I want to know what everyone else thinks, do you perfer small collections (i.e ones with a few great toys) or large ones (i.e every last toy imaginable), or somewhere in between. And what do you consider too big?
Please post, no flaming, swearing, etc.

the bigger the better!

my collection is rather small, mainly due to me only buying the toys i like the look off.

I think that qualitiy is better than quantity. I myself have quite a few TF's, but all are in Mint Condition...and some are rare...so...I guess it's somewhere in between.

i agree with you sabre, you shouldnt spend great amounts of money on tf's that you might not like.

Personally, as most people on this board know, I am not a fan of huge collections. I firmly believe in quality over quantity. I’d rather have a few select that I truly want, ranging from low to some high end, maybe even collectible TFs, than to have try to collect entire lines and/or have multiples of the same figs. Yes this policy even applies to G1, I honestly would not want every single G1 fig, same goes for RiD, BW, Energon, Reissues, Universe, et al. If anything if I were in that position I would prefer to sell the ones I would not want and/or trade them away for TFs I really want.

Another factor, you should consider is that most of us do not have huge storage facilities and keeping items even loose TFs requires considerable space, especially when your collection continues to grow at an alarming rate. I know not everyone will agree, but my final points are- only collect what you really want and there is no shame or anything wrong having a smaller collection, if it consists of quality items (ie. TFs) that bring you pleasure.

My collection has grown considerably since I got back into transformers. Mostly due to the new series's that continue to be produced. My G1, Armada, RID, BM, are done. Beast Wars, and Energon though continue to grow.

It started out that I wanted to collect all the versions of Prime, and Megatron...did that, and it wasnt enough. Now with Energon I am having a hard time not picking up figures. Mostly due to the slow rate at which they are released. But once the series finishs out, I will clean out the figures I dont want, and sell them off.

As for Universe, since they are reusing old molds, some of which I never had a chance to pick up, I am sure there are a few more that I will end up owning.

And the binaltech alternators will always get picked up when they are released.

More more more... okay, but that is just, get all you like.

Small collections are better, I think. With huge collections, you can't really appreciate the individual toys because they are lost in a huge sea of plastic. Also, large collections have a tendency to look cluttered and obsessive.

With this in mind, I only display a fraction of my collection at once. It looks nice, and the viewer is able to appreciate the coolness of each toy without being overwhelmed or creeped-out.

I've got a humungo collection spanning all generations and just keeps growing. As y'all have pointed out, space does become an issue, and one does lose the individual appreciation of a figure. To try an alleviate that, I place a handfull of Transformers on my dresser top to be displayed for coolness factor. They all get posed and grouped together in coordinating schemes. I rotate them out about once a week. It gives me an excuse to constantly move them about and play with them.

-Turbine

everyone knows big is beautiful

Not to be rude, but you got to remember the larger the collection does not necessarily equal the amount of fun or enjoyment of the figures. Quality over quantity matters more.

And big can be beautiful especially if it applies to the amount in your bank account.

Not to be rude, but you got to remember the larger the collection does not necessarily equal the amount of fun or enjoyment of the figures. Quality over quantity matters more.

And big can be beautiful especially if it applies to the amount in your bank account.

If you enjoy the figures you collect than the collection can be any size.

The only problem with only buying ones you like is that you don't know if you'll like them til you get them. Some of my favorites have been ones that didn't really impress me in the package. But at the same time some that looked great in the package turned out to be duds.

I also think it's good to have multiple collection displays of transformers. My RID's are on one shelf, Energon on another, Armada put away for now, G1 on the main shelf above the TV and a collection of Primes on the nightstand. If they were all put together they would look like too much of a mess but by having each generation separate they are more satisfying.

I only partly agree with your comment, it is true you cannot tell for certain that you will like a fig based on the packaging. But with the convenience of online research and people constantly posting reviews with pics of old and new TFs, IMO it is considerably easier now to get develop a well informed opinion whether you will potentially like a TF. Researching in advance helps and also if you regularly visit any of the TF forums, people are constantly talking about upcoming figs and people who buy them do try to share pics. The only way I can see people not knowing what they are getting into, is if they do not spend anytime whatsoever researching educating themselves about what is available.

u know, I begn buying all new figures but I'm getting rid of all my non-show BM and BW figures. That because I don't really think that I can enjoy my tfs if they are hundreds all together, w/o space to be displayed. I came to this point the day i had to put something into a box to make space.

