Add me to the ranks that are battling the opposing forces of Space Constraints and FOMO/LateTax.

• I've got collections I've never displayed, stored away MISB in the hopes of one day displaying them, or at worst, reselling them for more than they cost to acquire. Example: NECA TMNT
  
• I've got collections I used to have displayed, now stored away in the hopes of one day displaying them again. Example: G.I. Joe modern era
• I've sold off collections I used to have displayed, to make room. Example: CHUG Transformers
• I've heavily reduced/gutted collections down to a few figures I really want, rather than going the completionist route. Examples: Masterpiece Transformers, Legends Transformers

The only remaining items I anticipate adding to the collection are a handful of 3P TFs, continuing G.I. Joe Classified line which I'm likely over-collecting but enjoying, one or two 1:12 movie figures from SHF or MaFex, and the upcoming Jada Street Fighter line.

 

In about a week's time, when BBTS delivers She-Hulk and Kate Bishop, I'm more or less prepared to call my Marvel collection done. There's an odd update (Marvels Captain Marvel) or missing member (Shang-Chi) I may circle back to, but I have all the characters I like the most (and don't have the space or the budget to go in on future X-Men).

 

Cosign. My Thundercats, S7 turtles, and SW stuff fall in the “never been displayed camp” and I’ve sold off tons of action figures and TF while focusing things down. I’ve thought about rotating things out but if I’m honest with myself it won’t happen. Just cleared out a bunch of Mezco that I hadn’t opened for similar reasons.

without a defined end, at some point we’ll all end up with too much stuff, so we either constantly swap things out or set some boundary. I think I’m just coming to terms with the fact I will need to set a boundary 

 

At this point I've reached the point where I have to move on from stuff I don't have room for and just don't have the energy to devote to anymore. Most Figuarts Kamen Rider/toku stuff, Ultra-Acts/SHF Ultraman, various Chogokin toys, and most of my Robot Spirits (I think I'd like to stick with at least the original Gundam suits and stuff from Unicorn), I've had for many years now and had plenty of opportunity to enjoy them, but it's time to move on from them. Selling will be a bitch (I have so many Rider Figuarts), but it needs to be done. My primary interests (comic Marvel Legends, Classified, Transformers Generations & 3P Legends-type stuff) have just put some stuff on the chopping block.

There may be harder decisions I'll have to contemplate in the not-too-distant future regarding SIC Rider stuff (I've loved these far more than the SHFs) and MonsterArts (I grew up with Godzilla as much as Transformers, Marvel comics, or GI Joe). I'm not sure what to do with MCU figures, which include SHFs, a few Figmas, and a bunch of MLs.

I've even had the thought of completely pairing down my Transformer collection down to Generations, 3P Legends, minicons, and a few other exceptions (Diaclone/pre-TF, G2); I have literally thousands of figures, and time and energy mean I only get to clean my shelves only so often. That said, it's also a daunting idea to try and sell that many, even slowly. Hell, it's daunting to think of even trying to catalogue everything. I move away from those thoughts for various reasons (I still have a passion for Transformers in general, it'd feel shitty to move on from MPs when we're so close to a full cartoon cast if you count 3Ps, there are still handfuls of older toys I'd like to scoop up).

There are other frustrations and things to contemplate (being priced out of a house) that have an influence on all this (it'd be easier to want to hang on to certain stuff if I knew for certain a house with a certain amount of space were in the offing in the near future), but as things stand right now, that's where I am.

Thankfully I'm not (yet) in a position to feel forced to skip certain things I'd normally buy that I'm actively collecting, but I am moving towards trying to buy more things on discount/sales, because the amount of stuff to preorder at increased prices, plus the onslaught of preorders that come in well ahead of time, makes me feel like yeah it's time to spend more efficiently and worry less about ensuring I get something right away. IF retail stuff starts selling out quicker though, that will be a daunting complication to factor in.

