How do you start a new collection period? (1 Viewer)

[Spitfrnd]

After having seen the depths and diversity of the collections displayed here and visiting the related manufactuer and dealer siteshere I am impressed and not a little awed at the quality and expansiveness of the choices available to collectors. Even if you limit the choice to non-retired items, there are numerous historical periods represented and for the most part several manufactuers for each period. It is axiomatic that you should buy what you like as you can but as someone contemplated starting a few periods from scratch I am curious as how how folks here went about starting each period they collect.

For example, do you decide on the period and then pick a manufacturer and stick to them or do you pick a manufactuer and then add all of their periods you like or something completely different? Once you do that, which figures do you start with and how do you decide the order to add them?

For me, I am picking the periods, then the individual figures I like. If possible, I am trying to start with a manufactuer that has compatible scaling to other available lines for that period. Other than the Conte Spartans, which I have mostly covered, I am not sure how to pick the priority of figures for the other periods I want to start. Anyway, how have you all done it and will you do it for the future?

 

[Saber]

I tend to pick a period I like and then look for a manufacturer who has a pretty good range as regards to diversity and quality for the period I'm interested in. I can go glossy or matte as the fiigures strike me. Once I've decided on a range I try to aquire a pretty nice little set up (15-20 figs) fairly quickly in case they go away unexpectedly. After that I can add to them as my display needs grow or new releases are announced. One important consideration for me, and I learned this the hard way years ago, is the reliability of the manufacturer in delivering on promised lines and doing so in quanitites that are not immediatly sold out. That's just a personel issue of mine as I really don't like to sit over my computer like a hawk waiting for the next release because I'm afraid of missing it. You are absolutely right about the breadth of ranges now out there. The quality continues to improve as well. All in all pretty good time to be a collector.

 

[OzDigger]

I think collecting is very much a personal issue and largely depends upon your period preference(s) as well as your disposable income and available display space. And of course just how addicted you are to collecting - which is possibly the most important factor

Another factor is scale. I have decided to concentrate on 1/30 scale but I don't restrict myself to a particular manufacturer. However value for money and adequate detail are important to me.

I like all periods of military history but my main interest is WW2 and I have found that the German side seems to have a wider range of vehicles available in model form.

 

[Currahee Chris]

The first thing I did was decided how much room I could reasonably dedicate to collecting these things in the first place. Once I figured that out, I sort of did a dressup of my basement to see where I could put certain dioramas.

Once I identified the dioramas I could do, I listed out what size I could make the dioramas and determined if it was realistic to dress out a diorama with what is offered.

Here is the decision process I have gone through since jumping on the Frog:

Dropped Lines:

1.) EoI Samuria- tough one here but wanted to move them out to make room for their Greeks. Which, once upon hearing about their Romans, decided to move them out to make room for the Romans. I wanted them to expand into Spartans but it just didn't happen.

2.) Eastern Front- no one really seems to be doing much with this and I have a huge area dedicated to WW2. To me, it was more important to fill out my Normandy and Bulge dios than to do the EF.

3.) WW2- Pacific- haven't completely ruled this one out- am considering going 1:18th scale for it.

New Lines

1.) Ancient Egypt- never looked twice at them until I went to the Field museum in Chicago last fall. Something there just threw me back to my childhood when I was really into them and I haven't looked back since.

2.) Thermopylae- This one is going to take a while as I just love the St. Pete Spartans collection. I am going to do what I can to dress out a 300 Stand at Thermopylae with St. Pete figures.

3.)Rome- really excited by all the offerings in 2008 for Rome. Feel like it is going to be a great year to collect Rome. I started reading more and more about Rome and it just captured my imagination completely.

4.) AWI- Gotta love George and the boys.

Future interests- there are only 2 other periods that I will consider doing besides what I have on the table now- WW1- really like a lot of companies out there- Britains, Frontline and KC. And Scottish Wars for Independence- just such a fan of Braveheart- gotta do Wallace.

Have been able to resist the KC EA figures for the time being. Again, same mentality with other WW2 periods- money spent on that period is money not spent on Normandy or the Bulge. Do love the Crusader and will probably get it to display with Monty.