I completely know what you mean when you refer to the space issue and having to box them to store them. IMO when that happens it is time to reconsider whether or not you really have enough space and perhaps it is also time to reconsider reducing the collection to just the essentials. Quality....

As I don't have an issue with space, I prefer size. I also play several hours with each new toy I have. I quite occassionaly go and pick up some of my older ones too.

So I'll take big.

In a perfect world (for tf collectors/fans anyway) price would not be an issue, we would all have huge storage facilities for the boxed, carded, loose, and weapons/parts, a large room filled with shelves for displaying the loose ones in any group or pose imaginable, and special "spotlight" shelves for the current display or battle scene. Also special shelves for the MISB ones that are hard to find. Maybe a TV or two playing a loop of TF shows built into the walls. There would be food there too... Oh, and our wives/girlfriends would think that everything was "cool".

I voted for big collections but I respect the small, quality/rare collections. I also like to see other toys (Robotech, DBZ, Gundams...) displayed on the same wall or shelf as TF's.

I'm with you on this one.

I collect transformers I like. If there is an Optimus Prime I do not like I won't buy it. Mostly I am into the G1 reissues and figures in the other brands (Energon, Armada, Alternator etc) that look like G1 figures. I buy because I like it and that's the only reason. (For example I would not buy duplicates of Inferno, Grapple, Hoist etc because I only liked them enough to buy them once, but I did buy duplicates of Tracks, Jazz, Silverstreak, Rodimus Prime, Red alert & Alternator Sideswipe because I like them enough to have one opened and one in the box). I like Omega Supreme in Energon robot form, but his train mode sucks IMO. I also like Megatron Energon (looks more like Galvatron then the original G1 Galvatron figure they got the head perfect).

I even mix in my original G1 figures that are worn broken etc because it makes them look battleworn. A perfect example is my G1 Grimlock. He has one arm in T-Rex form and it makes him look like he went through a tough battle. Somehow the other arm came off in such a way that makes it look like he was in a battle and it was torn off,not broken however it was somehow broken by a young kid (me years ago)

I do admit to having 3 Powermaster Optimus Primes. One is the original G1 (with missing weapons & little powermaster figure but pretty much everything else intact) another is the ripoff version and the third one is the reissue version, which I'd say is the best one I have. The metallic parts are cool and the extra trailer makes a nice robot the size of the Powermast Optimus (maybe even bigger). The thing I like most about this version is the little Powermaster figure is much like what I remember the original being (the ripoff one is a different color) and also his back, or Optimus's engine in Powermaster form is metallic making it look more realistic.

I collect because I like Transformers. No other reason. I like to display them, but also while on display make it look like they are ready for war. I'll have to take some pics when my collection is more complete. I am waiting for reissue Thundercracker, Insecticons & the Alternator figures to come before I start taking pics and posting them here.

I also display my Transformers by era. Like I have the Dinobots between the older Autobots and the newer age ones like Hot Rod & Rodimus & my original targetmasters of Blurr & Kup (they actually cleaned up well and look pretty new).

The one's I am most proud of is my G1 reissue cars. Silverstreak, Prowl, Red alert (actually Red in robo form is still my G1 version) Sideswipe, Jazz, Smokescreen, Tracks & I got a Botcon collection of Sideswipe and Sunstreaker. I keep the "twins" in car mode and have a reissue Redalert to go with the twins cause I like the car forms best.

I just got a Starscream reissue in the mail today and he looks damn good. I was really surprised how great the Skywarp reissue looks. I might have to buy another just because he is so shiny and cool looking.

My advice is to buy because you like it, and for no other reason.

big misb collections are cool

Must obey subliminal messaging........must by every toy......

I buy the ones I like as oppposed to all that come out, there are a lot a crap transformers out there (I wont start listing them as I fear reprisals lol) So I am in the small collection with great toys camp, though that said even that take up a lot of space when you keep the boxes.

I believe in quality over quantity. I also like to have my transformers resemble those in the G1 show. Ready for battle instead of boring poses. I have a pefect autobot base which is on my art table. Mixing the big bots with the little ones it actually looks like autobot city. I also do it by eras. Like I have the G1 race cars all together (Silverstreak, Prowl, Red alert, Sideswipe, Sunstreaker, Jazz Smokescreen, Tracks, Overdrive) the post war movie characters (Ultra Magnus, Rodimus Prime, Targetmasters Hot Rod, Blurr, Kup, The Dinobots Grimlock, Swoop, Slag, Sludge, Snarl. The Alternators (Hound, Sideswipe, Silverstreak & Smokescreen.)

