Hey guys,
here I show you how I
- store my loose collection of Star Wars 3 3/4" Action Figures...
- display them on styrofoam stands
Over the last years I haven't had enough space to put my collection of Star Wars merchandise on display. In 2011 I stopped buying new stuff because for some reason I wouldn't open it up. I actually sold part of my stuff again just to buy it loose.
There are ways to store your MIB collections that you already know, but there are many questions when it comes to loose collections and where/how to store them.
In order to keep a good overview of my collection of Star Wars Hasbro I came up with a system.
As most of you probably do, I store my action figures in big boxes (unless you have them on display...). The boxes I use are even transluscent, but if you want to protect your figures from sunlight, you should keep them in different (opaque) boxes...ESPECIALLY those with white armor!!
So until a few weeks ago I stored my figures just in boxes. Each figure was packed seperately in a (snack) bag to keep all parts and accessories together. Another advantage is that they can't get sratches and/or color stains from other figures. A big disadvantage though is that rifles, antennas or similar thin parts are very likely to be bent in the bags. Read all pros and cons down below.
But in order to find a specific figure faster when I look for it, I thought of a more oganized system than just putting them in bags.
So I put all figures that already was in a bag just in another bag! No, I actually did something else before...
I went to a dollar store and got these practical labels! With these labels I tagged every single figure including the following information:
-
name-
appearance (e.g. Epsiode, Expanded Universe)
-
collection (e.g. SAGA, TAC, TLC etc.)
-
number-
set (e.g. Basic Figure, Battle Pack, Comic Pack, Multipack etc.)
-
year/release-
original retail price in USD
-
source (where I got the figure)
-
price (what I actually paid for the figure)
-
loose or
new (in which condition I got it)
-
accessories (complete or incomplete):
- - which accessories are included, which are missing
-
condition of the figure (like new, customized, used etc.)
Depending on your collecting habit you can add or leave out information. But this data helps me a lot to keep an eye on the money I spend on my collection. I also made a table with Microsoft Office Excel in which I list every new item. Last year I made a "wish list" with all items I still wanted to have. And then I realized that I should rather look at what I already own instead of looking at what I think I still need to own!
And by now I reduced this list to just two figures:
- TSC SAGA-034 - Garindan - 2006
- TAC 08-12 Darth Vader (Battle Damage) - The Force Unleashed - 2008
So if you have one of them (loose) and want to sell it, please let me know!
After I put a label on every figure I have, I sorted them after categories.
Here are some examples of how you can sort them:
- Episodes
- Character (e.g. Anakin only)
- Species (e.g. only Ewoks, Wookies)
- Movie Appearance/Scenes (e.g. Cantina Aliens, Jabba's Palace)
- Army-Builders (e.g. Stormtroopers, Clone Troopers, Battle Droids. Imperial Forces etc.)
- Jedi/Sith
- Heroes/Villains (e.g. Bounty Hunters)
- Sort by Set/Multipack
- Collection/Series
- ?
You will probably have more ideas! Just post them in the comments below!
Here are some examples:
- Stormtrooper/Sandtroopers - Rebel Pilots
- Cantina Aliens 1/2 - Max Rebo Band
- Hoth Rebels/Defense on Hoth - Heroes of Episode IV
- Jabba's Palace - bag 1&2
-
Anakin Skywalker (of all Episodes and Collections)
- General Grievous (Grievous only)
- Sorted by Set
