Luck...As It Happens...Part II

As collectors, we're often not privy to some of the amazing finds out there. Occassionally we'll hear about a "once-in-a-lifetime" score, or maybe we'll happen to watch a very public eBay auction which then results in a fallout years later.

But sometimes, a find happens that is too good not to share.

On to Part II...

Luck...As It Happens Part 1

Looking back on almost forty years of "collecting" (as of this writing, I'm 45 and while I received my first Transformer at the age of four, I certainly wasn't a collector then), I'm always astounded by what are often referred to as "once-in-a-lifetime" finds. Things that happen by pure luck or circumstance, or even hard work, but that will never, ever happen again. And in all my years, I've never had a story like that.

Until now.

A Different Kind of Galvatron...maybe?

Of all the toys I received as a kid, few hold the kind of real estate in my memory that the original Galvatron does. Christmas 1986. I remember tearing open that box and finding him there in his cannon mode, that massive neon orange barrel staring back at me, and thinking this was easily the most impressive thing I'd ever owned. 

Ehobby 88 Roadhauler...or is that Hauler...or maybe...Loadhauler?

Talk about a toy with a complex history. When the Ehobby reissues first started coming out back in the early 2000's, this guy was an immediate standout. In my efforts to rebuild my collection, I knew I had to bring this guy back into the fold. The last time I owned him he was completely sealed. But I managed to snag one that was opened and yet unused. So let's take a closer look...

Collection Archive is Up!

What's the point of a blog if it can't be used as reference material?

I've never collated all my collection pictures in one place until now. Come with me on a journey through time, starting way back in 1985 up to present day exploring how my collection has grown, changed and evolved over the years.

This archive details my collection in just about every stage of my life, shown through pictures that I had to dig deep to find (many on film!)

You can get to the Archive at the link across the top anytime or just check it out here!

Botcon 2001...How does one begin an Obsession?

To say that Botcon 2001 was the beginning would be misleading at best. I mean, I still to this day vividly recall obtaining my very first Transformer when I was still only five years old and carrying it with pride through my father's restaurant.

Now whether that is a real memory or something that has been conglomerated over the years I can't say. But while that might have been the beginning of my relationship with these little plastic toys, Botcon 2001 was the event that changed that relationship forever.

Starting from Scratch...almost

When one sells their entire collection and then decides they want to start again, where do you start? Do you try to obtain everything you let go of, or do you explore new opportunities?

This is the question I find myself facing.

The G2 Stunticons - A Grail Like No Other

Upon coming back to this blog and looking through the last series of posts, I’m actually amazed I never took the time to sit down and chronicle what had to be one of my biggest successes as a collector in my history.

Finding and purchasing a set of carded G2 Stunticons.

Transformers ONE

This isn’t going to be a movie review, because I don’t do those. But more like a retrospective, now that we’re about a year post-release of what I consider one of the best Transformer movies produced.

IT NEVER ENDS!!

When Simon Furman penned those words into Transformers #79 I imagine he had no real idea of how they would continue to resonate through the fandom for decades to come and in some ways define what Transformers means.

Update: The End...and The Beginning

Well...

It's been one hell of a ride.

Five Tips to Sell Transformers Right: A Journey Through Transformer Land

(Guest Post courtesy of Matthew Camaratta from Transformerland.com)

“It’s not safe to buy stuff online.”

Collection Room Update

Just the picture. Not much else going on 😉

One Year Later...

So despite the fact I have "officially" ended my Transformer blogging days, it doesn't mean my collection doesn't still continue to grow and evolve. I suppose my ultimate goal is to have my very last post reflect a completely finished collection room, and when I say finished I mean all the G1 figures and boxes complete and displayed, and all ID tags in place. Things like Masterpiece won't be done for a while so that section will always continue to grow.

A Curator's Dream: Realized (and Thanks for all the Fish)

It has been nearly a year since I began my journey to acquire two of every G1 figure and put them on display. A lot has changed in that time, some good, some bad and some unexpected. But if there is one thing we can count on in this life, it is change. So without further delay, I present what will probably be my final post

Generation One Dutch Poster Catalog

I picked up this very interesting piece of paperwork a few months ago, I thought it was a beautiful representation of the '86 and '87 figures. When folded up it is 6" x 9", which is still pretty large for a catalog. Unfolded it is 18" x 24", quite large indeed. Though there are some oddities of note on here that I found interesting.

A Quick Update: G1 Tracks and Kup

I'm considering doing mini updates every time I finish off a figure for my new display, so this is in some ways a test. Here are two I've just finished, enjoy the beauty of the "catalog"shots:

I also did a new background test, but I fear trying to do this for every picture may take up too much time. I think it turned out pretty though!

That's two more down, only about 320 to go!

See also:

A Preview of Things to Come

A Preview of Things to Come

They say a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step, which is how I am feeling about my newest collecting venture. After taking over twenty seven years to accumulate the entire run of Generation One toys, I am setting myself up to do it all over again.

Where is everyone going? The Exodus

I've become aware of an ever increasing trend in the Transformers community lately: longtime prominent collectors scaling back by orders of magnitude, or getting out of the hobby altogether. I must admit I am not immune to this recent trend as I have recently written about on this very blog. But why are so many collectors seemingly abandoning something they have spent years of their lives working on and obsessing over? I don't know for sure, but I have a few theories.

A Very Special Gift (Part III)

I thought it only appropriate to post the last of the three gifts I received as a result of Charticon on the cusp of the one-year anniversary of the official start to the show (August 9th). This gift is perhaps the most meaningful, not only because it was so unexpected, but because it came from the entire staff of the show, whom all became my good friends after the show was over.