While I am not going to pass up any reissues (unless I really don't like them) I won't buy more then 1 of anything I am not crazy about. I buy one of each reissue just to avoid future regret. You know how you might night like so and so and then turn around and enjoy that transformer. With the transformers being as hard to get as they are it is better to buy now and if you still don't like it in the far future you can sell them at a profit. I stick mainly to G1, G1 reissues, Alternators and select one's from the various transformer brand that look like their G1 counterparts. I buy what I like 90-95 percent of the time. Sometimes I regret buying some (like Cruellock, Universe Rachet, Armada Wheeljack, Energon Jetfire & a few others), but we all make that mistake from time to time. Limited funds also helps make it easier to pick and choose & try to make sure I like what I buy.

Small collection.

Been collection since I was wee tike. I can honestly say i prefer to have a collection full of toys that I like and proud to own rather just a collection of everything with toys i dont really like. I have a few in my collection like Tankor and i just dont like it and keep it hidden off to the side of my collection.

With me it all comes down to if i enjoyed the TV/comic series the toy is from, the poseability/look of they toy itself and if the character is a charater i enjoyed.

I too belive in Quality over Quantity. In fact its a good idea to downsize every once and a while and get rid of the sucky cheap ones.

I'm a completist, so I've got to say Big collections.

Usually I'll collect whatever I like. I'm more liberal towards the choice of Decepticons and more particular in my choice for Autobots. You can say that I'm "somewhere in between".

Having more stuff to look at and transform is always more fun. I suffer from a mild case of collector syndrome. If I have one figure from a particular line, I can't stand not having another figure to go with. Then if I have an odd number I have to make it even. If I have more Autobots, I have to equal it out with Decepticons. But at the same time I have to atlease like the figure. I've passed on several figures over the years. I didn't buy over half of the Beast Machines line.

I don't care how many Transformers you have, but huge collections on display look really dumb... You know what I mean? Some of the pictures I've seen of bigger collections are impressive, but I couldn't IMAGINE living in a room like that. Meh, to each his own, but I really appreciate a well thought out, well designed living space. Me, I have a small collection (just all the Hasbro and a few Takara reissues, plus 20th Prime and the Alternators), but even that is getting to be a bit too much for my shelves. It's not like I have a small home, either...

But hey, like I said, to each his own.

When I move out of my parent's house, after I graduate college, I plan on having some nice, symmetrical display cases around one single room in the house. They will be filled and be suupah sweet. It also means I can lock away all my dorkisms into one room that no one else has to know about

I love the big collections because I always have something new to play with. It's also fun the few times I set out to re-organize the whole thing for when a new series starts to come out. I just wish I had more space. Right now the piles make the collection look cluttered and messy, but in about 2 years, all will be fixed.

-Turbine

I'm not a diehard fan of all things Transformers.. my collection is still probably on the mid/small end compaired to those who've been bitten bad.. but I do know my vices and I know them well.. I'm a semi completist.. I want to get every figure in a line sans recolors if it can be avoided.. sometimes recolors if it's done exceptionally well.. (Razorclaw/Tigerhawk.. still wanna get Cryotek to go with Megs) .. I got into armada from a 50% off sale.. and I bought Demolisher and the land military team.. next thing I knew I was thrown into my vice and I had to finish what I started.. I don't own energon for that very reason.. and I even ran into Acree a few days back.. I'm worried if I buy just one, I'll feel need to get them all to complete the set.. and I don't wanna do that anymore. So I'm just doing Alts and G1 re-issues now.. with universe thrown in here and there.. it's a wild card line.. you never know what you're gonna get from that one.. and with color schemes ranging from alright to fugly.. it's safe for me.. haha... well, thats my story..

Feel for ya man.. seen your pics.. I'm no where near as far as size goes, but since my old room was so small it looked cluttered..

Planning the same thing as soon as I get stable enough as far as living quarters goes..

