JediDefender.com Forums
Community => Watto's Junk Yard => Topic started by: Brian on July 29, 2004, 11:40 AM
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When you started (or re-started) collecting, did you ever think it would go as far as it did? Whether it is Star Wars, another toy line, or something totally different...did you ever think your collection would grow to what it is now? Maybe some of you never did stop in the first place. For me, I had quite a few vintage Star Wars toys as a kid...most of which I still have..but didn't actively collect anything Star Wars after that. I didn't even jump in initially with the POTF2 re-release (although I did look at them from time to time). For some reason I never just started up. I remember when I first got back, it started with a "I'll just get....and that will be it". For me, it was around the time of Episode I, and I worked at a retail store in college...and I picked up 6 figures: Obi-Wan, Qui-Gon, Darth Maul, Yoda, C-3PO, and R2-D2. I got the ones "from the OT", and then the other ones I knew were main characters. I also picked up the commtech versions of Han and Luke, and said that would be it. I just wanted to have those. Well, and a Vader. And a.....
Then...I ended up picking up more loose POTF2 figures via ebay, retail, or online. Ever since then it has snowballed. I wasn't a completist during the Episode 1 time, but did pick up quite a few. Then came POTJ, and I decided to get every single one (I think I did miss one or two at the end though, like Jar Jar w/tongue). Ever since then I have been selective in my purchases (for the most part), but do pick up most of the basic line. I've also expanded into other areas (Unleashed, finishing out vintage line, glasses, Galactic Heroes, etc.). I have also picked up some LOTR, Spidey, and Marvel figures along the way (along with some other miscellaneous figures), that I know I never would have even known about or gotten into if it wasn't for collecting Star Wars. I guess, when you first started collecting in modern times, did you say "just this one, or that one", did you intend to be in it for the long haul? Which figures did you want (who were your "just this")? Did you even realize the scope of what was (or would be) released? I am in no way unhappy with what I have purchased, I really enjoy my collection (and continue to), but looking at it, I never would have guessed it would have went this far (or that I'd have spent this much!). What are your stories? :)
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No way...I really didn't start going hard core until I got out of College. Until then I just picked up a few figures (the first 2 Waves of POTF2 and some of the 2-1B Luke Hoth Wave) I had around 20-40 when Episode I came out and I started going gaa gaa. And then I started down the dark path of other toy lines with 1 Wave of the Simpsons...
I never in a million years thought I'd have this much crap in 1998
Looking at my history though I've always had some sort of collection going so its not too surprising that I collect something. Too bad its not money :P
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Did I intend to go this far? I suppose so. I was gonna ride the SW collecting train 'til the bitter end. I was still riding it through the dark days of the late 80's and early 90's, so I ain't stoppin' now!
Did I ever expect Hasbro to go this far though? Hell NO! :o
But yeah, it has gotten slightly out of control over recent years, and with so many no sub-lines emerging (MR, GG, Code 3, etc...), it's just going to continue to get harder and harder to stay in the game as much as I'd really like to, when I want to keep expanding my collection as the various SW licensees continue to grow...
The wife's finally starting to get a little nervous about it all though... :-\
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I didn't think it would get so crazy either... I figured another 90-100 figures from the OT and then the prequel figures. :o Boy was I wrong.
I started out in 96, buying Han and Chewie for nostalgia. Then, I needed Vader. Then, I needed Obi-Wan to fight Vader on my shelf. Then, I decided to grab 3PO and R2. Then, I decided to grab Leia and Luke too... next thing I knew I was collecting these things left and right, carded and loose, buying EVERYTHING: MicroMachines, Bend-Ems, Action Fleet, 12", etc. I mean EVERYTHING with the SW logo on it was ending up in my house!
Eventually other stuff stared leaking into my collection too... X-Files, Xena, X-Men, Batman, etc. If I liked a TV show/movie and there were figures, I eventually ended up with them.
