I’m in the minority here...I always transform my figures...I’d grab one of them and transform back and forth for a day and in the end put back on display...I love transforming my figures...even if I have doubles of that figure
I call all of my transformers my "Crew," so when I put my Crew on a shelf it's not because I'm trying to display them, I just need them to be in a place that's easily accessible because I like to mess with my Crew, I need my Crew. But when it comes to acquiring new Crew, it comes down to a story or a fiction I've been telling in my head based on my own idea of what the Transformers are and where they come from. The "big" addition to my Crew and my imagination right now, is this idea of having all fourteen of the Decepticon Warlords, and I am having so much fun putting together a list as to whom I think are the fourteen Decepticon Warlords, because as far as my research is concerned there is no complete list of all fourteen of the Decepticon Warlords. And what inspired me to have the idea of who the Decepticon Warlords are was Planet X Deathsaurus, and I am so excited by the prospect of acquiring the Crew who I think are the fourteen Decepticon Warlords, because the Decepticons are where my heart is, and having all fourteen Decepticon Warlords will be the cornerstone of my passion.
I think sometimes having less is more. Having too much shit and clutter can be a detriment. I have actually just thrown stuff in the trash to eliminate clutter. I actually really don't regret it....lol
@Patrick Swayze- Yeah, sell that stuff to make some coin, and give those chunks of plastic a new home. Somebody's bound to love every single figure that had been made. "One man's treasure," as the saying goes.
I have to say, these discussion videos are by far my favourite thing to listen to on your channel, and I agree with everyone else, Mrs Skullface adds a nice alternative aspect to the conversation. You all have great chemistry, I hope we see more of the 4 dummies in future
I probably have the saddest TF collection ever, however, I'm very happy with my current display. I hope you all find the same with your own someday. Great episode!
Spacing my collections out has done wonders for the overall display. Many shelves are still too crowded for my liking, and has been a constant game of musical chairs, with the looser(s) landing in a tote. The rubix's cube analogy is spot on! Jisk made a good point about matching the colors and looks of certain figures instead of massing them together where they "belong" to make the display better. Anyone who has seen my collection knows i care little for the "rules" LOL. Fantastic video and series man! Please keep them coming!
Its nice to hear what other people do with their toys. These videos are awesome! I personally like to play with my transformers, I like to transform them, I love to pose them and display them. I watch your reviews because I like to see how difficult they are to transform. I have stayed away from most fanstoys stuff lol!! This is how I collect, I want the best representation of each transformer. I don't like to have doubles that much, but then again if something better comes out I buy it lol!!
I think Mrs. Skullface nailed your rut. You're collecting things that are "toys". You want a certain thing that doesn't usually come from something playable. This is why you like fans toys. Their first concern is usually sculpt and build. Nothing wrong with that. It's like diagnosing an illness. Now you have to adjust your behavior in the detriment of your pockets😂
Am I saying it right? Is it Velora? Elora? Or just Laura? Anyways, she really stepped up in this video. What she had to say and offer really hit me and helped me rethink the way I look at what I’m doing and why I’m doing it. You’re lucky to have someone who understands the whole collecting thing and does her best to help as much as she can. Bobby, if you see this, could you let her know I appreciate her being a part of the channel?
These types of videos should be right up there with McFeely and Thew. Just a level of entertainment that cannot be brought by any other Transformers Collector/ Collector personality. I cannot even begin to describe how dead-on you guys were about the reasons behind collecting because it's something that I've personally struggled with as a full blown TF collector. I used to impulse-buy tonnes of shit that, in the end, fit in nowhere. By now I've sold off nearly all of my collection, keeping only my CHUG and TFP (TFP because it's complete with Nemesis Prime, Gaia, Breakdown, etc.) which really only occupy two totes. These days I only collect figures that I either REALLY want, and I'm talking Holy Grail levels of want. In fact, I recently bought the PotP Predaking at full price using Christmas money because fuck it. I've been eyeing it forever and you know what? I love it. And as you guys mentioned, I display it alone and every day I fall more and more in love with it. It sits among those figures who I cannot get out of my head no matter what I do. For me, that's what decides the purchase. I'm done whoring over them all. I just get the ones that fit the shoe. A good example of something that I WANT but I know will flop in my heart is the MP Starsaber and EAVI Simba. I want them and I want them fucking bad because they're beautiful and they represent everything that I love about collecting and Transformers. Will they last? Probably not. The fire will fizzle out and I'll want a refund.
Loved the video, the struggle is real!!! FWP!!!! My collection is stuffed In the bedroom closet and I need to get it out. I’d be happy with just one display case out, but the wife says NO!
when I went through the "completionism phase" I realized that having all figures of a line, a distinct one, made me miserable because I would feel 1) buyer's remorse at how much money I wasted and 2) aprehensive towards many of those toys which I just did not enjoy transforming at all. ever since I culled my collection down to 20% I've never been happier and have room to spare
This is going to sound silly, but photography is helping me enjoy my collection far more than I expected. Of course I am just a chug collector, but I also actually like to play with my collection.
"And when one little panda puts his furry little willy in another panda's ear, that makes me a very saaad panda." You all would hate my dinobots since since Grimmy, Slag and Snarl are in G2 colors, lol. These videos are great!
Yes, the point of it is different for everyone. I love the look of Flame Toys figures, and if I ever get to a point where I dont need my transformer figures to transform I am in. But right now, I get better value from mainlining CHUG figures and it is a collection I share with my boys.
