure I hate in that respect is Zee Toys Metal Man though because there’s no easy way to get the torso apart since it has a rivet instead of a screw
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Post by rihia2k on Feb 19, 2018 2:56:46 GMT -6
There's something I really like about the term, "re-stringing a Gorn".
Just feels like classic old American colloquialism:
restring a Gorn riːˈstrɪŋ/ ə,eɪ/ ɡɔːn/
NORTH AMERICAN informal verb gerund or present participle: restringing a Gorn
eg. 1) Judy: Momma, where's Pa been all this time? Ma: Hush now, child. He's out re-stringing Gorns in the barn.
eg. 2) Bossman: Can I ask why you were late this morning? Trevor: I caught a bus, but the driver was re-stringing Gorns all the way from Albuquerque to Santa Fe.
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Post by shaxper on Feb 28, 2018 7:32:12 GMT -6
I wonder if a lot of folks who were once active parts of this community are feeling the same thing as the OP. I haven't been around here for years now, largely because my collecting urge has dwindled, and I'm amazed to see how much less traffic is happening here these days. Did we all grow up, or did we just finally obtain all the pieces we ever dreamed of owning?
For me, it's more of the latter. I don't own EVERYTHING I've ever wanted, but pretty close to it, and I hit a point where the hunt was no longer satisfying because the pieces I was coming home with weren't really adding to my happiness. I already had the truly "good stuff".
These days, I focus more on enjoying what I've got than the thrill of the hunt. I still buy from time to time, but I'm not actively searching in the way I once was. This community expanded my awareness back in the day and reconnected me with lost nostalgia from my youth I'd long forgotten about. I wish I had more lost nostalgia left to explore.
Anyway, I do miss this place, and while I'll probably forget to check back in to see if anyone replies to this, I just wanted to make sure I said it. Hope everyone else out there is similarly discovering as much joy in savoring what they have as they did in acquiring it.
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Post by figurecollector on Feb 28, 2018 16:03:13 GMT -6
I wonder if a lot of folks who were once active parts of this community are feeling the same thing as the OP. I haven't been around here for years now, largely because my collecting urge has dwindled, and I'm amazed to see how much less traffic is happening here these days. Did we all grow up, or did we just finally obtain all the pieces we ever dreamed of owning? For me, it's more of the latter. I don't own EVERYTHING I've ever wanted, but pretty close to it, and I hit a point where the hunt was no longer satisfying because the pieces I was coming home with weren't really adding to my happiness. I already had the truly "good stuff". These days, I focus more on enjoying what I've got than the thrill of the hunt. I still buy from time to time, but I'm not actively searching in the way I once was. This community expanded my awareness back in the day and reconnected me with lost nostalgia from my youth I'd long forgotten about. I wish I had more lost nostalgia left to explore. Anyway, I do miss this place, and while I'll probably forget to check back in to see if anyone replies to this, I just wanted to make sure I said it. Hope everyone else out there is similarly discovering as much joy in savoring what they have as they did in acquiring it. Wow, 5 1/2 years between posts! It has slowed considerably here and I am sure a lot of it has to do with people finding all they need or giving up finding it at a reasonable price. I have seen one piece on Ebay since October I could use.
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Post by spockoda on Feb 28, 2018 21:04:44 GMT -6
I feel like it is partially the economy and partially collecting action figures has, to a degree, gone the way of other hobbies such as sports cards. A glut of product and/or soaring prices plus when the speculators leave a hobby you know things are on a down turn.
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Post by Thor Laserpunch on Mar 5, 2018 18:18:54 GMT -6
spockoda I just read from somebody that found that chicken walker you mentioned on clearance at their local Walmart for like $30. Carpe diem!
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Post by spockoda on Mar 5, 2018 20:12:45 GMT -6
spockoda I just read from somebody that found that chicken walker you mentioned on clearance at their local Walmart for like $30. Carpe diem! Thanks, I bought one during the Christmas season when you could layaway items at Wal-Mart. Entertainment Earth recently added it to their website for the full $60 price.