Then, I had a breaking point. I remember buying a Hyper-Armor something-or-other robot-fightin' Gambit and thinking, "What the hell am I doing?" It was an epiphany of sorts. I realized I had waaaaaaaay too much stuff and was spending waaaaaay too much $$ tracking all this extra stuff down, despite the fact that I no longer had any interest in it (trying desperately not to sound like someone else here *cough* :-[).
Here I am, out of college with a crappy starter job and I'm burying myself in CC debt for figures that I no longer liked? I think I got caught up in collecting AF lines before I thought out the ramifications like cost, storage space, and longevity... there's something about a line that ends that just kills your love for it, you know. I also think that I ended up buying a lot of that other junk (X-Men, et al) because there were no new SW figures to buy on that toy run and I just wanted to buy something... not a good reason to collect a toy line. :(
So, somewhere in the late 90s as I prepared for the Ep1 figures (around fall 98- early 99), I decided to focus solely on 3.75" SW figures and accessories since that's what I had as a kid. I sold off all of my non-SW stuff and all of my non-3.75" SW stuff and have been much happier with my collection.
Of course over time again, I have let a few other figure lines slip into my collection here and there, like the Playskool Galactic Hereos, my DC Pocket Heroes, or my DC Direct Green Lantern Stuff. Don't get me wrong, it is hard sometimes to pass up some of those awesome lines like Marvel Legends or MotU, but I know that I'll just eventually get tired of them too, just easier to skip it in the first place. Much easier to collect a toy line you are passionate about then one you like just because it "looks cool".
Reading through that Collector Challenge sticky Thread, I don't know how some of you guys can do it! I have enough trouble keeping up financially with SW, no room for more. :(
Jeff
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Of course over time again, I have let a few other figure lines slip into my collection here and there, like the Playskool Galactic Hereos, my DC Pocket Heroes, or my DC Direct Green Lantern Stuff. Don't get me wrong, it is hard sometimes to pass up some of those awesome lines like Marvel Legends or MotU, but I know that I'll just eventually get tired of them too, just easier to skip it in the first place. Much easier to collect a toy line you are passionate about then one you like just because it "looks cool".
Reading through that Collector Challenge sticky Thread, I don't know how some of you guys can do it! I have enough trouble keeping up financially with SW, no room for more.
This is an excellent point Jeff, and something I've been thinking about more and more lately too. Star Wars is always first and foremost with me, and that isn't going to change, so that is always where the most of the collecting moneys go to. I've dabbled in other lines here or there, and some I have eventually lost interest in, I got into too late, or they were short lived (Batman, MOTU, Muppets). The only other lines I've actively pursued (granted, much more limited) are Spidey/Marvel Legends and Lord of the Rings. I'm not sure if we can handle it financially, and I know my wife is becoming frustrated whenever I buy some other "toy" that isn't Star Wars (which she thinks is enough, and is probably right).
It is hard enough to keep up with Star Wars stuff anymore, with all the different licensees involved, and many that I've had to avoid just because I can't afford it. I really enjoy the Marvel Legends line, but I've given thought to limiting myself to Spider-Man and his universe if I pursue a 2nd line to Star Wars at all. I do like my LOTR figures, and would like to get 4 more (9 total), and I think I'd be happy with that. Its probably a weird way to feel...but even though I really enjoy collecting these other lines too, I sometimes start to feel "overwhelmed" with all these things to keep track of, save up for, find room for, etc. Even though it is my choice totally to collect anything at all, so it does seem silly to think that way I guess. Anyways...this post was longer than it needed to be...but good point Jeff ;)
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I knew that SW figs would catch on again. Seems almost anything retro these days has an audience. I just would not of guessed at all the rehashes and resuclps over the last 9 years. Its mindboggling that its been that long since the line got reintroduced.
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When I started collecting the POTF2 line, I knew I wanted every figure Hasbro made.
I never fathomed there would be so damn many variants of Vader, Tatooine Luke, C-3PO, R2-D2, or even two Lobots.
I've managed to break my completism habit, but I collect a few other lines like Buffy, LOTR, Marvel Legends, stuff by McFarlane/Neca, and other random junk like DC Direct.
