Focus!

[The Doctor]

I'm curious as to how folk are thinking about deciding what Transformer toys they want to pick up in 2009. With several lines going at once (arse-end of 2007 movie, Revenge of Fallen Dave movie, Animated, Universe, Encore, OTFCC stuff) not to mention older lines via ebay/on-line stores/mates I would imagine everyone has to make purchasing decisions of sorts. Or maybe you want to grab it all!

Do you have a focus for your collection? Do you want to trim your existing collection down? Have you already got all the toys you want? Give us your reasons! Just for fun.

I've noticed that newer mould toys (no matter how good) just don't seem to hold my attention as much as some older stuff (unless based on an older character I like). It occured to me that it was due to the characters the toys represented and sometimes nostalgia. So I'll be passing on Animated and Revenge of Fallen Dave completely. The Animated show failed to hold my interest past the pilot and I'm not bothered about Dave. So I think I'll stick to some of the Encore re-issue toys and vintage items, specifically filling the gaps in Action Masters, Pretenders and Micromasters. I'd like to pick up some vintage Power/Head/Target Masters too, but that will depend on finances (currently small) and space (also very small at present). When I get a new place (hopefully sometime this year) I'll do another assessment of what I've got (99% of collection is in storage) by virtue of pulling things out of boxes and if I find myself thinking 'no attachment' then they will go. I'd like to focus the collection a bit more. It's tended to be a bit random. I'd like to re-shape it to figures from 1984-1995 and a handful from subsequent lines that I particulary enjoy. That way I hope to end up with a collecton I get a lot more fun and enjoyment out of and has a bit more of a point to it.

-Ralph

[Philip Ayres]

Me ? The tail end of Universe which I expect to be taking a break. Not gonna bother with animated or Movie.

Then I have three older collecting goals I'd like to achieve:

1) I want to build a Scramble City combiner using Baldigus' body with different versions of Brawl for limbs

2) I have a Hotspot. By the end of the year I'd like him to be Defensor

3) Brave Max

[grahamthomson]

I think Henkei Inferno, Cyclonus and the Mini-Autobot packs will be it for this year.

Aside from that I am going to spend 2009 going back through my collection thoroughly and making time to appreciate what I've got, either through the medium of dance or photos/reviews for Hubris/The Hub.

[Hero]

Masterpeice Grimlock if I can afford him. Feasibly, Revenge of the Fallen will be my main aim this year since there will be more to choose from than Universe. I'm really impressed with what little I have seen of the ROTF toys so far.

===KEN

[Shockprowl]

I'm all about Masterpiece and Universe Classics. I may dable in the movie stuff, but only a smidge. MP Thundercracker is top of the list, and I'll just see who comes out in Uni Classics.

Got me whatsanames crossed for future toys that they haven't made (yet). MPs, namely Shockwave and Soundwave. (I'm not even thinking 'bout the possibility of the 3 cone-heads. I'd so get divorced.) And Universe- JAAAAZZZZZ GODDAMIT!!!!!!

[KoshNaranek]

Well, for me the main issue is money, or the lack thereof. I'm saving for BotCon again this year, so I'll be limiting myself to Universe/Henkei. I'm still after some older stuff, but I'll wait until convention time to go looking for it. Oh, and MP Grimlock, of course.

- Tony

[Bogatan]

Saving for Botcon will be my priority for the first half of this year too. I will probably have to be a net exporter of Transformers too, any Universe or Animated I buy will have to be on sale.

I'll have to find money for MP Grimlock though.

Thankfully I havent seen any of the movie toys yet so they arent tempting me and I can put them off till later in the year, probably Christmas and the other line are winding down.

Andy

[Dark Stranger]

Masterpiece and Universe Classics for me, plus Animated. I'd like to fill in a few gaps too, such as G1 Inferno, Rodimus Prime, and perhaps a few missing pieces.

[Gav]

As i focus my collecting on a character's personality rather than the aesthetics (weird i know) - i'll probably completely skip the movie stuff - and keep on with Animated - which now makes up 50% of my meagre collection.

Oh and Henkei Cyclonus - Maaaaaybe Inferno 'cause i loves him.

[The Doctor]

Jan 8, 2009 10:53:58 GMT Gav said:

As i focus my collecting on a character's personality rather than the aesthetics (weird i know)

That's pretty much the way I've been going too! Character does a lot to sell me a toy. The Movie recolours I picked up were improved tremendously by having a long blurb about them on the back.