AS AN OUTSIDER (on the fence of beginning TF / figure collecting) I think recognizing BEHAVIOR PATTERNS is 🔑. R u buying 4 sakes of having something 2 buy ? Would u replace older purchases if current was damaged/ lost? WHEN IS ENUFF ? (what's the end game 4 this collection) Digital Music achieving is my current affixation (getting rid of physical collection of cd's/ vinyl) I like simplicity vs nostalgia at this point. CHANGE or ADAPTION is fine 4 me. I get 2 keep ALL my music & movies in my bac pocket & free up a room of SPACE
Mrs. Skullface is absolutely right. I recently redid my collection room and the majority of what I removed ended up being my action figures. It made it feel cluttered. Displayed the few that has meaning and the rest is bagged and boxed until more space becomes available or just “Kondo” it away. Growth and maturity as a collector were enjoying the finer things like steak at a steakhouse vs Applebee’s 2 for $20 steak combo.
i don't like going to buffets because i lose my appetite when that much food is infront of me. same goes with my display. so i have a maximum of 8 to 13 figures on my one 3 level shelf to stare at and play with and then change them out after a month or 2 depending on a theme or what my mood is
LOL! The struggle! Ah well, sometimes it is best to step back & really look at things to try & gain a different perspective. The fact that these are our "problems" should go a long way as well. Just showing how far we've come in life to be able to have these grail items to share with friends & family or even hoard to oneself lol. I've been working to space my stuff out as well & I've been avoiding buying items that I am not invested in, rather the ones that really hit the mark for me nostalgia or story wise. Good luck man. BTW I think the new dioramas look great to include the Nemesis & Ark ones. I would love to learn how to make my own like that.
That's how I feel bud, and thays why I don't really like these segments. I love his reviews and skits, and Skully in general, but these Dummy segments make me feel like.." Well, you kinda had to be there."..or like I wish I could be in the "click" to enjoy it more.
I love the heck out of your reviews, and skits, and you in general Skully. These dummy segments just are kinda different..kinda feel like a stray dog looking in the window at a cozy family..lol. Definatly wish I could be there, or help share with you my same exact thoughts that you are having with this stuff. Thanks for your vids sir!
Here’s my predictions. You will sell off most of your 3rd party collection and start investing in the siege line. I believe the aesthetics is what you are looking for eg not cartoony has decent paint jobs and weathering etc, takes up less space, much cheaper and has that special official G1 feel. I think this new trilogy will include all the characters you are looking for.
Hey, what if some of this collecting rut Is itself a symptom of growth and healing? And part of the collecting impulse is a trauma response that you no longer have to indulge?
I had a good sized ChUG collection (no henkai). Shelves of it. I was going the gotta catch them all route. Hated it after a while. Sold almost all of it. Now I only have updated versions of what I had as a kid. . . still missing a few. I think picking characters you love or designs that rock works for me.
The idea of rotating what you display is good. Like a galary. Display different scenes from month to month, rotating some bots from shelfs to boxes, or focus on different seasons in different ... Wait for it ... SEASONS! Get it?
Okay, you already rejected my idea. Geez. Talk about first world problems. Lol. How about getting out the rut this way ... Go spend two months living off dollar a day with no access to any luxuries and any transformers. Then when you come back the rut will be gone!
For me its about putting them in a display that is reminiscent of my favourite scenes or pictures of them, either from cartoons, comics or otherwise. Having them displayed just standing in a line seems off especially in the way you mentioned that they aren't unified unlike say star wars are. And trying to create a random battle/fight seem just looks messy. The reason I love Transformers is that these images stick in my head when I am away from them. as a kid I will have read a comic and one picture will have stayed with me and got me excited and always brought me back into the fold. the image of one of the covers from Time Wars with Megatron and Galvatron standing back to back, or Powerglide staring down against Thrust, Ramjet and Dirge in the Girl who loved Powerglide. Or even with a bar scene from the Lost Light. This approach works for me better as it captures the moments of excitement I get from this genre more than say transforming them or having them organized in group/season order. - I need to get Prowl flipping a table too. Like most here (I'm guessing) I'm a pre-internet generation guy so I'm guessing (again) this might be part of the reason why it imprints on me like this. Waiting a week or 2 for the next comic to come out, meant digesting every picture and word of what I had at the time and every so often getting blown away by a scene that id think about all day/week. I think this is what I want to capture/recreate in my displays. A few years back I finally got around to buying a lot of G1 figures and I was so disappointed in how messy they looked on my shelves no matter how I had them up and I had a fall outta love experience out until I got into Masterpiece/third party figures. But the best thing about that was I've now felt the need to pick and choose which characters I want rather than have them all approach. I really hope you figure out what you want from your collection as its been a joy to follow your channel and its obvious we are feeling for you on this one. Keep up the good work and thanks for helping me get to get the confidence to restart and enjoy my collection again.
I've finally realized what caused my rut. Social media. I was happy buying whatever I saw and putting it away in a bin. Then social media came along and added the toy photography aspect. I was excited for that and jumped on board. Then I found myself owning the same figure that hundreds of others owned. That took away the "exclusivity" feel that I had before Instagram as I had no idea what others owned. Ya know, out of sight, out of mind. With transformers having what I feel is the biggest collector base, now they're everywhere! Frankly I got sick of seeing hundreds of pics daily of megatron, omega supreme, and God forbid, 84 movie figures. I wanted no part of it at all. So I quit and moved onto Hot Toys, 1/12 import stuff and 1/6 military. The 2 previous are now starting to fall into the same TF category, which is why now I mainly focus on military. I know that fanbase will never become oversaturated. Plus those figures look damn good too. Then there is the money factor. I could not see myself paying the ever increasing Takara prices and for subpar quality for the most part. All along knowing another damn iteration is around the corner. If I am going to spend 200+ on a figure, I want to know that there will.be no regrets later as that better figure is released 6 months later
Hey skull I have really enjoyed you having your wifeas post off these discussions. She brings insight that I wouldn't have thought of before. I think she hit the nail on the head on how I started and kinda how I am now. Still love transforming them but love to just stare at them. Great work looking forward to the rest of this miniseries.
