Collecting When Is Enough, Enough (1 Viewer)

[vandilay]

They are mine my precious. Gollum loves the ring, my precious. Gollum never lets the ring go my precious. Good Gollum keeps the ring. Yesssss Yesssss soldierssss yesss come to Gollum

Just keep an eye out for those filthy orksies ,because they doesnt taste very nice do they precious

 

[Cardigan600]

I made a rule for my self about two years ago that I would keep nothing that I could not display NICELY in my cabintets have four large oak cabinets with glass shelves and sliding doors. Would have plenty of space because I am very pickey on what I collect if JJD didnt come around. There went the space! One problem is takeing pictures since I put the background of my cabinets in glass when I take a picture you get some toy soldiers and of course my fat head! If I want nice pictures I have to take things out and then put them back in big pain. I clean the cabinets out once a year move my shelves around and decide what I can live without and that goes on ebay. I use the money to purchase new items I like. My wife calls the time I clean my cabinets out playing with my toy soldiers. She loves to call her friends and tell them Joel is playing with his soldiers again. She thinks shes funny! Anyway I never wanted to store things in my closet if I cant display it there is no use in having it. Great thread!

Yo Trooper only input on this one, your cabinets sound great, but I did read somewhere oak is the worst wood for keeping lead Toy Soldiers in, some sort of acid in the wood thats starts lead rot off, so lets be careful with your great collection.
Bernard.

 

[theBaron]

Yo Trooper only input on this one, your cabinets sound great, but I did read somewhere oak is the worst wood for keeping lead Toy Soldiers in, some sort of acid in the wood thats starts lead rot off, so lets be careful with your great collection.
Bernard.

Tannic acid in oak can accelerate the process, especially for older figures, which may have higher lead content, and may have exposed surface area (like the inside of a hollowcast figure-that's all surface, too, and exposed to the air). It can vaporize as the wood expands and contracts with changes in temperature, and if there is high humidity, it can join with water vapor to make an atomized solution, that can come to rest on any surface.

If the wood is sealed, and if your cabinets are in a climate-controlled room, where there are not wide variations in temperature and humidity, that will help reduce the odds that the lead will rot. For newer figures, it's not as much of an issue, because most manufacturers have gotten away from alloys with higher lead content, and many figures have a primer or undercoat that seals all surfaces from exposure to the air.

Prost!
Brad

 

[APACHEJOL]

Tannic acid in oak can accelerate the process, especially for older figures, which may have higher lead content, and may have exposed surface area (like the inside of a hollowcast figure-that's all surface, too, and exposed to the air). It can vaporize as the wood expands and contracts with changes in temperature, and if there is high humidity, it can join with water vapor to make an atomized solution, that can come to rest on any surface.

If the wood is sealed, and if your cabinets are in a climate-controlled room, where there are not wide variations in temperature and humidity, that will help reduce the odds that the lead will rot. For newer figures, it's not as much of an issue, because most manufacturers have gotten away from alloys with higher lead content, and many figures have a primer or undercoat that seals all surfaces from exposure to the air.

Prost!
Brad

Thanks got a little scared their! Very little oak on the cabinets except for trim most of the cabinets made of glass including the shelves. Kept in upstairs room in the house cool in the summer warm in the winter. Should be safe! Thanks again Joel

 

[theBaron]

Glad if anything I post helps you!

The connection to oak is a real dilemma, because it's such a beautiful wood for cabinetry and shelving.

Others here on the forum may have some good tips or advice, too, to help fill out the topic.

Prost!
Brad

 

[kilted vampire]

Glad if anything I post helps you!

The connection to oak is a real dilemma, because it's such a beautiful wood for cabinetry and shelving.

Others here on the forum may have some good tips or advice, too, to help fill out the topic.

Prost!
Brad

Glass cabinets. No acid. "nuff said. Also noting 80% of us do not believe that enough is enough.

 

[Spitfrnd]

I plan to keep going until the money, space, metal and paint run out, or Alzheimer's kicks in, whichever comes first.
....
Prost, beianand!
Brad

LOL, great set of criteria.

 

[Cardigan600]

Glass cabinets. No acid. "nuff said. Also noting 80% of us do not believe that enough is enough.

YO KV, but you just made loads of room by looking at your sale on ebay, by the way very nice display for sale hope you do well with it Trooper.
Bernard.

 

[steel wheels]

I have actually reached the point, of buying much less of everything. Unless I sell some tanks to make room, I will not be buying too many more. Pricing is also rising, which is making me much more selective.

 

[hhenry]

Once you have the bug, there is never enough, just have to try and control the urge

 

[maloyalo]

Tannic acid in oak can accelerate the process, especially for older figures, which may have higher lead content, and may have exposed surface area (like the inside of a hollowcast figure-that's all surface, too, and exposed to the air). It can vaporize as the wood expands and contracts with changes in temperature, and if there is high humidity, it can join with water vapor to make an atomized solution, that can come to rest on any surface.

