Just curious as to how old you fellow collectors are. Some basic questions to get to know this community better.

1. when did u start collecting? For how long?
2. First 3rd toy that started off your collection?

I'll go first.
1. August 2016, less than half a year
2. Weijiang MPP10

 

Twenty six years old.

1. Started collecting in 2015 or late 2014 I think.
2. I think it was Xtransbots Ollie, even though that figure was junk and a bad one to start with.

 

Late 30s, child of the '80s. Watched and played with G1 as a kid, sold the toys in my teens. Only got back into it last year, a couple decades later, as a collector.

 

Early 40's, When transformers hit in the 80's, it was magical. Star Wars was fading a bit, GI joe was going strong, He man was the bomb. Of all the nostalgic lines, I think Transformers are doing the best job capitalizing on my weaknesses.

Been collecting hard for 3 years now. Starting to slow down, unless Takara or Fans Toys speeds up.

 

Collecting Toys since 1996
3rd Party since 2013 1st figure FP Code.

Edit 43

 

24

My interest in Transformers began with Beast Wars, was cemented with RID2001. I lost interest around Energon, but came back full force when TF07 came out.

My first ever 3rd figure was Microblaze's FOC Onslaught, which I purchased sometime around July 2015.

 

1. 1994 Machine Wars Starscream - first figure to REALLY get me into collecting. Had figures as a kid of course and bought various cool things as a teen as well.
2. Unicron.com's Beast Machines Kit.

 

I hit 30 this very year, well on my way to being an old fuck now. Slowly becoming a corpse like everyone else. haha

But lets see I've had the weirdest approach with collecting. I recall my very first tf being the european release of g1 optimus in I wanna say around 89-90 I got him so he must have been from left over stock here in aus. So I got "in" to transformers around the peak of the late g1 and g2 era stuff, had a lot of toys when I was young, way way more than any child should. Was spoiled absolutely rotten I was. So I quickly amassed a very large collection.

It eventually disappeared for many reasons, either stolen, given away, sold, destroyed. Whatever. Ironically the only toy I still have from back then is that very same original optimus somehow. Stopped collecting for a bit then Beast Wars happened and got way in to those, but again eventually lost all those figures for reasons.

Fast forward to like 2001, I'm in year 9 and thinking man I need a transformer in my depressing early teenage life, go n get RiD Fire Convoy Optimus and man oh man was that toy the coolest shit ever. Didn't buy a single other tf for many many years between aging in to not having interest and the general peer pressure of toys being uncool things to have and the overall toy scene not really putting out things I wanted for a while.

Then TF Animated happened and holy shit was I on board. I forget what year it started but in my early 20s I picked up I wanna say half the cast. Still got all those in a storage tub.

Fell off again, waited patiently for a reason to care about transformers again, and around 2010-2011 I think is when the first few cool third party things started showing up alongside mps but it wasn't until I saw the prototype for green giant that I said oh my god that is a thing I need. Late 2012 I decide to get green giant and now here I am four years later with more tf's than I've ever owned before in my life having spent thousands and thousands of dollars and having no real reason to stop anytime soon. fuck.

 

Age 45
Started collecting seriously 8 years ago

First 3rd party figure was nemesis prime by Igear in 2011

 

40
Been collecting for maybe 4 years? First 3P was FT Soar, closely followed by KFC Transistor.

It's just a huge nostalgia kick for me, plus my 5 year old daughter and I bond over the G1 cartoon and our toy collection.

 

39
Been collecting since 2001 (Beast Wars, RID, OG '83). Sold them all in 2013 to focus on MP.
First 3P - iGear PP01 Faith Leader.

 

Morbid but gotta admit it made me laugh.

 

Youngster.

 

I collected in the past, basically collecting various intreptations of Optimus Prime stopping in 2005. Bought an MP-08 on an impulse this past January, started with just wanting a few characters and snowballed into all characters. I collect primarily G1, cherry pick IDW and Beast Wars. I also cherry pick SH Figuarts and Figma

I'm 30 years old

 

33 years old.
Grew up with G1 and later beast wars. Took some time off of transformers. But got back into collecting with takara MP-04 when it came out. Then didn't buy another mp til MP-13 Soundwave. Bought Bumblebee a few years later. Then I was pretty much picking up a new masterpiece every once in a while. But this past year I've jumped in and started buying more frequently. This has been a great year for transformers fans.

My first third party figure was Gundog.
I was so impressed by him, that I took more chances on third party companies. I've since picked up: stealth Sphinx,Liger, Eupatorium,Terreagis, J4zz, Carnifex,master made Apollo and Diabolis Rex. All in this past year. And I'm really excited for many future releases.

 

Well good cause that was the goal  

 

I just turned 31.

1. I've never really stopped having transformers other than middle school so I guess since 9th grade or 16 years ago.

2. First full 3rd party figure was Fansproject Warbot Defender. I'll never forget how amazed I was watching Vangelus' review.

 

19 years old
Armada was my time, just missed beast wars.
Started 2014 back in college.

I remember when the 2007 movie came out and I wanted to watch so much but I was like 12, so had no money. Ended up downloading it off Piratebay and it was in fact the 1986 movie instead. I kept watching it regardless  

I guess the adverts before movies nether stopped me  

 

34, been collecting my whole life.

 

40 years old. Was a fan from day 1, when the show aired in 1984.
Only stopped collecting from 1988-1995 (when I got some G2 bots), and then stopped again until 2001 RID.
Am in the process of selling all my hundreds of mainline figures to focus on MP/3P.
Soundwave should arrive tomorrow!