This is gonna sound crazy, but last year I started spending all of my Transformers money on Gundams instead because they check off so many of the boxes you were talking about at the end. Like you said you get more out of Tarn, I've noticed I get more out of a $20 Gundam than I get out of the few Masterpieces I own, and I don't know shit about Gundam and I love Transformers. It does more for my love of plastic robots even though I have no idea who the characters even are. Wish more people were into the Flame Toys Furai kits, because they are awesome, and their poseability destroys any transformable figure, and it really makes them a pleasure to have on the shelf, and building and posing them is so much more rewarding of a hobby than simply buying a Transformer toy. I remember you said you were gonna try their IDW Prime, and he just started shipping a few days ago per their social media. Are you still gonna get him? Just a warning, model building is addictive AF, so be careful bud. :)
Same here...except I still also enjoy getting new transformers :) Fewer of them though haha. And i know jack shit about transformers (besides what ive picked up through osmosis like a bunch of their names) but am watching and reading a bunch of gundam series atm, so thats the opposite for me :p I haven't found that that has any bearing on any of the kits im getting as of yet though. I still just get stuff I like the design of, wether im familiar with it or not.(and im still unfamilliar with most mobile suits /gundams afaik)
I still don't have a decent set of display cases or shelves for my collection. So all of my pieces are still in their boxes, which I occasionally take out and admire from time to time. But my ideal is a vertical Autobot display where everyone sits on standby, and a similar separate Decepticon display, with a central horizontal display where I will create some sort of diorama scenes and bring out different key figures from time to time. While on standby, everyone should be identified by name, function, and faction, like a sort of 3D catalog. The dioramas will force me to give different units their time to take the limelight, as well as force me to use other artistic, creative skills. I plan to rotate characters in and out, this way. Forces me to think up reasons why every unit is relevant, depending on the circumstances.
I think Mrs. Skullface was 100% on the money about the intent of displaying a figure. I have the Zeta dinobots with mp8 in the middle and I haven’t had the urge to move them, they look cool. My shelves of 10-12 bots, I took down all but a few. Too junky. My combiners fared better and I keep them out. Their shelf presence was way better than a multitude of bots.
For me a Transformer need to transform, that's the point and I play with what I've got a lot. I love when you can have a realistic vehicule that suddently becomes a realistic robot with visible car parts on it. I hate the MP-44 because of all the fake parts and the cheap cartoon aesthetic But if I had to don't really touch them and display them a non-transformable, hightly articulated, detailled and painted figure would be so much more awesome.
Display is difficult because it all winds up looking so static. Why have a physical object standing in an A stance hero pose when a drawing or painting would serve the purpose? The most effective Transformers displays I've seen are dynamic battle scenes... When the factions are engaged in actually doing something.
For me, less is more. I only display hot toys and statues. Transformers just look like toys next to them and don’t display as well. But I still love them. I just keep them tucked away.
I thought I would be a completionist as well but as they make more and more stuff, I'm hearing far more "meh"'s coming out of my mouth. I preordered the new iron factory city commander because he looks amazing, but there's only a few things I want from that line just for how cool they look. They go well together for aesthetics and I don't drain the bank and burn myself out going pokemon on them. They've been lying to you, you don't really gotta catch em all.
Sounds like the NEEEEEED to have everything is whats really killing our boy's mood. Perhaps only buying the things he's excited about would help instead of this feeling forced to buy things you don't want and then having to display this thing that in many ways you resent. Just display what makes you happy man, toss the rest. Who cares about the entire cast if you only really give a damn about 1/3 of the characters. It's a lesson I've personally had to learn multiple times. The collector mentality fo "gotta collect them all" kills joy for most of us more than any other aspect of the hobby.
I think Laura is spot on about jumbled displays. Also, I think part of Robert and Bobby's issue is that you're collecting too many different lines for the same IP, and repeats of the same figures in other scales (Legends, etc), and I think it's diluting the impact of collecting.
At 10:37 Lol! My Wife said this except same thing about our discussion on my collection(s). Damn, her and Laura are so smart. We are lucky Husbands, my friend. =P
Think back to when you were a kid when you only had a hand full of figures from each line, most of us were at our most happiest, we want certain ones we couldn't find or afford which kept our interest. Most the kids I knew that had whole collections didn't even have interest in em anymore, shit they didn't remember some of the names. The whole point of this is to capture to fun or joy of holding them or displaying them. Too much over thinking or critical thinking will destroy the fun aspect. The only thinking we did back then was using our imaginations to compensate for things we didn't have full collections of just a couple of pieces. So I think the adults in us a collectors maybe ruining the fun of it. Keep it simple keep it light. We spend mad money to not flip a masterpiece transformer to its alt mode every couple of weeks. I think the statues are dope but I'm the type of person that likes to repose figures every three days to keep my display fresh, and with the statues I can't change them so I mos def will lose interest after a month
For me Transformers need to be able to transform, I understand that you have to sacrifice articulation and overall design for them to be able to do that but the evolution of the transforming action figures has been growing in a way that they are able to do every thing they need to in the most wonderful and surprising way. I actually only transform them 2 times each, once when I get them and another when I display them, but my collection isn't for other ppl to see, I mean... I like it when other ppl get to appreciate my figures but I buy them for me and knowing that the incredible robot in my collection transforms almost perfectly into a car, a Dinobot, a radio, etc is enough to make me appreciate them a bit more. I wouldn't mind having a better sculpted, painted and articulated Transformer that can't transform, but if I have to chose between that and one that is also very well sculpted, painted, articulated and on top of that is able to transform into another amazing mode it wont take me more then a second to decide and I will pick the second one in a heartbeat. After all they are Transformers, robots in disguise, they are more then meets the eye and they do that perfectly standing on a shelf in whatever mode just by being able to, with some help, transform into another completely different thing. As for how much you should own and how you should display what you own, I really do believe that it should be different for every one, depending on how much space they have, how much they can spend and most of all on how they relate to each series, franchise, company, line, wave, character, etc. Personal collections should be about what you love and how you love it, there are no rules, I get you're talking about your personal displays and that you're providing tips for ppl that identify with your tastes, nothing wrong with that, but I can't stop thinking about ppl that have what they can, displayed how they can and love all of it from the bottom of their hearts. If they care enough to buy, display and take photos of their collection to share with others, they deserve respect as collectors. Thank you for the nice tips I agree with some of your ideas and I believe this was a good discussions subject. I would love to have 4 dummies like you, that love the same things I do, to discuss this subjects with me and share them will the community.
I'm a simple man, i see a combiner and i want it. My Rut is space and money based. I wasnt satisfied with Combiner Wars and needed something more. I need Detolf's and maybe a nice huge TV stand w/ shelves and shit and id be set space wise. Money issue will eventually solve itself, but im concerned some of the things i want will not be available by the time i have the money.
