I need to be distracted

I have been thinking further about my collecting 'system'. Figure announced, preordered, paid for, received, opened, photographed and put away. An additional step in the system is to sell an old figure when a new one is released. Intuitively I feel that I get most enjoyment from having figures on a shelf, but when those shelves are inevitably crowded, dusty and too high to be able to see without standing on a chair, perhaps it is not true. I have never been disciplined enough to maintain a rotating display.

What part of the process do I enjoy the most? It’s the anticipation and the appreciation, but the appreciation doesn’t last all that long. If I haven’t looked at something for a little while I can appreciate it all over again though.

I have gone through my Marvel 3.75” collection and identified those which I really don’t care about and popped them in a pile to sell. I’ve been fairly cautious - I kept Black Knight on the basis that he’s in the new Eternals film. I’ve also resolved to open the figures that I want but are still carded. Starting with Korg and Valkyrie. I intend to get the Bossfight studios Pegasus figure to go with Valkyrie so it really should be open. Both appeared in Thor Ragnorok so (now) pass the 'have been in something I’ve seen' test. Both are nice figures, Korg is a remold of Thing which I was quite fond of anyway. Valkyrie looks quite stern I think, through I like the braids. I feel very happy with my 3.75" collection now, having looked at all of the figures has renewed my enthusiasm for it.

Popped in a preorder for Super 7’s TMNT Leonardo, he looks really good! I'm really excited about their Thundercats and Turtles lines, despite the cost. I’ve also put in my preorders for the blue ranger, Scorponok, Sky Lynx and Snapdragon. Sunstreaker and Trailbreaker look great. I’m a bit tempted by Wheeljack as well now, it would be quite nice to have the Ark crew in the WFC line aesthetic, maybe all of the characters that started out as Diaclone toys (I think if they did Ultra Magnus battle damage free, in a lighter blue I'd be tempted).

I have decided to also downsize my Transformers collection. I'm going to get rid of most of G1 figures including my reissues, I'm just going to keep figures where I don't have a Classics version. I've also worked out which Masterpiece figures I will keep - Grimlock, Soundwave, Optimus and Bumblebee. Speaking of which, I really must open Bumblebee.... Then I'll get Megatron and perhaps Starscream if (when) they do a new one - favourite and most important characters only! I'll also get rid of some of my WST figures, though they don't take up much space, it feels like they constitute a lot of figures. I'll keep the leaders as I'm quite proud of my (complete) Autobot leader lineup and the seekers so as to have a matching set (I intend to upgrade Classics Starscream, Skywarp and Thundercracker to voyager, but not the coneheads).

I've never really decided what I was doing with my G1, WST and MP collections, I've changed course several times, I've bought bits, sold other bits off. This feels a bit more definite. I have one figure of each character that appeared in the cartoon or Lost Light comic. If I get a new one, I sell the old one off. That's the system. I'll keep my Grimlock/Ravage collection as it is - that's where the nostalgia really is. Then a very small number of important characters for Masterpiece, leaders and seekers for WST. I'm not going to be completely strict, there's still some wiggle room, especially for completing subgroups (hello Hubcap). This new way of thinking about how I organise my collection has made me think about Siege/Earthrise, I was starting to think about whether sticking with the Lambo/Datsun molds from Universe was such a good idea, perhaps it is time to upgrade. Maybe Grapple as well while I'm at it.

There is a lot of uncertainty in the world at the moment, it's times like this I'm glad I collect toys - I need to be distracted!