 

I’m rapidly approaching complete. As I’ve grown older, my aesthetic has skewed more minimal in my home, and I’ve focused my collecting down to having one really solid representation of characters important to me, or designs that speak really strongly to my personal aesthetics.

The ever-declining cost to quality ratio of regular retail releases and astronomical pricing of the truly top-shelf stuff has managed to splash cold water on a lot of my enthusiasm for day-to-day impulse purchases, but I’m not viewing that as a negative.

Blitzway’s Voltron was the last big linchpin this year, and with the exception of a few preordered odds and ends (a couple forthcoming Beasts of the Mesozoic, Sentinel’s Motored Cyborg Runner, ThreeZero’s VF-1J if that ever happens), I’m happy with the quantity and quality of the stuff floating around here.

Honestly, the next big step will be in the opposite direction - purging the stuff I don’t often display and freeing up a hair more closet space. It’s liberating to be in a headspace where I want less, not more.

 

I'm definitely running out of space atm. Will probably be moving next year and hopefully will have a bit more room to display things. I do have some space concerns, but at the same time the fomo kicks in with certain things. I'm always thinking "this is a good place to stop", but a shiny new thing is always around the corner.

Here's the order of priority in my active collecting:
Marvel Legends: I mainly collect Comic X-Men related figures and Spider-Man variations, but I've been dipping into some MCU stuff. I've also been getting some figures to possibly do a MvC shelf at some point. Don't see my self stopping any time soon with Lagends, but hopefully no more rabbit holes lol

Lego: Star Wars, Super heroes and Speed Champions are the lines I usually get, but I do get other things from time to time. Lately there hasn't been a whole lot that has gotten my attention, but if it does I'll get it. Would definitely benefit by having more room to display my sets.

Transformers: For years I haven't collected anything Hasbro has done for the brand. I know I'm in the minority but I haven't loved anything since the Generations RTS days way back then. I mainly collect 3rd party legends. I absolutely love the scale and aesthetic. It's what I dreamed of as a kid! I love Iron Factory, but their pivot towards the samurai stuff doesn't quite appeal to me. I also do Magic Square and New Age, but Magic Square has been leading for me for most of the releases.

Macross: I dabble in Macross, cause it's expensive and not so easy to get (although it's getting better distribution now). I stick to skull leader stuff to keep it focus.

S.H. Figuarts: I promised myself I would only do Gokus's....and then I got a Vegeta... and then I said I will only do Goku's & Vegeta's.... and then that Trunks got announced... You can see where I'm going with this...

TMNT: OK I got the 4 Turtles from the 2012 show, OG cartoon, and first movie. "I'm good with that" I said... Then those Mecha turtles and 5k samurai turtles got announced. Still not sure if I'll bite on any of those... but I'm close to it...

Power Rangers LC: I mainly do the MMPR team and some comic stuff. Lately there hasn't been anything I've wanted. Looking for that ZAP Megazord to go in deep discount.

G.I. Joe Classified: Only getting the Ninja stuff lol

D.C. Multiverse: I get Bat Family related stuff and some other randos. Still waiting for a decent Nightwing to be released.

Potential future collection:

Street Fighter: With the Jada Toys line around the corner and me wanting to build and MvC shelf, it'll be a no-brainer. This is one of my most anticipated lines and can't wait for Pre-Orders to go up. Will probably get Jada's Megaman to fill out the the Capcom side of the roster.

 

All I collect these days is LEGO and truthfully it’s pretty great. The community is awesome and there is so much you can do with it. Lots of variety. One of the few toys where you can still get huge vehicles and play sets. Also retains its value for the most part and is easy to sell if you change your mind later on down the line.

I did pick up the Retro Darth Vader this year and the Dark Times Vader as well. Both excellent toys.