I was originally going for G1 cartoon completion but elected to only do seasons 1 & 2 for similar reasons. Displaying it all nicely is a gigantic pain in the ass and ultimately not worth it. Seasons 1 & 2 are my favorites so that was a load off of my mind to not have to get Quietus, Hoodlum, etc... Fewer purchases makes them rewarding in the long run.
Normal thoughts at this point with so many things from the 80`s to choose from. I would prefer less but more eye catchy things like the Hot Toys stuff or statues.
Lol i could post the same reaction to the last 3 video s 😂. Anyway, i love how laura is sort of an outsider but sees it the clearest 👍🏼😁. On top of everything she says most of us collecters chase after a "fix" but the need gets bigger and bigger and never gets fully satisfied. Great content👍🏼
Just me observing through the outside looking in...is this rut series psychologically, a way for you personally to get out of collecting? Are you hanging up the mask and this is like a justification to do so? These first two episodes almost sounds like a therapy session with the type of questions you're asking.
is this just a transformers problem? Because the way this is shot paints the picture that this is only a transformers problem. Is this the case for mafex, mezco, or any other type collection?
Dude! That Ark display is amazing!!! With Transformers and other things I collect o put a cap on myself. I think of the shelf before I go in on a line. Dragon Ball Z; only the heroes that are in the title song and one of each only. Transformers; season 1 to the movie, no Defensor, no Coneheads, only 1 seeker and Autobots that I actually care about. Power Rangers I'm sticking to the 2 seasons that meant the most to me. Mighty Morphin and Ninja Storm. By putting these restrictions on myself I can make sure I don't buy things I think I like, but I don't love. I just recently decided I'm out on MP Beast Wars, because only love 1 or 2 characters and those characters don't have figures yet.
If I payed for a figure that transforms, not that I go and transform them often, I want to at least know I can transform it. If not sell me that bad boy for a little less because it doesn't have that functionality. If a figure is created and isn't meant to transform than that's fine because it literally can't.
Hi Bobby sad panda Face🤣 You've changed, but that's ok. Lol! I think we all have a lot of respect for good teams. No one wants just one Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle? If you have a transformer, you want him to be with his team. Good guys, bad guys, G1 season 1, 2, the movie and so on. But for whatever the reason; let it be money, space, or just what you want. You may be able to find one or two good peices to represent a line. Just Luke and Vader. Just the Dinos. and Devastator😅. Its your collection, collect however you please. Sorry for the long one (so to speak) and keep them coming ( so to speak) 😆
Honestly, it seems to me more like your burnt out rather than being in a rut. Maybe take a step back from transformers for a while and try to get refreshed and recharged.
im with him about the cartoon accuracy craze, i dont get why people need their toys to look exactly like a cartoon that looked pretty lousy a lot of the time
I came to the conclusion just recently that I’m not playing Pokémon. Don’t need to catch em all. I mean...who fucking cares about Windcharger. Seriously. Since then, I’ve sold a lot of characters I just don’t give a shit about. Why do I have Prowl, Bluestreak, and Smokescreen? It’s the same fucking thing. Sorta feeling that way about Seekers. I don’t even collect anything other than Transformers. Can’t imagine dealing with other lines in addition to being dissatisfied with TFs.
I just watched this series and I think I know the problem with displaying TF figures. The real difference between Star Wars, Dragon Ball, even Funko Pops vs Transformers, Hot Wheels, even Legos is the former are mostly humans/humanoid figures. Human type figures look good just posed standing there (Hot Toys), even better in an action pose (Dragonball). Humanoid figures are interesting to look at period, especially higher end figures. Whereas a vehicle, like Transformers are only interesting for a little while, then it just gets uninteresting. Compare a Stormtrooper and an X-wing. Sure both can be highly detail, but in the end, the X-wing is just a boring vehicle. It is when it is interacted with a human figure that it becomes interesting. As for the diorama, the best ones that are showcased are the ones at the Con (botcon, tfcon, etc) displays where they are both in robot mode and vehicle mode showcasing some fight. The background is just a generic display, either on a mountain top, desert, etc. They are not just standing around. Maybe if you add some "human" toys into a scene where there is some type of interaction the diorama scene would be more interesting. I think with Transformers, it just a robot that is standing there. They maybe different shapes, sizes, colors, but in the end it is still a robot that gets boring to look at, especially in vehicle mode. Compare your Hot Toy figure or even Star War figure to a Hot Wheel or even a Ninja Turtle van. Which is more interesting? I think this is what causes figure fatigue, especially with Transformers.
I don't think flametoys is anything special there are figures who transform who more than impressive in articulation. The cross dimensions works has great dsiplay and figures for what they are.
MRS. Skullface needs her own show. Where she helps collectors clean up their displays. Because she just helped me a whole lot lol
I’m in the minority here...I always transform my figures...I’d grab one of them and transform back and forth for a day and in the end put back on display...I love transforming my figures...even if I have doubles of that figure
That Ark Diorama is awesome.
Everything that Bobby figured out in this video would have been learned if he had less money to burn. And that's a fact.
I call all of my transformers my "Crew," so when I put my Crew on a shelf it's not because I'm trying to display them, I just need them to be in a place that's easily accessible because I like to mess with my Crew, I need my Crew. But when it comes to acquiring new Crew, it comes down to a story or a fiction I've been telling in my head based on my own idea of what the Transformers are and where they come from. The "big" addition to my Crew and my imagination right now, is this idea of having all fourteen of the Decepticon Warlords, and I am having so much fun putting together a list as to whom I think are the fourteen Decepticon Warlords, because as far as my research is concerned there is no complete list of all fourteen of the Decepticon Warlords. And what inspired me to have the idea of who the Decepticon Warlords are was Planet X Deathsaurus, and I am so excited by the prospect of acquiring the Crew who I think are the fourteen Decepticon Warlords, because the Decepticons are where my heart is, and having all fourteen Decepticon Warlords will be the cornerstone of my passion.
I think sometimes having less is more. Having too much shit and clutter can be a detriment. I have actually just thrown stuff in the trash to eliminate clutter. I actually really don't regret it....lol
@Patrick Swayze- Yeah, sell that stuff to make some coin, and give those chunks of plastic a new home. Somebody's bound to love every single figure that had been made. "One man's treasure," as the saying goes.