I've got so much now that's it's really hard to greet anything with enthusiam. There really isn't anything 'new' in the Star Wars line until next summer, LOTR still has some figures to crank out, who knows how far the Buffy/Angel line will last, ML is making me sick with shortpacks and chases, and McFarlane/NECA put out so much neat **** that I can't help but buy 'em. When I add on my interest in comics, DVDs, and music, I noticed I really wasn't holding on to money as well as someone my age should.
I kind of really, really realized how out-of-control I am when I bought a Cantina Han and Wicket on OTC cards for the simple fact they were on an OTC card. Guh. ::)
:P End.
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I started at age 15 and went all out. It certainly got worse as time went by and I started collecting other parts like Unleashed, Vintage, 12" etc...
I guess I knew I'D go this far, but I didn't imagine that Hasbro would.
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No effin' way!
I started collecting JP, and I knew I would have alot, but then I couldn't shake the SW bug, and lo and behold.
Kevin
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There's an old (though perhaps not too wise) saying 'round these parts... "Go hard, or don't go at all!".
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No way.
I think Ben said it best: there's just so much that fatigue is inevitiable. I know this is kind of my theme but it's true. And as I get older, my interests veer. I think if I had a better paying job, my attitude might be different, but then maybe they wouldn't.
I for one am glad there are only seven new SW figs until some time this year or next. A break is necessary for me to sustain enthusiasm. At the same, other lines (also like Ben) such as ML or LOTR or Buffy or what have you are more interesting, but I'm no more able to be a completist anymore. I just buy what I like now and don't worry about the short packs or rare stuff.
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I think my problem is is that I hunt too much at retail and don't do enough online shopping, which is always more fruitful.
I don't think my fatigue would be near what it is if I just ordered cases from EE or wherever. But there's that nagging thought in my head that Hasbro will send screwy case assortments, ala VOTC. It doesn't help when the newest Wal-Mart here cracks open another HOF wave case while the crappy WM in town has received OTC stuff three times already.
I did find an OTC Stormtrooper today, so that helped. I just might order those wave 11 and 11.5 cases from EE so I don't have to hunt those down, and since it's the last wave of a line, it will be impossible to find here. Never did find the Endor Generals wave here, and I'll be damned if I'm missing them again.
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When you started (or re-started) collecting, did you ever think it would go as far as it did?
simple answer? no. just look at the "great 2004 collector's challenge" (http://www.jedidefender.com/yabbse/index.php?board=28;action=display;threadid=3353;start=150) thread to see what i mean.
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That dirty bastard jjks is the one who got me so hooked on SW collecting back when. I finally got out and just focus on SportsPicks now. SW just put out too much stuff after awhile. Glad I got out when I did.
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With recent word in from Rob that it sounds like Hasbro has every intention of continuing the Star Wars line through 2018, when their license expires, I thought it'd be a good time to pop this sucker back up to the top. The thought of another 13 years of collecting this stuff is a bit overwhelming really. I don't mind the spending and hunting all that much, but my biggest problem is going to have to do with space. I'm already way outta space as it is, to the point where I've got a Star Wars storage unit that I pay monthly rent on since I can't even fit half of the stuff in my collecting room. So I just have no idea whatsoever how I'll be able to deal with 13 years more worth of loot.
Unless I win the lottery, I don't really anticipate ever having more than just one collection room in any given house we ever own, so the space will likely remain constant, while the collection just continues growing. And considering I've assured my wife that things will die down immensely post Episode 3, I may have some back peddling to do now as well...
But way back in late '95, I don't think I could've ever imagined how far this hobby would've gone, even with the release of 3 new Prequel movies. A big part of the expansion lies in the "other collectibles" type of lines, like Gentle Giant, Master Replicas, Legos, Kubricks, etc., etc., etc. If things had just stayed in the 4" line, it would've been a much more tame prior decade, that's for sure. But as it stands, Star Wars saga collectibles are just crazy out of control!
