How people decided on a specific area in which to collect

[8bitaaron]

Recently as my collection has grown I've noticed that it ranges from figures to play sets, vehicles and accessories. As much as I'd like to collect everything I could, money and space become an issue (not to mention my partners views on things!)

I was wondering how people decided on a specific area in which to collect? As I don't have a faintest idea what road I should take.

Cheers!

 

[Joe]

I think it can take a long time to decide on the path you want to really be on Aaron.

Personally I did a lot of acquiring (random buys for years) and not a lot of thinking when I got into Vintage again as an adult, I bought a load of stuff just because (cheap, liked it at the time, always wanted one since I was little etc) and in the end I sold it all and started over lol

Usually the area that most interests you will take over from everything else naturally as you spend more time researching and collecting it so all I can say is - what really interests you at the moment and could you see yourself sticking to that only for years to come? Has it got the legs to become a long term collecting venture or will it fizzle out due to lack of items to buy?

 

[JuniorChubb]

It was loosies for me first, quite straight forward as for most of us its all about the figures...

I started to focus on Walrus Man as he was my only surviving childhood figure and in between loosies and WM I have picked up a few other pieces that have just simply taken my fancy or been great bargains...

Let go of your feelings and see what path you get taken down. :wink:

 

[Joe]

I agree with JC that the usual "right of passage" for any collector is a loose set because while you collect them you can read up and learn about everything else that is out there. You can then say to yourself - ok by the time I have completed this loose set I should know what I want to collect next

 

[Richard_H]

Loose figures don't take up a lot of space but it is easy to be distracted by some cool vehicles. Go for a full set if figures with major variants and then see what happens

 

[JuniorChubb]

it is easy to be distracted by some cool vehicles

:lol: this is exactly what happened to me :lol:

 

[edd_jedi]

Yep as with most people, I started off buying £2 or £3 loose figures, although from junk shops rather than online. I then moved on to MOCs but like many here didn't have a huge disposable income (especially as I was 13 when I started collecting MOCs) so for the best part of 10 years, I never spent more than £100 on a single MOC. Many only cost me £10-£20. Unfortunately I eventually caved in and moved on to more expensive MOCs, I think the first one I bought that cost more than £100 was a 12 back R2-D2.

So yes I agree, most people start small and work their way up. It's more fun that way IMO - on RS there seem to be a handful of people who have more money than Bill Gates and think nothing of putting together a full set of <insert focus here> graded AFA 90 within a few weeks. I don't see where the fun in that is personally.

 

[shawn_k]

A lot of it for me was just a natural evolution of my collection. I took a long time to complete my basic loose figure set, but while I was doing so, I looked at a lot of other areas of collecting and found what interested me the most. The coin thing, I had always been interested in as I remembered seeing POTF in the stores back in the day. For mailers it was the Kellerman book that brought about the interest in those as I was interested in the various paperwork and label numbers for each specific one. The character focus also just happened as I got interested a little bit into the LJ variations and started picking up MOCs.

Having said that though, I also have dabbled in other areas as well. I bought a few vehicles and then found out that I couldn't continue that with my limited space.

 

[tiefighterboy]

I collect everything vintage and have no focus...so it is not a requirement to focus in any one area.

 

[edd_jedi]

Having said that though, I also have dabbled in other areas as well. I bought a few vehicles and then found out that I couldn't continue that with my limited space.

Man I'd love to put together a set of MISB vehicles, every time one comes up for sale I have to bite my lip! But as you say, they're just not practical to display or even store.

 

[8bitaaron]

Let go of your feelings and see what path you get taken down. :wink:

Thanks for the advice guys, i'm almost there with my loose collection, so once that's done we'll go from there. Its just so hard to turn down some things, my last few purchases have all been boxed vehicles (including a MISB AT-AT , I've got a real soft spot for AT-AT's but I don't think that's practical!) I think i've leaned more toward the vehicles recently as I feel i'm getting more for my money? as it seem loose figures have gone up in price a lot recently. Similar to JuniorChubb the only surviving figure i had from my childhood was a KLAATU figure so that could be an option to look at.