Gallery display works for me. Don’t clutter up those detolfs. It’ll force you to rotate the collection and spark joy!
You have a really sweet life Mr Skullface .
Cheers
Honestly I'd love if you did like diorama tutorials or something like that I'd watch the hell out of that for a variety of lines
I have to say, these discussion videos are by far my favourite thing to listen to on your channel, and I agree with everyone else, Mrs Skullface adds a nice alternative aspect to the conversation. You all have great chemistry, I hope we see more of the 4 dummies in future
I probably have the saddest TF collection ever, however, I'm very happy with my current display. I hope you all find the same with your own someday. Great episode!
Spacing my collections out has done wonders for the overall display. Many shelves are still too crowded for my liking, and has been a constant game of musical chairs, with the looser(s) landing in a tote. The rubix's cube analogy is spot on! Jisk made a good point about matching the colors and looks of certain figures instead of massing them together where they "belong" to make the display better. Anyone who has seen my collection knows i care little for the "rules" LOL. Fantastic video and series man! Please keep them coming!
Good point Roguewar!! Nice to hear and see ya brother!
Likewise Danny, great to see you too man! Hope everything is going well at your end!
I will drop in on Realm tonight..hopefully see ya there!
Its nice to hear what other people do with their toys. These videos are awesome! I personally like to play with my transformers, I like to transform them, I love to pose them and display them. I watch your reviews because I like to see how difficult they are to transform. I have stayed away from most fanstoys stuff lol!! This is how I collect, I want the best representation of each transformer. I don't like to have doubles that much, but then again if something better comes out I buy it lol!!
You don't have to catch them all.. Only buy the figures/cars that you really like.
Less is more. Clean is better. Pose your figures. Buy what thrills you.
Words to live by as a collector.
I think Mrs. Skullface nailed your rut. You're collecting things that are "toys". You want a certain thing that doesn't usually come from something playable. This is why you like fans toys. Their first concern is usually sculpt and build. Nothing wrong with that. It's like diagnosing an illness. Now you have to adjust your behavior in the detriment of your pockets😂
Am I saying it right? Is it Velora? Elora? Or just Laura?
Anyways, she really stepped up in this video. What she had to say and offer really hit me and helped me rethink the way I look at what I’m doing and why I’m doing it. You’re lucky to have someone who understands the whole collecting thing and does her best to help as much as she can.
Bobby, if you see this, could you let her know I appreciate her being a part of the channel?
Sometimes the only way to crawl out of the rut is on the carcasses of our collection.
These types of videos should be right up there with McFeely and Thew. Just a level of entertainment that cannot be brought by any other Transformers Collector/ Collector personality.
I cannot even begin to describe how dead-on you guys were about the reasons behind collecting because it's something that I've personally struggled with as a full blown TF collector. I used to impulse-buy tonnes of shit that, in the end, fit in nowhere. By now I've sold off nearly all of my collection, keeping only my CHUG and TFP (TFP because it's complete with Nemesis Prime, Gaia, Breakdown, etc.) which really only occupy two totes.
These days I only collect figures that I either REALLY want, and I'm talking Holy Grail levels of want. In fact, I recently bought the PotP Predaking at full price using Christmas money because fuck it. I've been eyeing it forever and you know what? I love it. And as you guys mentioned, I display it alone and every day I fall more and more in love with it. It sits among those figures who I cannot get out of my head no matter what I do.
For me, that's what decides the purchase. I'm done whoring over them all. I just get the ones that fit the shoe.
A good example of something that I WANT but I know will flop in my heart is the MP Starsaber and EAVI Simba. I want them and I want them fucking bad because they're beautiful and they represent everything that I love about collecting and Transformers. Will they last? Probably not. The fire will fizzle out and I'll want a refund.
Loved the video, the struggle is real!!! FWP!!!!
My collection is stuffed In the bedroom closet and I need to get it out. I’d be happy with just one display case out, but the wife says NO!
Hang in there Bobby I’m sure you will find a solution for your problem 👍. Take a break for week get away from it. 🐸
when I went through the "completionism phase" I realized that having all figures of a line, a distinct one, made me miserable because I would feel 1) buyer's remorse at how much money I wasted and 2) aprehensive towards many of those toys which I just did not enjoy transforming at all. ever since I culled my collection down to 20% I've never been happier and have room to spare
This is going to sound silly, but photography is helping me enjoy my collection far more than I expected. Of course I am just a chug collector, but I also actually like to play with my collection.
"And when one little panda puts his furry little willy in another panda's ear, that makes me a very saaad panda."
You all would hate my dinobots since since Grimmy, Slag and Snarl are in G2 colors, lol.
These videos are great!
Yes, the point of it is different for everyone. I love the look of Flame Toys figures, and if I ever get to a point where I dont need my transformer figures to transform I am in. But right now, I get better value from mainlining CHUG figures and it is a collection I share with my boys.
Enjoyed the discussion, guys. Thank you. Also, how about collecting because it's fun to collect? The process, I mean. Cheers.
AS AN OUTSIDER (on the fence of beginning TF / figure collecting) I think recognizing BEHAVIOR PATTERNS is 🔑. R u buying 4 sakes of having something 2 buy ? Would u replace older purchases if current was damaged/ lost? WHEN IS ENUFF ? (what's the end game 4 this collection) Digital Music achieving is my current affixation (getting rid of physical collection of cd's/ vinyl) I like simplicity vs nostalgia at this point. CHANGE or ADAPTION is fine 4 me. I get 2 keep ALL my music & movies in my bac pocket & free up a room of SPACE
Ps: i love the rubix cube material. It's how i feel everytime i think about reposing my collection 😁
Mrs. Skullface is absolutely right. I recently redid my collection room and the majority of what I removed ended up being my action figures. It made it feel cluttered. Displayed the few that has meaning and the rest is bagged and boxed until more space becomes available or just “Kondo” it away. Growth and maturity as a collector were enjoying the finer things like steak at a steakhouse vs Applebee’s 2 for $20 steak combo.