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Well I simply will not financially or spacewise be able to keep up my current pace. Even it has leveled off the past few years. I never expected Hasbro to churn out the amount of figures it has. I never would have dreamed we see what 40-50 different Lukes alone. Might be exagerating but not by much.
I am glad they have put out a lot of obscure characters over the past 10 years. However, I am disappointed some figures have not been made like the Tonnika Sisters, Yarna, Hermi Odle, among others. The 12 inch line has been a disappointment the past 2 years. Some stuff is really cool but other stuff is just completely lame. It irks me that they never threw a 12" Hammerhead and other cool looking aliens, droids, pilots to the masses. The idiots did not put out a Yoda until the end of the year for AOTC. Again they follow up by not putting a Yoda out this time either. IDIOTIC!!!!!! Not even a damn 12 inch Kenobi. Although I expect a Kenobi later in the year especially if Bariss Offee and Shaak Ti are coming (which is an example of a cool 12 inch product)
I am upset that more playsets were not made like a Death Star or Cantina. Same with some bigger ships.
Anyway, I do continue to plan on collecting. Once a long time I ago I thought of myself as a completist. I kept it up until the beginning of the Saga - AOTC line. After that I could not do it. Sometimes they hit it right on the head and wow the hell out of me with their products like Ephant Mon.
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If the figures I've seen from the Early Bird set are indicative of where this line is going next year, it won't be hard to stop buying Star Wars figures. They just look like crap, at least from that one pic.
I might stick around for all-new never-before-done figures, but I doubt I'm going to buy this stuff all over again. And there is no way in hell I'm gonna keep going until 2018.
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HMI, I can't believe you dislike what was shown. I really like 'em, personally.
And no, I did not intend on going THIS far with my collection. Who knew that a line like the crap that was POTF2 would start this crazy hobby for me?
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At this point, post-VOTC, it's hard to like figures of those characters in those specific costumes anymore, at least for me.
I do kind of like the Luke, but since I'm loathe to pay $30 or more, since I'd have to order from WM.com and pay shipping for it, eh.
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I wan't planning this far ahead back in 95, but I'm in this for the long haul. I think my Dad is to blame, he made me stop collecting just before the original POTF run and I think the frustration fueled my current collecting habits.
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At this point, post-VOTC, it's hard to like figures of those characters in those specific costumes anymore, at least for me.
I do kind of like the Luke, but since I'm loathe to pay $30 or more, since I'd have to order from WM.com and pay shipping for it, eh.
I did not love the VOTC Luke and this one looks to be a lot better. R2 is just R2 and looks to be the older version. Chewbacca is basically the same as the VOTC and Leia looks to be an improvment, so while I agree, I think there is still room for improvment.
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When I was 6 I doubt I knew that my admiration for Star Wars figures would grow into an obsession. However I did know that this was something I wanted to get into and 9 years later here I am with a room full of Star Wars toys. So no I didn't believe that it would go this far.
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I didn't plan on it going this far....but I also didn't expect them to make so much stuff! :o
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I started thinking about this again lately, as I've been rearranging things in our office/collection room. To touch on the original subject, I didn't think I'd go anywhere near this far (or that the line itself would go this far). At the time, I started out picking up loose POTF2 figures that I had missed, then the current ones, never giving a thought that I'd be buying 60+ figures a year 10 years later.
Now, looking at how much crap stuff I have, I'm wondering what the future holds for collecting. I still really enjoy collecting the 3 3/4" Star Wars line, and this year has been one of the best years yet as far as nice figures go I think, but it sure has been getting tougher to keep up with financially. I've mentioned it in other threads, but I wouldn't mind a line that was a little more scaled back in releases - closer to 30-40 figures a year (in the basic line) instead of the 60 or more we get these days. Anyways, I'm curious how much longer this will go. I made (and continue to make) the mistake of getting into other lines as well - popping in and out, here and there. The lines I've primarily stuck with overall though have been Marvel/DC stuff, which I hope to continue too. This year I've also picked up Joe and Transformers stuff, again with nostalgia kicking in. I largely missed out on the last MOTU re-start, but kind of regretted it, and I could see myself buying in if they did some sort of anniversary style line there. Again - limited would be best. But, overall, I've always tried to stick to collecting Star Wars primarily - and then one "other" line. That hasn't always worked out though. As I'm thinking towards 2008 now, with DCU Classics and Indiana Jones on the horizon, I'm re-evaluating things once again.