If the wood is sealed, and if your cabinets are in a climate-controlled room, where there are not wide variations in temperature and humidity, that will help reduce the odds that the lead will rot. For newer figures, it's not as much of an issue, because most manufacturers have gotten away from alloys with higher lead content, and many figures have a primer or undercoat that seals all surfaces from exposure to the air.

Prost!
Brad

I have heard about problems storing in oak, for a long while. And can vouch for humidity being a problem for plastic as well as metal. We think of oxidation as pertaining to metals mainly, but the same goes for plastic and us actually. I always wondered why they pick out oak though. All wood has acid as I understand it. In fact all cardboard and paper have it also (any wood product). I suppose there might be different types of acid, or levels. They do make acid-free and reduced acid cardboard and paper for storing valuables in the museum trade mostly. I am kinda looking into that lately, particulary the cardboard. In fact I have started an experiment with some figures, but it will take a long while to see results (if any).

Glass is good, as is Polypropylene/Polyethylene as storage containers. They are stable compounds. One of the things I want to find out is if it is better to go airtight, or have air vents. I would expect airtight is better, assuming you only store completely dried materials and on a dry day. But it depends on what your storing them in as well, and what you are storing.

I know of no experiments or studies ever done with soldiers or action figures. There is a Star Wars figure up for auction with a starting price of $100,000.00 at the moment. Definately a need for some good data in this and related hobbies.

 

[Captain]

I am new to this hobby and see myself more of a dioramist than a collector. I prefer plastics for my dios because I get satisfaction from saying; "I painted that myself" however, I do have a few metal soldiers and am currently collecting WWII armor. As with most of you experienced collectors I get my most enjoyment from displaying my pieces. Although I have only been doing this almost a year now, I have changed my displays around countless times due to quickly getting tired of them. I dont see anything wrong with having more figures than you can display, if you plan to one day show them off again. I have read here where folks sell off sets and then try to reaquire them as their interests change. I say, hang on to them, store them and when the desire to see them hits change out your display. Many, if not most museums use this same method as they have the same problems we do. Display space is harder to come by than storage space. I am fortunate that I have lots of storage space where I also paint and work on dios and, I have a bar-room where I display them. I say life is to short, if it makes you happy, buy it. If you're tired of looking at it but dont want to sell it don't, store it until you want to look at it again. It's also a great way to play with the collections! For you mega-collectors I would think that it would be fun cataloging and keeping a neatly stored collection for future displays.

 

[HistoryfortheAges]

I guess when there is nothing left that strikes my fancy. I only collect historical periods before 1900 as a rule, but I'm tempted to pick-up the latest K&C Sherman tank due out soon. I like a well-diversified collection which includes both glossy, matte and connoisseur painting style figurines and I don't purchase from just one manufacturer either. I prefer the standard 54mm figure, but will consider up to 65mm at times. I don't have a need to collect every figure from a manufacturer's range, either. I have skipped over many figures that don't make my grade.

I do see myself slowing down purchases, particularly in certain ranges as I have covered these as much as I intend to. I still have several ranges that I'm interested in, and that I have not begun to collect. One being, Romans but, I haven't found a company that has as yet, turned out Romans that I like except for Aeroart. I have several of these but, they are very expensive to build a nice diorama with. I'm anxiously awaiting East of India's Romans as an alternative and will see if these fit the bill!!!

 

[theBaron]

That's a good point, HFtA, our tastes can change as time goes by, and we start adding different eras to our collecting areas, or styles, or scales.

I do the same thing with other things that I collect, I'm liable to buy something that I saw someplace, because it looked cool, or otherwise caught my attention. My fear is that I'll wind up on a reality show like that one on the BBC, where the two ladies come to a home that is really cluttered and/or filthy, embarass the owner, then help him clean up.

Prost!
Brad

 

[OzDigger]

I guess that's when a 'collection' devolves into an 'accumulation'

 

[Spitfrnd]

...I'm anxiously awaiting East of India's Romans as an alternative and will see if these fit the bill!!!

You are not alone. I certainly hope the "Spanish holiday" is over soon and we can get an update on their release

 

[Tex]

guess when there is nothing left that strikes my fancy.

That goes for me, too. When there is nothing left I am willing to pour money into, I'll stop.

 

[sv288]

That goes for me, too. When there is nothing left I am willing to pour money into, I'll stop.

I will never stop collecting King & Country because of the figures and vehicles getting better and accurate. Eventually they will look like the realthing eccept they wont be albe to start up. Just a thought.

 

[Fubar]

I collect what I can afford and whats within reason to me. No intention of ever quiting .
I like the 2 birds with one stone bit Wellington.Did that here sometime ago. She still wouldnt leave.

 

[Deitz]

I feel your collection can never be to big, unless you lose your interest in colllecting, otherwise there is always something new to coming out.

I hope never to stop collecting, you can always buy a new display cabinet or rotate your collection. If you tastes change there will always be a collector who will be more than happy to snap up your collection or hopefully, your heirs will appreciate your collection.


I started with Timpo plastics, now Little Legion, Trophy and K&C Tanks. Who knows what it will be next year.

Also, the search for that elusive figure is a great part of collecting.