Your wife figured it out, I’m really thinking about what I need for my collection now🤔, great episode!
i don't like going to buffets because i lose my appetite when that much food is infront of me. same goes with my display. so i have a maximum of 8 to 13 figures on my one 3 level shelf to stare at and play with and then change them out after a month or 2 depending on a theme or what my mood is
These latest ones speak to me. Damn. Good job.
I hear you guys. I try and re arrange my display and what I have on display every few months to keep it fresh
LOL! The struggle! Ah well, sometimes it is best to step back & really look at things to try & gain a different perspective. The fact that these are our "problems" should go a long way as well. Just showing how far we've come in life to be able to have these grail items to share with friends & family or even hoard to oneself lol. I've been working to space my stuff out as well & I've been avoiding buying items that I am not invested in, rather the ones that really hit the mark for me nostalgia or story wise. Good luck man. BTW I think the new dioramas look great to include the Nemesis & Ark ones. I would love to learn how to make my own like that.
I wish I could hang out with you guys.
That's how I feel bud, and thays why I don't really like these segments. I love his reviews and skits, and Skully in general, but these Dummy segments make me feel like.." Well, you kinda had to be there."..or like I wish I could be in the "click" to enjoy it more.
I have Flame Toys Tarn and I've played with it far more than I have the rest of my collection since I got it last November
Interesting stuff. Keep 'em coming.
My symptoms include lack of adequate cashflow and room in my man cave.
I still can't reproduce the feeling I had when I got my first Masterpiece...
Phew i'm glad it's not just me. She nailed it at 9:10, that's what i've been feeling lately. Great discussion.
I love the heck out of your reviews, and skits, and you in general Skully. These dummy segments just are kinda different..kinda feel like a stray dog looking in the window at a cozy family..lol. Definatly wish I could be there, or help share with you my same exact thoughts that you are having with this stuff. Thanks for your vids sir!
Here’s my predictions.
You will sell off most of your 3rd party collection and start investing in the siege line.
I believe the aesthetics is what you are looking for eg not cartoony has decent paint jobs and weathering etc, takes up less space, much cheaper and has that special official G1 feel.
I think this new trilogy will include all the characters you are looking for.
I sold all of my Titans Returns.Never looked back,also Chud and Generations and Combiner wars.💩💩💩
Hey, what if some of this collecting rut Is itself a symptom of growth and healing? And part of the collecting impulse is a trauma response that you no longer have to indulge?
It seems I get so much more value for money out of my TFs than you guys. I love transforming them, posing them, looking at them, and rearranging them.
I had a good sized ChUG collection (no henkai). Shelves of it. I was going the gotta catch them all route. Hated it after a while. Sold almost all of it. Now I only have updated versions of what I had as a kid. . . still missing a few. I think picking characters you love or designs that rock works for me.
The idea of rotating what you display is good. Like a galary. Display different scenes from month to month, rotating some bots from shelfs to boxes, or focus on different seasons in different ... Wait for it ... SEASONS! Get it?
Okay, you already rejected my idea. Geez. Talk about first world problems. Lol. How about getting out the rut this way ... Go spend two months living off dollar a day with no access to any luxuries and any transformers. Then when you come back the rut will be gone!
For me its about putting them in a display that is reminiscent of my favourite scenes or pictures of them, either from cartoons, comics or otherwise. Having them displayed just standing in a line seems off especially in the way you mentioned that they aren't unified unlike say star wars are. And trying to create a random battle/fight seem just looks messy.
The reason I love Transformers is that these images stick in my head when I am away from them. as a kid I will have read a comic and one picture will have stayed with me and got me excited and always brought me back into the fold. the image of one of the covers from Time Wars with Megatron and Galvatron standing back to back, or Powerglide staring down against Thrust, Ramjet and Dirge in the Girl who loved Powerglide. Or even with a bar scene from the Lost Light. This approach works for me better as it captures the moments of excitement I get from this genre more than say transforming them or having them organized in group/season order.
- I need to get Prowl flipping a table too.
Like most here (I'm guessing) I'm a pre-internet generation guy so I'm guessing (again) this might be part of the reason why it imprints on me like this. Waiting a week or 2 for the next comic to come out, meant digesting every picture and word of what I had at the time and every so often getting blown away by a scene that id think about all day/week. I think this is what I want to capture/recreate in my displays.
A few years back I finally got around to buying a lot of G1 figures and I was so disappointed in how messy they looked on my shelves no matter how I had them up and I had a fall outta love experience out until I got into Masterpiece/third party figures. But the best thing about that was I've now felt the need to pick and choose which characters I want rather than have them all approach.
I really hope you figure out what you want from your collection as its been a joy to follow your channel and its obvious we are feeling for you on this one. Keep up the good work and thanks for helping me get to get the confidence to restart and enjoy my collection again.
I've finally realized what caused my rut. Social media. I was happy buying whatever I saw and putting it away in a bin. Then social media came along and added the toy photography aspect. I was excited for that and jumped on board. Then I found myself owning the same figure that hundreds of others owned. That took away the "exclusivity" feel that I had before Instagram as I had no idea what others owned. Ya know, out of sight, out of mind. With transformers having what I feel is the biggest collector base, now they're everywhere! Frankly I got sick of seeing hundreds of pics daily of megatron, omega supreme, and God forbid, 84 movie figures. I wanted no part of it at all. So I quit and moved onto Hot Toys, 1/12 import stuff and 1/6 military. The 2 previous are now starting to fall into the same TF category, which is why now I mainly focus on military. I know that fanbase will never become oversaturated. Plus those figures look damn good too. Then there is the money factor. I could not see myself paying the ever increasing Takara prices and for subpar quality for the most part. All along knowing another damn iteration is around the corner. If I am going to spend 200+ on a figure, I want to know that there will.be no regrets later as that better figure is released 6 months later
Hey skull I have really enjoyed you having your wifeas post off these discussions. She brings insight that I wouldn't have thought of before. I think she hit the nail on the head on how I started and kinda how I am now. Still love transforming them but love to just stare at them. Great work looking forward to the rest of this miniseries.