Anyways - long story short - how long do you think you'll continue collecting? Will you go on forever, and if so, where will it all go? :P I'd likely stick with the Star Wars line until the end, unless it got really expensive or unrecognizable to me. I'm all for some EU stuff here and there, but to be honest, if the line got to the point where it was devoid of Han, Luke, Vader, Stormies, Chewie, etc. I don't know how much interest I would have. At the same time, I wonder how much better we can get than some of the versions of the main characters/army builders we have already. Of course, I'm sure the same things were said in the POTF2 days. Like Scott mentioned I believe earlier in this thread, I've always been the type of person who has collecting something throughout my life - toys, comics, sports cards, etc., so I could see myself continuing to collect something in the future. My budget doesn't necessarily allow for the higher end stuff, so its mostly been the retail "action figure" lines for me thus far. I have to say, as an example, I kind of like hearing the DCU Classics team come right out and say "5 waves, 5 figures per wave for 2008", knowing that by the end of the year you'll spend $250 and have 25 figures (and 5 BAFs) to show for it. I know its a different beast than Star Wars entirely, but I guess having that lower price (over the course of a year) and less releases to find room for is kind of a relief. Anyways, what does the future hold for your collecting tendencies, if you had to guess?
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I was hardcore into Joes, Transformers, and MASK as a kid in the 80's then I foolishly sold everything off in the mid 90's. I had a few SW figs/ships, but nowhere in comparison to the other lines.
I started back up again in 99 with TPM and I've been full steam Star Wars eversince. I have pretty much all of the carded figs/boxed vehicles/multipacks, MicroMachines, Titaniums, Unleashed so you can imagine what an issue I have with space. I managed to pick up almost all of the vintage Tranformers off Ebay and I've stuck loosely to each offspring since RID. I was into the JOE reissue stuff back in 00 but I had to dump all of that off as three lines was getting to be too much. But then I started dabbling into Spawn/McFarlane and some other stuff. Now it seems I'm in for the long haul on the 25th Joe stuff :-\ Oh and I started getting back into LEGO. I'm on my third large set right now after the Star Destroyer - this is good stuff!
As it is right now? I either need to open everything that's not already opened or I'll just need to stop collecting completlely....Plain and simple. I have no more room. I never thought I'd actually collect enough crap that I'd have to simply stop collecting due to the fact that I just don't have the room for it.
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Did I ever expect Hasbro to go this far though? Hell NO! :o
this was exactly my feeling. i had always figured the fad would die down and hasbro would stop making SW and i would have my "complete" collection. i am glad i didn't keep plugging away. how many figures are in a modern complete collection now? i have about 400 and stopped during the aotc run.
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I never thought I would end up with what I currently own. I started back in early '97 when I was senior in college. My Mom had gotten me the mail away Han in ST disguise. I stopped by a KB shortly afterwards and picked up Boba Fett, Han in Carbonite and Jedi Luke. A few months later, I had about 35 loose figures...I was coming pretty close to catching up with every figure that was out at the time. Then, there was a mail away figure...Muftak and Kabe I believe. They required a current receipt. Well, I did keep the old cards from my loose figures, so that is when I decided to buy one loose, one carded. Around the same time, my Mom took me shopping for my birthday. Toys 'R Us had several 12" figures for $10/each. Lando and Ackbar were among them I think. That is when I started collecting the 12". Toys 'R Us also had vehicles cheap around the same time ($20 AT-AT) so I started buying vehicles. I found ebay in 1999. That helped me fill all my holes in 3 3/4" figures, 12" figures and vehicles. I went to midnight madness for Ep. I and bought all the Hasbro stuff...same thing for AOTC. Then there was C2 and I found the Master Replicas booth. I purchased the Anakin FX. When I got home, I went to the website and purchased the Han Blaster since Han is my favorite character. My wife (gf at the time), said if she were a collector, she was just get the MR stuff. That sent me down the high end path. She even encouraged me to get the AT-AT when I was going to pass on it because of cost. Once Hasbro ditched the 12" line, I figured I was done. I was a little leary about Sideshow because of the price increase. I said I would order the Jedi Luke and wait till it shows up just to see how it was. Well, that didn't work. Next thing I know, I have at least a half dozen figures on preorder before ever receiving Luke.