 

Is it just me, or people is dumping / selling / getting rid of the MCU figures more frequently as of lately? I know I am. Just lost interest in the otherwise great set of movies. More interested on immortalizing my beloved Marvel characters in their comic appearance rather than their MCU interpretation saved some cases like Black Widow or Dr. Strange since those portraits made the characters for me.

• For other franchises such as TF, I set the limit to the MP figures as mainline are not cutting it for me.
• Lightning Collection, limiting myself to MMPR or any other team I watched (only watch until SPD).
• DC, pretty much dead to me unless Mc Farlane releases anything great like Bane that goes with my 6" DC Collectible figures.
• Wrestling, I'm only doing ultimate of people I think have been relevant to the business.
• MOTU, only characters I had as a kid that were relevant during the 80's, nothing too deep.
• Maybe, and this is a BIG maybe, I get into the Super7 turtles and main roster. But still big maybe.

 

I started my collecting journey back in 2013 or 2014. Spent the past few years going hard on Hot Toys, Bandai Metal Builds, anything Iron Man/Marvel from Sentinel, and Play Arts Kai to name a few. I dropped PAK completely back in 2017 after discovering Hot Toys. Started collecting Sentinel stuff after stumbling on their Re:Edit Iron Man figures. Been collecting Metal Builds since 2015. Now, with space becoming an issue, and general feeling of shame for hoarding figures that I know, if I'm honest with myself, I'll never display, I've been on an aggressive campaign since Fall 2021 to downsize my collection to only the items I really love. Sold off most of my MCU HT Iron Man/War Machine figures and is replacing them for ThreeZero's DLX Iron Man/War Machine figures. Down to only one Spider-Man HT, one Captain America HT, one Thor HT, and one Batman HT figure. I stopped buying color variants/special editions of figures or figures that shares significant aspects like mold, accessories, etc...

I'm well on my way to cut down my collection to about one third of its original size at its peak in the Summer of 2021. The only collection I think I will still have a problem with is with the Metal Build line. Still have the collecting itch to get everything I can Metal Build-wise. Sticking to just IBO and Wing suits for the Metal Robot line. Sticking to only Endless Waltz Wing suits for the Metal Composite line.

 

I've been curating my collection for the past couple of years now. Putting limitations and such on the various lines I collect and particularly I stopped buying things just because they "looked cool" and completely knocked off the impulse buys either because I was jonesing for a figure or because it was "an amazing sale". I also limit myself to only one version of a character. It's amazing how much extra space you come up with suddenly when you sell off a bunch of figures that you don't really care about for the above reasons. Also, I stopped being a completionist as well and that's really been the biggest thing and I think a place where lots of adult collectors screw themselves. Lots of people I see with "collecting burnout" in the toy community get it because they can't get over the Pokemon mentality and "have to get everything". As for how I'm going with my current collection:

Marvel Legends: By far the biggest part of my collection with three full detolfs plus two shelves from another detolf dedicated to them. I pretty much only buy characters that I have enjoyed in one or more of their appearances... which, since I'm a huge aficionado of Marvel means that, yeah, I do buy lots of figures from this line. Where I've saved lots of money and space here is dropping the MCU stuff. Don't get me wrong as I do still enjoy the films, but I would rather have my favorite comics rendition of a character than a movie version and I no longer have the room to keep both a comic and a film collection. Overall, I've probably still got a ways to go when it comes to wants from this line, but it definitely feels closer to complete now than it did back when I started two decades ago even if I've replaced pretty much everything pre-2014 with new molds.

Transformers Generations: The second largest part of my collection, I used to be a hardcore completionist for Transformers, and particularly I wanted a complete lineup of the '84-'87 guys. When I actually sat down and thought about how I'd save room here... it really hit me how many characters from those years I simply did not give a damned about because they've never actually been real characters in any media. So after selling a bunch of guys I have zero interest in that were just part of a "lineup" I now focus on characters that I've enjoyed the depictions of in some form of media or that I had a figure of when I was younger that I really enjoyed. That said Legacy is putting the screws to my wallet thanks to them branching out into modern continuities as there are plenty of versions of characters I prefer over their G1 counterparts despite me growing up with the latter as a kid. I didn't own a lot of G1 toys when I was younger so that also means there aren't a lot of nostalgia-driven purchases when it comes to Transformers.

