Same here on most counts, though I’m missing a couple large headmasters. I only have a handful of pretenders, though that includes a beautifully intact Skyhammer  .

 

Takara Transformers E-Hobby 67 Orion Pax, Targetmaster Barrelroller and Dion (2006)



All the best
Maz

 

So I'm at a bit of a crossroads. I've been re-organizing my entire collection into better shelves & displays. Long ago I had ambitions of putting together a complete US G1 collection. I've completed year 1, year 2 & I'm about 80% done with year 3 plus tons of other stuff mixed in. In getting everything back out of storage I'm realizing I don't really like or care about some of these figures/characters. Even big names like the Seekers (which I won't part with because they're integral characters) but others like Whirl or deluxe insecticons etc. I just don't feel the need to hang on to. But in getting rid of them, I'd break the set... As I'm writing this out I'm starting to answer my own question but how many of you guys are completionists vs. how many just get what you like? How do you decide? Nostalgia? Had it as a kid? Wanted it as a kid but never got it? Just a cool figure/character?
-G

 

I used to be a completionist...was stressful and wound up with a bunch of stuff I didn't like...returned to collecting recently and am only focusing on what I like. That being said, I still have everything from my childhood and all of the figures I wanted as a kid but never had.

 

100%. I have never had the sense of satisfaction that I expected to feel when a collection was finally completed. Honestly, I felt nothing, which was its own kind of disappointment.

But I think we all understand the dragon you’re chasing because we’re all chasing it to some degree.

If it no longer brings you joy and you let it go, chances are good that you won’t miss it or want it back someday.

 

Yeah, getting into a completionist mindset can be detrimental to your enjoyment.

I’m only a couple of figures away from completing my US G1 collection, but I never got into it in a completionist mindset. In the early-mid 2000s, I just realized I had enough G1 toys already that completing the line would be an attainable goal. Of course, since then I’ve gotten married and had kids, so priorities changed and it’s taken a little longer than I expected. But I’m almost there, and it’s been a blast. Plus, I’ve gotten to experience toys I never would have bothered with otherwise, like Action Masters and Mega Pretenders, both of which are now among my favorite parts of G1. But the main thing is it never felt like a chore, it was always FUN.

If you’re in a situation where you’re buying toys not because you WANT to but because you feel you HAVE to, then maybe it’s time to rethink. I have a large collection of Unicron Trilogy toys I couldn’t care less about, I only bought them because they’re what was out at the time and I felt like “I have to buy SOMETHING”  . From what you’ve said, it sounds like you might only be interested in G1 toon characters (hence the lack of interest in toys like Whirl and the Deluxe Insecticons), and that is PERFECTLY FINE. It’s not a competition, you don’t have to force yourself to complete the set just because others have. Smaller, focused collections are equally as impressive as a whole roomfull of TFs.

 

I’m just buying stuff I like. That happens to include most G1 figures, but I probably will never own any action masters or the like.

 

It's kind of amazing how much stress collecting toys can create. Making me realize I need to shift some priorities hahaha. Looking through the catalogs I'm realizing I have everything I had as a kid already too. I didn't have a lot. I even have all of what my cousin had that I'd play with just as much though.

I can see not getting that satisfaction. I don't know what I'd do if I was "done". I've gone completionist (or attempted to) with Animated & RID01 but eventually pared it down to figures I really liked. There was always that crazy Japanese variant that was just never going to be had. Something about G1 is different to me which is creating the dilemna. I think I enjoy the hunt and purchasing as much as building the collection. And the idea there is a finite number of figures to get. But, as you said, if I'm not getting joy out of them, it's time to let some figures go. As much as I dig vintage toys and G1, there are definitely some lame figures in the bunch. Props to you for finishing it out!

Funny you mention the room full of TF's. That's a big part of what brought this up. Even with a dedicated room and my new shelving etc. I'm going to be out of space. Not just TF's, I've been collecting toys well over 20 years. Sure I could cram stuff in there but things look so much better with room to breathe. The idea was to go quality over quantity but now that the rubber hits the road, it's harder to get rid of stuff than I thought, but I think it'll make for a better collection in the long run. Oh and I totally understand on buying Unicron Trilogy toys. They were so cool for the time! I remember seeing the test shots at Botcon in 2002. Then a week or so later they were at Target on the shelves!! Luckily I've already moved the majority of those out the door. Never really looked back either. It was fun hunting but some lame ones in that bunch for sure hahaha

But Action Masters are so... cool? Nah, I totally get you there. I only have a handful that I either ended up with or are favorite characters.

Thanks for being a sounding board everyone. I think it's time to start picking and choosing a bit better. Maybe work on upgrading to nicer pieces. Going through them I'm noticing some serious wear and tear...
-G

 

Combing just got a bit more interesting...

 

A few random G1 toys. A couple of oversized KOs and a few upgrades/customs...

 

Completionist all the way, baby!   I decided to chase a complete US G1 collection last year. I had maybe 30 or 40 G1 reissues I had accumulated over the years, and exactly one G1 that survived my childhood in good enough shape to display (Gnaw), but last year was when I got serious. It's been a blast, especially getting G1's I never had as a kid. I'm 58% complete now (yes, I'm keeping track on a spreadsheet). But it's still new to me, so I can understand how someone who's been at it for a few years can get tired of it, especially if you're not digging all the figures. I can honestly say I've enjoyed all the G1's I've got, even the little Micromasters.

Great way to put it. Collect TFs (of any era) because you want to, because you still have that passion. That goes for any hobby; if you're not having fun with it, drop it. You can always come back later. And you can like G1 figures and not feel like you have to get them all.

 

Found this guy in the wild a few weeks ago, still kicking myself for selling off my complete childhood one a few years back. Now to hunt down the rest of him...

 

I need that oversize Blitzwing in my life. Like, yesterday.

 

I'm pretty sure it's available in a few different colours on the Sirtoys website.

 

Defensor and Jetfire!



All the best
Maz

 

I still need to pick up a Defensor myself. I got, count it, FOUR Decepticon combiners and zero Autobot ones!

Speaking of which, I finally bought some reprolabels to stick on my Encore Combaticons.



They really do make a big difference. I also got the upgrade kit but after discovering that most of them would end up covering the rubsigns and I wasn't going to remove those and put them elsewhere just because of that, I ended up just going with the default decals.

Also I bought Hot House with the fire station and only discovered well after receiving it that the seller had included the wrong ramp on it. Now I'm wondering if I should tell the seller or not since I didn't even think it might've been the wrong ramp so it's kinda my own fault too.

Also that station is a massive pain in the ass because it's pretty much impossible to remove any ramp from it without shearing the little nubs off that actually hold them down. The slots are tight enough to hold without them but you can forget about any sort of secure connection to anything else with that ramp!

 

I've always had a soft spot for the G1 Firecons. The beast modes were great and the robot modes were unique among the Transformers with their Gears/Swerve type hoods.

Such a shame that ball joint technology hadn't been introduced back then just to give thrm some arm articulation.

Only in recent years have I discovered they were used as the models for drones in Masterforce which I like as I can repurpose the G2 versions as drones.

 

Takara Transformers E-hobby 92 Crosscut (2002)




All the best
Maz

 

So did I ever tell you about the time I caught one of those motocompos in the wild?