At this point, I have so much stuff that I have trouble displaying it all. I'm in the midsts of building a collection room so at the point I'll finally be able to see how far I've gone...much farther than I ever thought back in '97.
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I was gung ho with POTF and POTF2 getting most of the figures. With Episode I and POTJ I got at least one of every figure (usually multiples). Then with Ep. II I backed off and collected those figures I really liked and wanted since I felt some of the Saga Wave left something to be desired. I went full balls out with Ep. III because I really liked that line, and stayed up with the figures through the post Ep. III. This year though I think I really shocked my wife. I have only purchased about 20 figures that either I or my son has wanted. I display only those figures that reflect a scene, or that I personally like in my office. I basically have stopped actively collecting the 3 3/4 line. I do still collect, but it is more Sideshow, Weta etc for LOTR and SW and it is items that I want to have and display. The all consuming fire ended for me and it will stay that way. Do I love Star Wars? Yes. Am I still a huge fan? Yes. Do I feel I am still a collector? Yes. But in the end, I feel I am now in charge of my collecting and collecting is not in charge of me. Part of that is age, (I'm 42), and part of that I think is finding other avenues that are just as rewarding personally.
Maybe another question is for those who have basically really backed down or stopped on the 3 3/4 line, how did you do it? I know I quit coming to boards, watching for my patterns of when figures were going to hit the shelves, not actively hunting (and I have to say I have picked up ALL of the figures I have wanted this year by going in during normal store hours) and staying close to a friend who also wanted to back down. Basically, or 5 or 6 weeks, I stopped collecting. Now I save about $300 or $400 a month (depending on how active the current line is) and I use that money to fund playing golf with my son, being part of a local hiking club, and saving most into either my 401K or into investments, or into our vacation fund so we can go to places in the country and world we want to take our kids (who are now 13 and 14) before they are too old and too involved in things.
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I'm reaching a turning point. 12 years of a carded collection is really taking up space and with my lack of enthusiasm for the PT and even less for EU, it has to stop sometime. I've decided that this year is my last carded year. The coins give it a certain symmetry to end it on that note. The question is, will I limit myself to the OT or not?
I still blame E1 for dragging it out this long. I had stopped doing carded then, but when TRU dumped the figures to $2, I was able to put together a complete carded set.
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I collected vintage as a kid and just picked up the POTF2 Fett in '95 because he looked kind of cool. An overflowing SW room later says "NO...I did not intend to go this far, but I am lovin' it!"
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I was re-arranging my display cases this week to fit in all the new figures hitting/shipping lately (4, 5, 6, Legends, etc.). Anyways, as I had things pulled out and looking at them closely again, it really hit me how much of this stuff there has been. Like I've said before, I don't have near the collection of many (or most) of the people here, but it really is accumulating at this point. When I was a kid, I wasn't fortunate enough to have anywhere near a complete collection, usually relying on what I could pick up with my "allowance", and a couple of hand me down ships. Anyways, I was looking through my modern figures, and I think I honestly have more Darth Vader figures (modern) than I had vintage figures total when I was a kid. Yikes. I'm still really enjoying collecting these days those, this year has been a great year. It just made me realize how far things have gone. I couldn't imagine having all of this if I was a kid, that would have been pretty fun.