MOTU Masterverse: So, despite this just starting it's really growing fast and I can see this becoming the third largest part of my collection. I had a huge love for MOTU as a kid and pretty much had everything. So, yeah, I won't be a completionist, but I will be buying a lot here. Basically, I want one version of each character from the original line. I also get figures of characters from media that I enjoyed such as the characters from PoP or the animation-only characters that were really cool from the different versions of MOTU. MOTU has a special place in my heart so it's really hard to apply too many screws here since I kind of care about the vast majority of the characters in some way. I think the only show/line that is "right out" for me is New Adventures as I was never able to get into that. Some of the designs from NA are tempting though just on the cool factor, but I've got to draw a line somewhere with MOTU.

GI Joe Classified: This is a fast-growing part of my collection, but it does have a pretty clear end in sight. Especially if Hasbro continues its hardcore march toward ARAH. Pretty much limiting myself to characters that I've enjoyed in media and those whose figures had special meaning to me as a kid. Also, no troop building. The latter is a lifesaver when it comes to Cobra. I also won't get looks I think are stupid or outdated even if I like the character. I'll wait until they inevitably redo that character or I'll go without. Some of those ARAH looks were no longer in use by the military even at the time they were released.

Power Rangers Lightning Collection: I'd say this is close to 80% complete even though this is a relatively new line by comparison. The only full team of Rangers I wanted, MMPR, is pretty much complete sans my desire for a version of Matt as the new Green Ranger from Boom Comics. Ranger wise the only things I really need now are a few allies and Sixth Rangers. The villains I'm mostly focused on the first five years outside of Zeo with a handful of MotW and they're getting close to completion too. When this is done it won't take up more than two shelves.

Anime Imports (SH Figuarts/Figma): I have significantly cut back on these. In fact, this year I've bought zero Figmas and only perhaps five SHF figures. Largely this is due to my lack of interest in most modern anime (it's generally becoming pretty garbage or very same shit different anime), but also because the prices for imports have become astronomical lately and the quality hasn't seemed to increase with the cost. In fact, in the case of Figma, they seem to be losing ground based on recent reviews I've seen. So, my little anime collection has pretty much gone on the back burner for the most part. Though I know with Bandai showing off SHF figures for One Piece and announcing Bleach as a license for SHF... I'll have some figures to purchase over the next couple of years. Can't say no to those lines.

 

I am far beyond peak collection. I have 20 years worth of chug transformers to sort and optimize to one preferred representation of each character, then displayed across one wall in the toy room roy g biv style. Color grouping of transformers is a very eye pleasing display option.

I plan to construct a 1/18th fantasy diorama, with castle, dungeon, cave, and forest area from the over a thousand bucks retail worth of vitruvian hacks. Guest starring select 25th gi Joe's and hiya exquisite minis here and there.

For our media room, we plan to display various NECA movie figures. Classified GI Joe and Valaverse Action Force will likely invade to combat the various robocops and terminators. I don't think they stand a chance against my Ahnold collection...

My battlestation will host an aquarium on one side and my 52toys beastbox collection. Wife's will be same but mirrored.

The basement will have the bulk of collections stored in totes, workstations for resin crafting and models, such as Warhammer 40k and gunpla, and a vented airbrush paint station. Likely shipping stuff as well.

I'm still planning where to put a large 1/60th diorama, likely moon or Mars planetscape. And when the house is remodeled we may even an integrated model railroad.

 

After collecting for over 20 years, I'm at the point where I need to stop. I've got a very large basement, so storage isn't really an issue. It's just that (with a few exceptions) collecting has begun to feel like more of an expectation than a hobby. When people I know describe me to someone else, it's usually as "toy collector" and I'm not sure that I like that being my defining characteristic.