This is gonna sound crazy, but last year I started spending all of my Transformers money on Gundams instead because they check off so many of the boxes you were talking about at the end. Like you said you get more out of Tarn, I've noticed I get more out of a $20 Gundam than I get out of the few Masterpieces I own, and I don't know shit about Gundam and I love Transformers. It does more for my love of plastic robots even though I have no idea who the characters even are. Wish more people were into the Flame Toys Furai kits, because they are awesome, and their poseability destroys any transformable figure, and it really makes them a pleasure to have on the shelf, and building and posing them is so much more rewarding of a hobby than simply buying a Transformer toy. I remember you said you were gonna try their IDW Prime, and he just started shipping a few days ago per their social media. Are you still gonna get him? Just a warning, model building is addictive AF, so be careful bud. :)
Same here...except I still also enjoy getting new transformers :) Fewer of them though haha.
And i know jack shit about transformers (besides what ive picked up through osmosis like a bunch of their names) but am watching and reading a bunch of gundam series atm, so thats the opposite for me :p I haven't found that that has any bearing on any of the kits im getting as of yet though. I still just get stuff I like the design of, wether im familiar with it or not.(and im still unfamilliar with most mobile suits /gundams afaik)
I still don't have a decent set of display cases or shelves for my collection. So all of my pieces are still in their boxes, which I occasionally take out and admire from time to time.
But my ideal is a vertical Autobot display where everyone sits on standby, and a similar separate Decepticon display, with a central horizontal display where I will create some sort of diorama scenes and bring out different key figures from time to time. While on standby, everyone should be identified by name, function, and faction, like a sort of 3D catalog. The dioramas will force me to give different units their time to take the limelight, as well as force me to use other artistic, creative skills. I plan to rotate characters in and out, this way. Forces me to think up reasons why every unit is relevant, depending on the circumstances.
I sold 85 GI Joes over the weekend because they didn't do anything for me any more. I filled my childhood void and ready to move on.
I think Mrs. Skullface was 100% on the money about the intent of displaying a figure. I have the Zeta dinobots with mp8 in the middle and I haven’t had the urge to move them, they look cool. My shelves of 10-12 bots, I took down all but a few. Too junky. My combiners fared better and I keep them out. Their shelf presence was way better than a multitude of bots.
MrUniiiiiikim
Mnkiniiimmmmmmmm
For me a Transformer need to transform, that's the point and I play with what I've got a lot. I love when you can have a realistic vehicule that suddently becomes a realistic robot with visible car parts on it. I hate the MP-44 because of all the fake parts and the cheap cartoon aesthetic But if I had to don't really touch them and display them a non-transformable, hightly articulated, detailled and painted figure would be so much more awesome.
We don't even want transformers to transform? That's what separated this universe from the others. No other universe does this. That's the MAGIC guys!
Display is difficult because it all winds up looking so static. Why have a physical object standing in an A stance hero pose when a drawing or painting would serve the purpose? The most effective Transformers displays I've seen are dynamic battle scenes... When the factions are engaged in actually doing something.
For me, less is more. I only display hot toys and statues. Transformers just look like toys next to them and don’t display as well. But I still love them. I just keep them tucked away.
God these discussion videos kick so much ass!! More please. :D
THERE'S NO PURPOSE! I'M ADDICTED! hehe
I thought I would be a completionist as well but as they make more and more stuff, I'm hearing far more "meh"'s coming out of my mouth. I preordered the new iron factory city commander because he looks amazing, but there's only a few things I want from that line just for how cool they look. They go well together for aesthetics and I don't drain the bank and burn myself out going pokemon on them. They've been lying to you, you don't really gotta catch em all.
Sounds like the NEEEEEED to have everything is whats really killing our boy's mood. Perhaps only buying the things he's excited about would help instead of this feeling forced to buy things you don't want and then having to display this thing that in many ways you resent. Just display what makes you happy man, toss the rest. Who cares about the entire cast if you only really give a damn about 1/3 of the characters. It's a lesson I've personally had to learn multiple times. The collector mentality fo "gotta collect them all" kills joy for most of us more than any other aspect of the hobby.
I think Laura is spot on about jumbled displays. Also, I think part of Robert and Bobby's issue is that you're collecting too many different lines for the same IP, and repeats of the same figures in other scales (Legends, etc), and I think it's diluting the impact of collecting.
At 10:37 Lol! My Wife said this except same thing about our discussion on my collection(s). Damn, her and Laura are so smart. We are lucky Husbands, my friend. =P
Think back to when you were a kid when you only had a hand full of figures from each line, most of us were at our most happiest, we want certain ones we couldn't find or afford which kept our interest. Most the kids I knew that had whole collections didn't even have interest in em anymore, shit they didn't remember some of the names. The whole point of this is to capture to fun or joy of holding them or displaying them. Too much over thinking or critical thinking will destroy the fun aspect. The only thinking we did back then was using our imaginations to compensate for things we didn't have full collections of just a couple of pieces. So I think the adults in us a collectors maybe ruining the fun of it. Keep it simple keep it light. We spend mad money to not flip a masterpiece transformer to its alt mode every couple of weeks. I think the statues are dope but I'm the type of person that likes to repose figures every three days to keep my display fresh, and with the statues I can't change them so I mos def will lose interest after a month
For me Transformers need to be able to transform, I understand that you have to sacrifice articulation and overall design for them to be able to do that but the evolution of the transforming action figures has been growing in a way that they are able to do every thing they need to in the most wonderful and surprising way. I actually only transform them 2 times each, once when I get them and another when I display them, but my collection isn't for other ppl to see, I mean... I like it when other ppl get to appreciate my figures but I buy them for me and knowing that the incredible robot in my collection transforms almost perfectly into a car, a Dinobot, a radio, etc is enough to make me appreciate them a bit more. I wouldn't mind having a better sculpted, painted and articulated Transformer that can't transform, but if I have to chose between that and one that is also very well sculpted, painted, articulated and on top of that is able to transform into another amazing mode it wont take me more then a second to decide and I will pick the second one in a heartbeat. After all they are Transformers, robots in disguise, they are more then meets the eye and they do that perfectly standing on a shelf in whatever mode just by being able to, with some help, transform into another completely different thing. As for how much you should own and how you should display what you own, I really do believe that it should be different for every one, depending on how much space they have, how much they can spend and most of all on how they relate to each series, franchise, company, line, wave, character, etc. Personal collections should be about what you love and how you love it, there are no rules, I get you're talking about your personal displays and that you're providing tips for ppl that identify with your tastes, nothing wrong with that, but I can't stop thinking about ppl that have what they can, displayed how they can and love all of it from the bottom of their hearts. If they care enough to buy, display and take photos of their collection to share with others, they deserve respect as collectors. Thank you for the nice tips I agree with some of your ideas and I believe this was a good discussions subject. I would love to have 4 dummies like you, that love the same things I do, to discuss this subjects with me and share them will the community.