Thanks again!

 

[JuniorChubb]

Well at least a Klaatu focus would be cheap and easy to pick them up... I swear those damn things breed like rabbits :lol:

 

[x-pack]

Same as pretty much everyone else. Started collecting loose figures. Once family members knew i collected they started picking up all manner of shite for me.

Since joining this forum i've been doing a little Royal Guard focus. Love ERG's and they aren't silly money

 

[Dublinjeff]

Hi, like a lot of the lads have said I got back into collecting with loose figures, focused on getting a full set etc....I did buy some cheap moc at that time but have sold a good few of them now. I dabbled in an AT AT commander focus but decided that It wasn't for me...... I always kept thinking "ooh I like these cards" so kept buying different cards aswell as the focus which was a bit pointless... :lol:

I guess it's very much each to their own, Like someone said earlier as you collect more and find out more info about the hobby you will most likely find out what suits you

 

[sith-smith]

My initial focus was to get everything I could. In the early 90's this was farily cheap by hitting loads of car boot sales. I sirt of started with completing a loose collection of figures, vehicles and playsets with also the aim of getting as many of various things as I wanted as a child but didn't have (e.g. 100 stromtroopers, several At At's)

This became a much bigger ordeal than I originally imagined as I was given the Swansweet book that showed everything!! So I settled for the standard figure line (No vc, blue snag, DT sabers) and what vehicles playsets I could get. Nothing boxed or carded and didn't exptect to pick up any of the US only releases of things.

Thing is so much can affect a focus; money, opportunity, determination, arrogance etc. I doubt there are many people who started with a clear focus that didn't change it/add to it.

I started with a complete set of standard loose figures. I know collect Palitoy carded figures and Trilogo miscards...I never saw either of those happening when I started back in 93.

Once I discovered collectors shops, shows and the internet it all changed!! Must be evenmore likely that a focus will alter as those things are readily available now!

 

[theslider]

When I first got into collecting in the early 2000s I set about getting a full set of loose figures - I eventually flogged everything off and didn't even look at another SW toy for about nine years.

Got back into the habit by drunkenly looking at eBay one night and ended up buying a bunch of loosies which I then split up and sold on. Nowadays I just try and collect Palitoy carded figures as they were the ones I bought as a kid and for nostalgia you can't beat that red and blue logo!

As a bit of a side focus I also try and collect carded die cast vehicles - had quite a few of these as a kid and loved them.

 

[Palifan]

When I first got into collecting in the early 2000s I set about getting a full set of loose figures - I eventually flogged everything off and didn't even look at another SW toy for about nine years.

Got back into the habit by drunkenly looking at eBay one night and ended up buying a bunch of loosies which I then split up and sold on. Nowadays I just try and collect Palitoy carded figures as they were the ones I bought as a kid and for nostalgia you can't beat that red and blue logo!

As a bit of a side focus I also try and collect carded die cast vehicles - had quite a few of these as a kid and loved them.

I'm with you on that brother although I've still got a loose collection of the first 20 and I've picked up most of the Palitoy play sets and vehicles with alternative artwork to the Kenner ones (still need a droid Factory though but I've always been a little uncertain about that one for some reason).

It's probably best to start with the figures as they take up the least amount of space and money. Just trying to get a fully complete set in really decent condition can take a good amount of time so it should stop straying into other areas for awhile. The problem I've found with the vehicles has always been the space to keep them. It hasn't stopped me but at some point having things just sat up in the loft will become a bit pointless. I really believe these things need to be out in the open to be enjoyed and it's such a shame to have them just in storage. The end of the day though it's all about the personal enjoyment yo get from collecting and seeing the collection grow. Maybe the space will dictate the focus?