I had a massive purge when packing up the flat, and probably over a third of the collection was sold or given away. I felt better for it. I've actually found having a limited budget has helped, ironically. Toys that would have been impulse purchases that perhaps I would not have played with that much have been avoided and so I've had to focus a bit more on what I like about the toys in general. I'm really looking forward to picking up Encores of Optimus Prime, Jazz, Minibots, Omega Supreme, Metroplex, Diaclone Ironhide and Trailbreaker. That I have to wait longer before I can afford them is not in any way a hardship, for I will appreciate them more and will want them more! I know I'll enjoy them more when I get them. So I'll save money from those 'buying a TF because I can' purchases!

I do recommend folk go through their collection thoroughly at least a couple of times of year. It's good for appreciating what you have (if toys are forever in boxes, why have them?) and also for noticing what you don't want anymore, thus freeing up space for things you do like. Also, you can make a few bob on the side from flogging them or donate them to mates or charity.

-Ralph

[Gav]

I had a huge clearout while working at Budget Insurance - as my manager was a burgeoning TF Nut due to his son's fascination with the show. So I bunged him pretty much all my Armada junk - which at the time took up a fair chunk of my collection. I regret now that i gave away a load of RiD stuff too. I suppose it's not so bad - considering i have one shelf for my TFs - and that's filled to capacity.

[grahamthomson]

I must admit, I am the same about "character".

Pretty much nothing from Armada through Cybertron holds any interest for me whatsoever. Maybe the odd homage.

Same with the Movie as well. I only collected the toys of the film's characters, none of the extraneous stuff.

[Bogatan]

I feel the same I've got all Animated stuff because they are all show characters. My movie collection is entirely the movie cast minus the two decepticons that got no time, the tanks and the thing Prime gutted which I would have got if it was a little more in scale with either Prime. I've picked up less Universe than I expected because I dont feel they as good updates as the classic line was. Bumblebee despite looking completely different still felt like BB. Prowl doesnt feel like Prowl for some reason. Sunstreakers ok but is probably a better Sideswipe.

I skiped most of AEC because of a lack of character but thanks to Universe and Botcon I've discovered loads of great Cybertron toys. Springer is brilliant and now I really want Blades too. Pre Beast Tigertron is a mini masterpiece. Big Daddy, Grindcore/Rhinox, Huffer/Armourhide are all great toys to, but without a recognised character I wouldnt own them.

Andy

[kayevcee]

I've not bought much for myself lately, partly due to the dramatic rise in the cost of buying anything from any other country but mostly because every spare penny I've got seems to be getting ploughed into Toy-fu.

I've kept up with Animated so far though and I expect I'll continue to do so as the new waves come out. Sort of dropped off from Universe, not because I don't like them but because discounts and special offers and my urge to own them never seemed to line up. I think I'll be picking and choosing more than Animated though, since I had a shot of Ironhide at New Year and found him to be a bit of a mess. Cyclonus and Hound are definites. Cheetor and Dinobot less so.

With ROTF I'll have to wait and see. If I do make it to Botcon (the first 'con hotel has already sold out according to TFW2005, so I'd better make my mind up soon) I guess I'll go into purchase frenzy over there and probably end up getting the lot. We'll see.

-Nick

[Bogatan]

2nd hotel is up and I think they are trying to get more rooms in the original.

Andy

[legios]

I'd concur that it is well worth and annual, or thereabouts, review of the collection. It helps to clear out the things that you have bought for reasons that you can no longer articulate - I have found that about most of the Armada/Energon and Cybertron toys that I have bought, and few have survived recent reviews.

I shall likely have another trim through the collection in the next little while, trimming it down and eliminating a number of things that I look at and don't feel any connection to.

Character is important to me as well these days - it does go a long way to sell a toy to me. It doesn't have to be a new version of an existing character - although that can help, it is the reason that I own Animated Jazz. Sometimes a new toy has a character all its own - Exigeyser is not only one of the few Galaxy Force toys I am retaining but has also muscled his way into a 'fic I am working on for TMUK simply by virtue of his sculpt creating a distinct sense of a character. By contrast almost none of the movie toys really looked like anybody to me, and at the time they had no characterisation in any media so I have ended up buying very few.

In terms of my purchasing intentions for this year I find myself not anticipating that much in terms of acquisitions. There are one or two Encores I do fancy picking up - Ratchet, Trailbreaker - and I might spring for a Henkei/Universe Ratchet (although owning Ironhide has made me less impressed with the mold). Other than that there is one more Animated toy I am considering getting, and I will likely skip the Fallen Dave toys completely. I might go looking for a few vintage items this year though - I am considering picking up some of the molds that became Masterforce characters, and I think this is the year I make a concerted effort to get myself a fully intact Jetfire with a full FAST rig .