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Post by 3 3/4"collector on Mar 16, 2018 23:06:28 GMT -6
i made the decision some time back in the 90s that i was only going to collect my namesake scale. there is just too much out there, its impossible. by making the decision to only do 3 3/4" and 1:18 scale i am somehow able to simply completely ignore everything else. no matter what it is if its not my scale then its just trash to me. well now the big companies are really trying to kill off this scale, and for that alone my collecting has massively dropped for the last several years as there isnt much to collect. now the last couple of years that slack is being picked up by kickstarter lines, but they are starting to burn me out. as they are pretty expensive and all at once or miss out all together. and then a very long wait, and more and more of them keep coming, and their going live dates keep clashing with each other. and on top of all of that i keep finding more and more new toy collectors that are just super protective massive fans of one kickstarter company or another, and they just go on the facebook pages and just something about the way they brag and spend ridiculous amounts on these figures rubs me the wrong way for some reason. and they get all defensive of their favorite line and seem to act as if they think these guys are their personal buddies. or in short i just dont like the environment of these kickstarters fan bases. so yeah the fans and the high prices of the kickstarters, combined with the basically no output of the big companies and sort of forcing me to slowly/quickly get out of collecting. sort of ironically coinciding with me getting my first home a couple years ago and finally have a real toy room to display my stuff better.
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lightman42
Forum Lurker
Mar 18, 2018 21:22:14 GMT -6
Posts: 4
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Post by lightman42 on Mar 18, 2018 23:01:23 GMT -6
I remember hitting my threshold as well. There's only so much money and space. I still collect, I'm just more selective. I also did a major purge at one point but there were so many regrets. I've re-bought so many of the same ones I already owned at one point. If you don't enjoy it, don't do it. But I've never stopped enjoying it. My wife and kid are super into it too so that doesn't make it any easier to quit!
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Post by spockoda on Mar 19, 2018 17:20:35 GMT -6
I remember hitting my threshold as well. There's only so much money and space. I still collect, I'm just more selective. I also did a major purge at one point but there were so many regrets. I've re-bought so many of the same ones I already owned at one point. If you don't enjoy it, don't do it. But I've never stopped enjoying it. My wife and kid are super into it too so that doesn't make it any easier to quit! I've re-bought more than one figure myself. I don't plan it that way it's just selling certain figures seems to make sense at the time....
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Post by rihia2k on Mar 20, 2018 6:16:39 GMT -6
I've re-bought more than one figure myself. I don't plan it that way it's just selling certain figures seems to make sense at the time.... I am more inclined to do that with video-games. Playstation2 in particular. I thought I'd ground a game raw, then that need to revisit creeps in.
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Post by Thor Laserpunch on Mar 20, 2018 14:36:28 GMT -6
I am more inclined to do that with video-games. Playstation2 in particular. I thought I'd ground a game raw, then that need to revisit creeps in. Same here. Also with women and t-shirts.
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Post by spockoda on Mar 20, 2018 18:55:18 GMT -6
I am more inclined to do that with video-games. Playstation2 in particular. I thought I'd ground a game raw, then that need to revisit creeps in. Same here. Also with women and t-shirts. Ah, t-shirts. I'm not a tattoo person when it comes to self expression, that what a t-shirt is for.
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Post by spockoda on Mar 20, 2018 18:59:10 GMT -6
I guess this thread should now be called "Life Collecting Again".
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Post by Thor Laserpunch on Apr 9, 2018 16:56:20 GMT -6
Same here. Also with women and t-shirts. Ah, t-shirts. I'm not a tattoo person when it comes to self expression, that what a t-shirt is for. I too have 70 t shirts with which to express my inner turmoil. 66 have Star Wars, 3 have Thundercats, and the last one is a plain black v neck I bought a day before my sister in law’s wedding. Tattoos: 0. Regrets: 0. Number of button-down shirts owned: 2.5.
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Post by spockoda on Apr 10, 2018 18:03:52 GMT -6
Ah, t-shirts. I'm not a tattoo person when it comes to self expression, that what a t-shirt is for. I too have 70 t shirts with which to express my inner turmoil. 66 have Star Wars, 3 have Thundercats, and the last one is a plain black v neck I bought a day before my sister in law’s wedding. Tattoos: 0. Regrets: 0. Number of button-down shirts owned: 2.5. 2.5 shirts? There must be a story there. I don't know how many tees I have but some of the topics of shirts are Star Wars, Star Trek, Indiana Jones, Tron, Universal Monsters, different music groups, etc.
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Post by Thor Laserpunch on Apr 10, 2018 18:52:22 GMT -6
We are living in the age of t-shirts where all t-shirts are possible. You can get a Street Hawk tee, Laserblast, Muppet Babies--ANY tee you can think of. My favorite is Deadpool and Cable riding on a cyborg velociraptor with laser eyes over an 80s neon grid background dealie.
I was watching The Goldbergs and the kid had on a Spaceballs tee (the show takes place in the 80s). It pissed me off because there has never been any official Spaceballs merchandise (not even Spaceballs: The Flamethrower). He bootlegged Spaceballs! Mel Brooks must be turning over in his grave! George Lucas too!
I have several shirts that are not wearable in public, but since one is a button-down, I should think it warrants at least a fractional count.
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