Plover, this is a really great question. I've been thinking about this myself lately.

My intent is to have all the toys on display. But logistics get in the way. Namely buying and setting up more Detolfs or shelves. Then getting or building the risers. Since I rarely get around to adding the above, toys that I buy with the full intent of displaying end up in bins for a while.

then I look at the bins and boxes full of toys and I ask myself, "what am I going to do with all this stuff?" Do I really need another five Evils? The problem is that when I see the new Evil, these thoughts are thrown out the window and I end up buying it.

I need to flip more toys....

yeah... oops! looks like i started a bad trend for the thread (just meant it as a joke).

I also consider myself as someone who hasn't been collecting very long... but i also think i've been collecting long enough to understand why alot of us have toys in boxes. I love displaying my toys & i find beauty in the clutter (but I can't have that clutter in my face all the time because it drive me nuts.. so I have a designated space where I put my toys - some in my living room, some in my bedroom). it's very easy to fill over 2 detolfs a year in collecting this stuff... so that means after 4 years (if i were to keep and display everything), I'd have 8 detolfs. I just don't have the space for 8+ detolfs & i'm still into the hobby... so regretfully things get backlogged into boxes or things in the shelf need to get sold.

I've only been collecting japanese vinyl for two years or so. I had them on display for a while, but for the last year, I've kept them packed away. I'm not a detolf guy, and I have so many figures that dusting them every week would be a pain--so open-display is out. but I do take out certain figs every now and then.

I'm fine with it for now. I obsess enough here on the board as it is, so not having to stare all my toys in the face every day is OK sometimes. Still, one day I plan to have them displayed.

I think I might still keep them in my closet though.

okay... I'm actually in the process of re-modeling my fathers house "which I'm now living in" cause' he passed away recently and the room that everything is sitting in is in need of a seeerious makeover.. paint.. floors.. lighting.. etc...

once all that gets taken care of I can then focus on setting everything up all nice n' pretty but that might take a while cause' the house desperately needs a new roof which is really gonna hurt my already empty pockets... sigh*

I just don't want to set everything up just to take it back down again...

I know it's gonna be a real treat whenever I get around to it... can't wait for the day when I can see all my beautiful treasures smiling back at me...!!!

@TBS, I completely share the same thoughts about the Evils. I forget about whatever space, money issue etc when I see them, new or old releases.
For that matter, i get the same feeling for RI, Rangeas, Boogies, Mikas, Zyurais, Skuttles etc etc. Really need some basic discipline.

I rent a professional storage room to keep toys & collectibles that I don't display in my apartment. Over the years, I lose track and forget most of what i have. I visit the storage facility maybe two or three times a year when I am back home and am usually pleasantly surprise by what I can find in the pile of vinyl junks. This is often where the "fun" is for me.

That's a riot, Samba!


Yeah, I do think how far this collecting business is going to take me.
So far so good, though. I've only mistakenly bought the same figure once.
I only buy figures that I like (which IS a problem) because they just keep building up (about 6 detolf worth in boxes )
I've always wanted to rotate the display, but the pain of packing just puts me off.
But what I do is to keep a database of my purchases in the computer, which I update quite often.

I do that too. I keep a picture list. It helps me keep track of what I own and helps me decide if what I'm getting compliments what I have. Problem is, when I think I should trim stuff down a bit, I take out the pieces and I'm blown away by how much better they are in person.

I keep trying to talk myself into keeping 15 figs and selling the rest for music stuffs.

I have near to nothing displayed. I've been a collector all my life starting with comics, toys, matchbooks, and tons of ephemera...posters, prints etchings...all packed away with the hopes of building a studio someday in which I can surround my self with all this stuff like Scrooge and his gold coins...then give it all away.

I think you missed out a zero on the 15.



I'll gladly display them for you, Ralph. I've just the spot for the Gogas.

wow this thread is amazing - I love seeing where people live, work and display their collections!

Here's where I go to work -

Toy filled, "work spaces" is what it is all about.

I'll buy that cab off you Samba, since you're neglecting it..

Cab? oh you mean my shelf. I actually bought it, but was too big to fit up my stairs, so I took it apart bit by bit, took it up stairs and rebuilt it- I think its gonna stay here now! Its running a naomi system with MvC2- probably the best incarnation of any streetfighter/ capcom game ever IMO.

smo9monster's it what my space was suppose to be like, but it just ended up looking like the local tip!

I see you have the Why Not Associates book, are you into graphic design?

That's what I do for a living - seems to be a popular job among toy collectors!
That whole shelf is pretty much design books. Sounds like you do the same from spotting the book?

I think there is definitely a link between being a creative person and collecting toys/ collecting things in general.

smo9monster,
that is one of the nicest shelving cabinets i have ever seen.
both the toys and the actual cabinet.
man, i wish my "office" was clean and organized like this.
maybe if i used my "office" for stuff other than storing toys and reading comics with the occassional painting project mess scattered around. i fold paper for a living, so i have no real need for an office though....

What am I supposed to be seeing here?

I realized that even though I made this thread, I never replied!

Some older badly lit shots, with maybe some nicer ones coming soon!













Some of skylar's toys snuck into the Expedit shelf shot one, but the rest are mine.

Awesome. Variety is the key to a great collection. I love shots like that.

flame me for this one.... taken about a year ago, i need updated photos







now onto the close ups of what you guys would like to see

high five for graphic/web designers

"Mommy.....Mommy....Why aren't you holding us.....it's scary up here on the top shelf.....we can't get down....why won't you let us down and play?"

Missy - I'd have to say these are some freaking scary dolls - I'm going to have nightmare's tonight of there eyes!!!!

nice setup smo9monster!

geez... some super awesome stuff!
smogmonsters stuff is eye poppingly fucking cool

here is my little bit