Hmm, thinking about it I suspect that this year is likely to see a further net shrinkage in the collection overall.

Karl

[grahamthomson]

Toywise, what are you currently focusing your interest on?

Me? Nothing.

[blueshift]

Nov 17, 2010 13:10:36 GMT @grahamthomson said:

Toywise, what are you currently focusing your interest on?

Me? Nothing.

At the moment my focus has shifted from Transformers to getting lots of Big Finish stuff!

[Gav]

I'm currently focusing on getting the last few Animated Toys, then it's retirement.

[Deleted]

Statues and busts of the chief G1 characters, principally.

I get to have a wall and a corner of our "Duck Room", which I'll be working on in the new year. I want it to be a nice visual of Tf-related stuff, so things like my Robot Heroes or G1 stuff probably won't be a feature.

Unfortunately, I seem to have limited myself to very little space because the bulk of the wall is eaten up by a couple of posters:



That leaves room for some kind of display in the corner, which will likely have my Masterpieces, Revoltech and Classics Starscream, and some busts that are on order.

I've asked the missus to see to it that someone gets me an Optimus and Megatron bust bank for Christmas or my birthday, and she's bought a Megatron bust for me. I have another Megatron bust (being reconfigured to Galvatron) with my cousin in New York, and that'll be heading over here at some point in 2011 or 2012.

All being well it will be a nice little wall of the house within a few months ... though grossly outweighed by the millions of ducks that will be making their home in that room.

[Hero]

Reveal The Shield and Generations.

[Bogatan]

Finishing Animated (Activator Dirge, Ironhide, Cheetor, Soundblaser/wave, Roadbuster, Wasp if it was made?, voyager Thundercracker - also if it was made, Blackout - on the way, Wingblade and the new bee if I can get them for a decent price.)

Generations is also becoming a must have. Cheers Hasbro UK for making me now have to import.

Andy

[Hero]

Yeah, Great going Hasbro. Wish something would have been announced earlier on that.

Generations in a way to me has become more special being a US thing, but its a shame that so many here will miss out on these fantastic character toys.

Animated Cheetor? Is that the Club toy? I think I remember Wasp was made or at least up for pre-order on BBTS.

I forgot to mention that Robot Heroes even doubles are a big focus on my colllection.

[The Doctor]

Over the next 3 paydays, I will be paying Nick for the full set of Botcon 2010 toys he kindly picked up for me so that will be my main focus. Otherwise, planning on scaling back on Transformers stuff in 2011. Realised recently that I'm not enjoying any of the current tie-in media* at all (comics have turned to shit, don't care about Prime or the next movie at all) and Movie toys don't interest me so taking a break other than the odd Generations-type toy that tickles my fancy. Otherwise, I risk burning out on the hobby, I think.

-Ralph

*Which is usually the main focus for me in this hobby. Good stories make me want to pick up the toys, etc.

[legios]

I'd say that I probably don't have much of a focus at the moment. There are one or two particular toys on the shelves that I might pick up in due course - Seaspray for example, and if I see something else that interests me I might pick it up, but I'm not sure that I am really going out of my way for anything at the moment.

Heck, I still have unopened toys sitting in the pile of things that I brought back from AA amongst other things so I am not in any hurry to add things to the pile.
(I could probably do with making an investment in tracking down the remaining US Titan reprints I still need instead).

Karl

[bertie]

No great focus on any toys for me. Purchases from the Generations/Henkei spinout lines look to be TF:TM and 1984 figures. Scourge is growing on me. Wheeljack looks pretty good. But whether I buy anything more is debatable.

I'm trying to clear out a load of my stuff actually.

Elliott.

[bertie]

Wreck-Gar looks good too.

[Philip Ayres]

Nov 17, 2010 19:27:57 GMT Hero said:

Animated Cheetor? Is that the Club toy? I think I remember Wasp was made or at least up for pre-order on BBTS.

Club. Andy K is putting in a bulk order.

Animated Waspinated: The Waspinator beast got a general release. The Waspinator repaint of Bumblebee never came out depsite being shown on some cardbacks.

[Andy Turnbull]

No real focus, just as random toys come out I like the look of I will spring for them.

Andy

[Benn]

Yeah, Reveal The Shield and anything that looks like it may be a CHUG for me. Got a couple of Animated to try and find... At the moment, after that, its looking strictly retro for me...