Dang, that went emotional at the end.
I'm a simple man, i see a combiner and i want it. My Rut is space and money based. I wasnt satisfied with Combiner Wars and needed something more. I need Detolf's and maybe a nice huge TV stand w/ shelves and shit and id be set space wise. Money issue will eventually solve itself, but im concerned some of the things i want will not be available by the time i have the money.
I was originally going for G1 cartoon completion but elected to only do seasons 1 & 2 for similar reasons. Displaying it all nicely is a gigantic pain in the ass and ultimately not worth it. Seasons 1 & 2 are my favorites so that was a load off of my mind to not have to get Quietus, Hoodlum, etc... Fewer purchases makes them rewarding in the long run.
Normal thoughts at this point with so many things from the 80`s to choose from. I would prefer less but more eye catchy things like the Hot Toys stuff or statues.
Lol i could post the same reaction to the last 3 video s 😂. Anyway, i love how laura is sort of an outsider but sees it the clearest 👍🏼😁. On top of everything she says most of us collecters chase after a "fix" but the need gets bigger and bigger and never gets fully satisfied. Great content👍🏼
Perhaps you're over-thinking this? Enjoy what you have. :)
It just always looks terrible when people try and fit too many figures in one shelf.
Are you selling your shockwave? I wish I had money.
Mrs Skullface MVP
Just me observing through the outside looking in...is this rut series psychologically, a way for you personally to get out of collecting? Are you hanging up the mask and this is like a justification to do so? These first two episodes almost sounds like a therapy session with the type of questions you're asking.
is this just a transformers problem? Because the way this is shot paints the picture that this is only a transformers problem. Is this the case for mafex, mezco, or any other type collection?
Dude! That Ark display is amazing!!! With Transformers and other things I collect o put a cap on myself. I think of the shelf before I go in on a line. Dragon Ball Z; only the heroes that are in the title song and one of each only. Transformers; season 1 to the movie, no Defensor, no Coneheads, only 1 seeker and Autobots that I actually care about. Power Rangers I'm sticking to the 2 seasons that meant the most to me. Mighty Morphin and Ninja Storm. By putting these restrictions on myself I can make sure I don't buy things I think I like, but I don't love. I just recently decided I'm out on MP Beast Wars, because only love 1 or 2 characters and those characters don't have figures yet.
If I payed for a figure that transforms, not that I go and transform them often, I want to at least know I can transform it. If not sell me that bad boy for a little less because it doesn't have that functionality. If a figure is created and isn't meant to transform than that's fine because it literally can't.
Hi Bobby sad panda Face🤣 You've changed, but that's ok. Lol! I think we all have a lot of respect for good teams. No one wants just one Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle? If you have a transformer, you want him to be with his team. Good guys, bad guys, G1 season 1, 2, the movie and so on. But for whatever the reason; let it be money, space, or just what you want. You may be able to find one or two good peices to represent a line. Just Luke and Vader. Just the Dinos. and Devastator😅. Its your collection, collect however you please. Sorry for the long one (so to speak) and keep them coming ( so to speak) 😆
Where can I get that RobertCop figure from?
What would you recommend for someone First Third Party Transformer
Honestly, it seems to me more like your burnt out rather than being in a rut. Maybe take a step back from transformers for a while and try to get refreshed and recharged.
Who is buying the Huntress statue?
My 2 cents, you're overthinking it. And overthinking makes no one happy.
Just put everything in one detoowlf
im with him about the cartoon accuracy craze, i dont get why people need their toys to look exactly like a cartoon that looked pretty lousy a lot of the time
I came to the conclusion just recently that I’m not playing Pokémon. Don’t need to catch em all. I mean...who fucking cares about Windcharger. Seriously.
Since then, I’ve sold a lot of characters I just don’t give a shit about. Why do I have Prowl, Bluestreak, and Smokescreen? It’s the same fucking thing. Sorta feeling that way about Seekers. I don’t even collect anything other than Transformers. Can’t imagine dealing with other lines in addition to being dissatisfied with TFs.
Are these exerps from a podcast? Or is it just its own youtube thing?
i sold my figures before it was cool
;)
Sad panda. 😂🤣😂🤣
I just watched this series and I think I know the problem with displaying TF figures. The real difference between Star Wars, Dragon Ball, even Funko Pops vs Transformers, Hot Wheels, even Legos is the former are mostly humans/humanoid figures. Human type figures look good just posed standing there (Hot Toys), even better in an action pose (Dragonball). Humanoid figures are interesting to look at period, especially higher end figures. Whereas a vehicle, like Transformers are only interesting for a little while, then it just gets uninteresting. Compare a Stormtrooper and an X-wing. Sure both can be highly detail, but in the end, the X-wing is just a boring vehicle. It is when it is interacted with a human figure that it becomes interesting. As for the diorama, the best ones that are showcased are the ones at the Con (botcon, tfcon, etc) displays where they are both in robot mode and vehicle mode showcasing some fight. The background is just a generic display, either on a mountain top, desert, etc. They are not just standing around. Maybe if you add some "human" toys into a scene where there is some type of interaction the diorama scene would be more interesting. I think with Transformers, it just a robot that is standing there. They maybe different shapes, sizes, colors, but in the end it is still a robot that gets boring to look at, especially in vehicle mode. Compare your Hot Toy figure or even Star War figure to a Hot Wheel or even a Ninja Turtle van. Which is more interesting? I think this is what causes figure fatigue, especially with Transformers.
I don't think flametoys is anything special there are figures who transform who more than impressive in articulation. The cross dimensions works has great dsiplay and figures for what they are.
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Third......