There's also the fact that I have put a ton of money into buying things that usually just end up in bins and don't get touched until months or even years later. Rediscovering some of these things is kind of cool, but what purpose is that expense really serving in the meantime?

I've put a ton of thought into my collecting this year and I've ultimately come to the conclusion that it's time for a pretty major purge. Joes, Star Wars, Transformers, Marvel, DC, Lego, and all the other various lines that I've collected througout the years are going to be finding their way out of our home. The extra income from the purge can be used to finally get started on some of those renovations we've been putting off. Or maybe I can start saving for that Jeep I've been wanting since childhood. Possibly just sit in savings and draw some minor interest. Invest. Whatever. I just don't like the feeling of regret I get when I see the bins stacked in the basement gathering dust.

 

I'm continuing my path of walking away from completionism and simply buying what looks cool. For Transformers, this means not buying the latest greatest Arcee or Ironhide. Investing a little more into Diclone Reboot again. Super Sentai mech collecting has slowed down as I've run out of room for new displays. Not getting a raise in a rapid-inflation economy has stung considerably as well. Having to put premium gas into my 370Z has bitten off a huge chunk of my budget this year.

 

I never wanted to be the collector whose stuff is all in boxes and stored away, but that’s where I am. Most everything was stowed when I began renovating my home, then work got crazy, got laid off, went back to school, changed careers, etc… I’m finally making progress on the home after being stalled out for nearly a year. On one hand I’m looking forward to setting up the toy room, and on the other that seems so very far away. I find myself wandering if I’ll have space for everything and what stuff would I give up. I’m not going to have boxes of toys stashed away. If it can’t fit on a shelf, then out the door it will go.

My collecting falls into 4 universes.

1/18th scale stuff
The Earth based stuff is mostly Marvel, DC, Gi Joe, some Fortnite and JoyToy stuff. While the other half is cosmic based. Star Wars, Warhammer 40k, Fortnite, JoyToy, with come Marvel and DC stuff. I find myself looking forward to the days when I can set up my displays of Ultramarines (Warhammer) fighting the Covenant (Halo) and other alien species. Or pairing the HasLab Sentinel with my Marvel Universe Sentinels to lay waste to the X-Men and Justice League. I finally received the last piece I needed to complete the GI General I bought as a kid back in ’89 or ’90 and can’t wait to display it with the rest of my Joe collection. Of course, I can’t have Joes without Cobra, especially as I’ve customized a dozen+ vehicles to flesh out the Cobra motor pool.

1/12th scale stuff
Pretty much Sci-Fi/Fantasy. Mostly Four Horsemen sculpted lines like MOTUC, Gothitropolis, 7th Kingdom, Mythic/Cosmic Legions. The final horseman of the apocalypse is finally up for pre-order and I’m excited to have those four on a shelf overlooking the planes as their armies clash with the Masters of the Universe. Going forward I’ll probably build out the ranks of the evil conquerors and not worry too much about expanding the ranks of the good guys.

Transformers
Predominately a 3rd Party CHUG and Iron Factory collection. My collecting here has really slowed down. I have representations for most things. I still need an Overlord and have been dragging my feet on buying Fans Hobby’s rendition of the character. I have the reissues of Generation Toy’s Defensor pre-ordered. Cang Toys should be wrapping up their Predaking, then I’ll probably jump on their Dinobots. What’s a TF display without at least 10 Dinobot teams? After that I’ll keep getting Iron Factory’s stuff and any Decepticons that I think look cool.

Mega Bloks
This might be one of the most fun displays with so many build kits still in their boxes. Krang and Shredder in the Technodrome vs Masterchief and Castle Grayskull. A covenant scarab stomping on Destiny’s guardians. Skeletor making trouble for everyone from his stronghold in Snake Mountain.