It really just depends on what makes you happy, a huge collection can make 1 guy happy, or a 1 mint condition still packaged prime. For me personally I would love to see a merge of the 2. One huge collection of all top quality tfs, but I would want to seem them loose, packaged are neat and all but I wanna see the toy in form, like combined, transformed, in the mouth of grimlock etc. I don't collect for money investment I collect to get that nostalgic feel from being 8 years old again and playing transformers. (on a side note, G1 is the best imo, with Armada a close 2nd)

I think it's a matter of "to each his own" to a degree, but I will say that I am NOT a fan of "MISB" collections. I want my collection to look appreciated, not like a toy store aisle. Having a few in boxes is cool if you have more than one, but like posted somewhere above, I'm in it for the love of the bots, not for a financial gain. That's why I opened my MISB E-Hobby gold Jazz as soon as I got it, no hesitation whatsoever. Because he looks like he's coated in electrum. Remember the Golden Laggoon episode? Gold Jazz was worth $60 to display, just for that reason. And not as a car, so I HAD to open him. I also like the concept of separating by "phase" or series... early and post movie G1, G2, Beast Wars, whatever, should at least have it's own shelf. Mine, I have one wall with shelves on it. There's a window, so to the left of the window is 3 shelves of Autobots, mainly G1 or G1 Reissue, with 20th Prime and the Alts on the top shelf. To the right of the window is the G1 Decepticons, with Alt Dead End and Armada Unicron sharing the top shelf with G1 Menasor, Astrotrain, Blitzwing, and a Knockoff Devastator. I also have a separate shelf mounted on a separate wall just for the Dinobots, in Dino mode. (Swoop hangs fron the ceiling on nearly transparent threads, cool effect.) Once I get a whole room, I'll move on to Post movie and beyond. Oh, and even though I open my TF's, I do save the boxes, sticker sheets, missile trees, etc., just incase of a resale in the future. They're all in the closet.

As far as I'm concerned I dont think it matters the size of any one collection, I think the most impostant thing for TF collectors is to get the toys you want and nothing more. As far as I'm concerned there's no collection to big or to small its all about getting the toys you want.

I have a rather small collection...really small. Overall, I am pleased with what I have so far. I think if you collect TFs, it's got to be something you're not going to be sick of or regretful that you spent every cents over. I'm really selective that way. I think either big or small, it's got to be something you're proud of having. However, I agree with some of you that quality is better than quantity nonetheless. It's just a pref.

As far as displaying, I'd wish I can see more TF pose displaying or thematic displaying. I used to worked with retail windows..."Less is more" as I was always encouraged. (Just a hint)

But with all the collections I've seen...I am enviously impressed.

The more stuff you have to look at and display the better. I usually still only buy figures I really like or think I absolutely need to have to fit what ever my minds deems complete.

Until I realized I could include my Battle Beasts I was for smaller collections. After that I figured why not have at it.

I may have a rather normal collection *Over 300* but there isn't a single toy that I do not like. THere are some I like less then others*E-Ironhide, Arm Hot Shot* but I do enjoy them, all of them.

Good Day,

I am an old timer collector. Started back in 1984. I saw the tv show and I was emidiatly hooked. A week later a went to the local store and ask them to order some transformer...You should have see the clerks face....Transformer...what for... what do you want it for, your house?

My collection is huges, every G1, G2,Europ, Beast. Just recently I started to collecte the Japan. I have a room ( more of a shrine ) for the toys. Every single item has it own charm.

I also collect decoys, cards and items. The Robots them selve a great but a toy is nothing with out the actual history of the toy. So bio card of all kind can be found.

Further more I also have Gobots ( old and the New transformer Playschool gobots ) and Gundam and All sort of Battle Suits I could find during my years.

Big or small a collection is a collection. I personaly like the engineering involved in the toy. Personaly I like it big...more chaces of finding somthing I don't have!

Autobot2000

As far as my collection withstanding at the moment, I'd have to say it's relatively somewhere in the middle of small and big. I have just about all of them from RiD, a few from Beast Wars, a few Mini-Con sets and Smokescreen, and a fair amount of Energon figures. I'm personally running out of space. I'm afraid I'm going to have to move my collection into the basement pretty soon unless I figure something out.

Energon figures:
Autobots:
Optimus (non mouth version)
Rodimus
SC-17 Wing Saber
Prowl
Hot Shot
Inferno
Tow-Line
Downshift
Jetfire
Inferno

Deceptcions:
Scorponok
Divebomb
Demolishor
Snow Cat
Starscream (currently repainted into that of Skywarp)