I didn't think it would get so crazy either... I figured another 90-100 figures from the OT and then the prequel figures.    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

Those EE case assortments are pretty accurate.

Wave 1.5 shipped first from E-tailers, but now some e-tailers like NewForce and EE are shipping wave 1.  Also, wave 1 cases have turned up at KB and a few other retailers so Luke is trickling out.


I still think they should have done FOUR cases as follows:

Wave 1
2x Han, Ben, Luke, Leia

Wave 2
2x Vader, Yoda, 3PO, Lando

Wave 3
2x Fett, Stormie, R2, Chewie

Wave 4
1x Han, Chewie, Luke, Ben, Yoda, Vader, Stormie, Fett

I think that would have been just fine... get out equal amounts of the figures, then one last push of the main characters to capture any DVD rush that happens to pop up.

Dang, why aren't I in charge of Hasbro's case packs?

Jeff

I'm working on a shelf in the Star Wars Room that I call...

"Star Wars Wasteland"

I've got the little bar peices from the WM Cantina wave 1 there, along with all the figures that I have no use for anymore: Leia Collection figures, PotF2 Fett, PotF2 Lobot, CT Greedo, PotF2 Ponda, PotF2 Gen. Lando, Hoth Luke, etc.

Eventually, there will be 6 more bar peices there (from box 1 and 2), so there'll be plenty more drinkin space for the soon to be replaced CT Wuher, PotF2 Dr. Evazan, Cantina Ponda Baba, Cantina Obi-Wan, and more I'm sure.  

They all hang out in this little bar, drinking away the misery of having been replaced by a superior version, knowing that they are no longer loved.  Granted, they'll always have a place in my heart, but what's done is done and I've moved on.  At least they have each other for support...

Jeff
 

Here's a shot of my Cantina the way it is currently set-up...



See my Baniss Keeg figure over in the customs section!

Jeff

Ours are taller, good to -70 C and all white.  Better for hunting polar bears.  Eh.  

Like this?



I hear a lot of Winnipeg guys wear these on their Polar Bear hunts...

Jeff

Nice.

Great Job, SWShop.com!  

I guess I got my answer on whether I am going to try to order the Holo-Emperor exclusive for my MOMC collection!

Jeff

Dang!  OTC has finally hit Target, and it looks like it's gonna hit hard!  I found the following today:

OTC 12" Fett (gray), Stormtrooper, Luke
OTC Lightsabers (electronic and basic)
OTC X-Wing ($20)
OTC TIE Fighter ($20)
OTC Falcon ($50)
vOTC Han, Leia, Ben ($10)
OTC Bespin Wave ($5)
Unleashed Leia ($15)
Unleashed Obi-Wan ($15)
and, tucked around the aisle, the Galactic Heroes Falcon ($30)

I grabbed myself a new Falcon and left the rest!

At least 1/2 the aisle was packed with the OTC stuff and it looked GREAT.  They (Target) reset with all new GI Joe, Batman Animated, JL Unlimited stuff too.  I'd say watch for all Targets to reset the aisle soon!

Jeff