Fortunately my purchasing has slowed down, as I mostly focus on army building enemy factions. Going forward I’ll spend most of my time enjoying what I have as I open moving boxes and shipping boxes of toys new and old. My focus will eventually shift from collecting to building displays and dioramas to showcase everything.

 

I feel like everybody at some point has the "mattress full of Marvel Legends" collection, it's almost like a rite of passage. I remember when I had mine, that was a real low point.

 

about where i dreamed of being around 25 years ago, at least so far as MACROSS goes;

 

Well...

Transformers: At this point, with the exception of Optimus, Megatron, Bluestreak and BW Dinobot, I'm not buying new versions of characters I already have. No Legacy Menasor, for example. I won't be updating any of the combiners from Combiner Wars. It's Generations and Masterpiece.

GI Joe: Classified. No army-building. I'm done with 3.75-inch scale. Vehicles, only a few Classified-scale.

Star Wars: Only Legends. I got Mara Jade and Bastila Shan coming in. That's it right now.

Power rangers: I've got Kira from Dino Thunder coming in, and that's it. I'm done after that. I got MMPR and Dino Thunder and that's it. I'm passing on the ZAP Dragonzord, although I got the ZAP Megazord.

Frame Arms Girls and ATK: There's one Frame Arms I'm getting-Dark Magician Girl-but that's it for both those lines.

Sailor Moon and general Figuarts/Figma: Pretty much done, although on the extremely low chance they do any MOTD from Sailor Moon, there's certain ones I'd pick up.

MOTU: Haven't gotten any for a long time, pretty much done with them since Classics.

Super Seven: I've got one Silverhawk and one Thundercat character on preorder. That's it.

EDIT:

Marvel Legends: I sold off a LOT of the comic versions. I don't read comics, not even sure why I bought them. Focusing on MCU and only characters I don't own.

 

I never ventured outside the science fiction stuff, I read more than enough comics but I was never drawn to the super heroes figures stuff whatsoever. I would think that outside a few at the time (70s-80s), it's more the younger collectors that got into it more over the movies than the old comics and/or tv shows.

 

Trying to figure out how to slow down or where to direct my interests:

Transformers - as fewer and fewer G1 comes out, I'm trying to resist buying the figures that just look cool. ESPECIALLY at full price. But even sales I need to be careful on. I just have no where to display the stuff that doesn't fit, so why am I buying it? Like I now have a pretty much complete Shattered Glass collection, almost entirely bought on sale, and I'm not sure why, lol. I'm moving my focus over to G1 original figures instead.

Marvel Legends - Hasbro has done a phenomenal job of releasing great figures lately, but they've done SUCH a good job, that I don't need a lot more. I only ordered Wonderman from the recent Avengers wave, and the X-Men wave that went up today, I'm totally undecided on. Leaning towards skipping it and maybe grabbing it if it hits a sale. I still expect to be very active there, I'm grabbing the whole Retro wave minus Longshot (Who is coming in the Mojo box set I ordered on Cyber Monday) and Multiple Man. Absolutely in for Blob and Outback Rogue and tons of other stuff here and there, but just not buying EVERYTHING like I pretty much did from 2019-2022.

Gi Joe Classified - My toyline of the year for 2022. Absolutely knocked it out of the park. But it's so awesome that next year already looks a lot less exciting by comparison. I don't have any figure on pre-order, and will plan to scoop figures like Zarana and Dusty and Outback up in a sale later, like I already did with Stalker.

Star Wars - I'm close to being out of Star Wars collecting. I get sucked in by the occasional figure here and there, but mainly I have everyone I want already.

Masters of the Universe - haven't really started this collection and am trying very hard not to.

TMNT - I started a Neca collection this year and basically finished it. Outside of Animated Casey Jones and I guess April, I don't think I need another figure from them.

 

I started with the Toybiz Marvel Legends, at the time they were cheap enough for a casual fan to get sucked into.