So traditional Combiners count as the sum of their parts but what about PCCs? Do they count as 1 since the torso bot is the only legitimate Transformer or does each individual drone count as well, keeping in mind that Roller from G1 Optimus Prime is essentially a drone also and is NOT counted separately?

So traditional Combiners count as the sum of their parts

 

Article04 states that only the component members of a gestalt team count separately, but the combined gestalt entity itself does not count.

e.g.: If you have a complete set of G1 1985 Constructicons, then it counts as 6 Transformers (Bonecrusher, Hook, Long Haul, Mixmaster, Scavenger & Scrapper) - Devastator does not count as a "7th Constructicon."

 

Article05 states that only the component members of a combiner team count separately, but their combined mode does not count.

e.g.: G1 Blackout and Spaceshot count as 2 Transformers. Their combined vehicle mode does not count as a separate Transformer (just as G1 Darkwing and Dreadwind count as 2; Dreadwing doesn't count as a 3rd Decepticon Powermaster)

 

but what about PCCs? Do they count as 1 since the torso bot is the only legitimate Transformer or does each individual drone count as well, keeping in mind that Roller from G1 Optimus Prime is essentially a drone also and is NOT counted separately?

You are correct.

 

A Power-Core Combiner with limb drones counts as 1 Transformer, not 5. The limb drones do not count separately. e.g. PCC Bombshock counts as 1.

So traditional Combiners count as the sum of their parts

 

Article04 states that only the component members of a gestalt team count separately, but the combined gestalt entity itself does not count.

e.g.: If you have a complete set of G1 1985 Constructicons, then it counts as 6 Transformers (Bonecrusher, Hook, Long Haul, Mixmaster, Scavenger & Scrapper) - Devastator does not count as a "7th Constructicon."

 

Article05 states that only the component members of a combiner team count separately, but their combined mode does not count.

e.g.: G1 Blackout and Spaceshot count as 2 Transformers. Their combined vehicle mode does not count as a separate Transformer (just as G1 Darkwing and Dreadwind count as 2; Dreadwing doesn't count as a 3rd Decepticon Powermaster)

 

but what about PCCs? Do they count as 1 since the torso bot is the only legitimate Transformer or does each individual drone count as well, keeping in mind that Roller from G1 Optimus Prime is essentially a drone also and is NOT counted separately?

You are correct.

 

A Power-Core Combiner with limb drones counts as 1 Transformer, not 5. The limb drones do not count separately. e.g. PCC Bombshock counts as 1.

Gotcha. We had a similar debate last year about how combiner teams would be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Not sure a consensus was ever reached on that one....

Okay, results are in...

 

So in 2011...

9% of respondents reported having 100 Transformers or less.

18% of respondents reported having approximately 200 Transformers.

3% of respondents reported having approximately 300 Transformers.

1% of respondents reported having approximately 400 Transformers.

30% of respondents reported having approximately 500 Transformers.

1% of respondents reported having approximately 600 Transformers.

4% of respondents reported having approximately 700 Transformers.

8% of respondents reported having approximately 800 Transformers.

0% of respondents reported having approximately 900 Transformers.

26% of respondents reported having approximately 1000 Transformers or more.

 

Amongst those who reported having less than 100 Transformers:

25% reported having approximately 50 Transformers.

50% reported having approximately 60 Transformers.

25% reported having approximately 80 Transformers.

0% reported having Transformers outside of these ranges.

 

Amongst those who reported having 1000 Transformers or more:

67% reported having approximately 1000 Transformers.

17% reported having approximately 1500 Transformers.

6% reported having approximately 2000 Transformers.

5% reported having approximately 2500 Transformers.

5% reported having approximately 3500 Transformers.

0% reported having Transformers outside of these ranges.

 

This collection survey project now has been conducted for 5 years now (with 2 years prior to that voting on the rules for counting, making it a 7 year project all up!). So here are the results from 2007 to 2011:

 

And so when we average the results out, we get this:

So on average, between 2007 to 2011 we have had:

34% of respondents reported having 100 Transformers or less.

19% of respondents reported having approximately 200 Transformers.

6% of respondents reported having approximately 300 Transformers.

6% of respondents reported having approximately 400 Transformers.

10% of respondents reported having approximately 500 Transformers.

1% of respondents reported having approximately 600 Transformers.

1% of respondents reported having approximately 700 Transformers.

3% of respondents reported having approximately 800 Transformers.

1% of respondents reported having approximately 900 Transformers.

19% of respondents reported having approximately 1000 Transformers or more.

 

In 2009 we started holding separate concurrent polls for collectors with collections numbering under 100 and over 1000. So when we average these results we get:

Amongst those who reported having less than 100 Transformers:

16% reported having 5 Transformers or less.

1% reported having approximately 20 Transformers.

15% reported having approximately 30 Transformers.

15% reported having approximately 40 Transformers.

18% reported having approximately 50 Transformers.

17% reported having approximately 60 Transformers.

12% reported having approximately 80 Transformers.

9% reported having approximately 90 Transformers or more.

0% reported having Transformers outside of these ranges.

 

 

Amongst those who reported having 1000 Transformers or more:

51% reported having approximately 1000 Transformers.

31% reported having approximately 1500 Transformers.

6% reported having approximately 2000 Transformers.

6% reported having approximately 2500 Transformers.

2% reported having approximately 3500 Transformers.

0% reported having Transformers outside of these ranges.

 

After five years of surveying Transformer collectors, we can see that:

+ Collectors with collections number 100 or less are the biggest group.

+ Collections numbering 200 or 1000+ are equally the second largest.

+ The majority of Transformer collectors have 200 Transformers or less in their collections.

 

So there you have it. This year's survey is also the last one that I'll be conducting. I think a 5 year sample is enough to give us a reasonable picture and ultimately answering the question of what the average Transformers collection size is.

 

Thank you to everyone who have supported this project since its inception as well as everyone who's participated. Your cooperation has been most appreciated.

So my collection size is larger than average. That's good enough for me!

2500 and 3500 transformers. That is insane. Insanely awesome! No really that is crazy.

awww...i voted to late...

I didn't vote at all. If my Happy Meal Transformers don't count then I have absolutely no use for it.

lol....happy meal transformers...thats ok....my SCF transformers dont count either...though the 200 some odd minicons do

I count mine by how many I have period, I don't use anybody else's way of counting. Regardless So even if it was said to not count them I count them. As I am proud of how many I have and what ones I have. And honestly there is no universal counting method.

 

Count your Transformers, how you want to count them. That is how many you really have. Then state how many you have