So how did you start collecting? What do you collect mostly?
I started collecting way back when the Special Edition came out. I remember buying my first figure, Luke Skywalker in X-Wing Gear from the POTF line (the one where all figures looked like they were jacked up on steroids). From there I collected the usual figures - Han, Vader, Boba Fett, Stromtroopers, as well as the vehicles (X-Wing, Snowspeeder, Outrider, Swoop, Landspeeder). But the main line that I got into collecting the most was the Action Fleet line. My first ship was the X-Wing (Porkins to be exact) and since then I was hooked. I loved how they were presented - not too big, not too small, nice features, cool mini-figures, and awesome variations on some ships.
Back then I didn't have a job, so it was hard for me to buy stuff. I tried to limit my collection by just buying what interested me. I was always into space combat/dogfighting/flight simulation ever since Rogue Squadron for Nintendo 64 came out, so I ended up just getting Action Fleets. Then I found out about the Die-Cast Series (now Titaniums). I collected those as well.
A few years ago I had a decent sized AF collection. I wasn't really into collecting anymore, and I sold the lot. I had a good sized collection, and even had the TIE Defender and E-Wing. Sold them on ebay for close to $300. My friends were like "You're gonna miss them someday." After a year or so, they were right. Dammit!
My hobby of collecting didn't really pick up until summer of 2008 when I saw people reviewing Star Wars items on youtube. By then I had already started up my AF collection again. I ended up getting a credit card (uh oh!) some time after that and registered with paypal and ebay. That's when I started filling up my collection of Action Fleets with the ones I always wanted or was missing. Now that I have a job (since 2002) and some income, its much easier to go out and buy stuff and not ask a family member for money. Now that my AF collection is just about complete, I moved on to Titaniums. Guess what? That line is now on hiatus. That's when I moved on to the pilot figures and the large scale vehicles. Granted I love the titaniums, figures and their ships, but nothing will ever replace my love for Action Fleets.
In order, my interest for collecting goes:
1: Action Fleets
2: Die-Cast/Titaniums
3: Pilot figures/large scale ships
4: Misc. items I find interesting (i.e. - Hoth Speeder Bike Patrol Pack)
What sucks about this hobby? My Dad thinks its childish, saying "You're not a little kid anymore." I have to do this behind his back, which saddens me a lot, because its not like I'm doing anything bad. Whenever I buy something I usually have to sneak it into the house. Everything I have is in my closet, nothing is on display. Maybe one of these days I'll tell him, who knows.
