I think this point is especially relevant. 3D printing with proper post-processing gives us something that's more than half as good as the original at one tenth the price. That's a nice tradeoff!
Is it time to offload your Star Wars collection?
- Thread starter Sluis Van Shipyards
- Start date
I think this point is especially relevant. 3D printing with proper post-processing gives us something that's more than half as good as the original at one tenth the price. That's a nice tradeoff!
jkno
Legendary Member
I gave up on my Hasbro action figures decades ago, for some time already I only collect what I can display on shelves. No place to put it, not buying it, this goes for statues, busts, 1/6 Hot Toys figures, props, helmets, models/studio scale etc. The only exception is the Action Fleet, which has been very close to my heart, and have most of it in storage and not interested in selling that collection for now. Despite the new Jazwares line called Micro Galaxy Squadron appeared not very long ago, in a way similar to Action Fleet, I only got a handful of pieces from this line, and stopped almost completely in acquiring more.
The same with high end statues, 1/6 Hot Toys figures, props and helmets, I stopped almost completely in buying more. I'm in that phase of collecting I call ZEN COLLECTING, where I'm happy with what I have, and except one or two items a year, I don't intend to buy more.
Still I do collect some vintage diecast tanks, made by Solido (Verem) in the 60-90's, which I liked because of the metal tracks that are fully functional like real tanks, but slowly I'm completing that collection too. From Solido I only collect WW2 tanks and weaponized vehicles, no other tanks, trucks or vehicles.
The same with high end statues, 1/6 Hot Toys figures, props and helmets, I stopped almost completely in buying more. I'm in that phase of collecting I call ZEN COLLECTING, where I'm happy with what I have, and except one or two items a year, I don't intend to buy more.
Still I do collect some vintage diecast tanks, made by Solido (Verem) in the 60-90's, which I liked because of the metal tracks that are fully functional like real tanks, but slowly I'm completing that collection too. From Solido I only collect WW2 tanks and weaponized vehicles, no other tanks, trucks or vehicles.
Apologies in advance for the long post, but I’ve given this a lot of thought lately and have a slightly different take on it…
I know there’s a handful of “youngins” like myself (who were born in the wrong generation it seems) who will definitely keep as much going as we can.
With that said, (and I don’t mean to be too bitter about it) it’s been made pretty difficult by some to allow new or younger people into the hobby. Whether it be ridiculous price inflating of found parts/reference books, or lack of care to share information. For the real fans, I feel that’s a bigger push towards the 3D printing since found parts and truly accurate stuff is too far out of reach anymore…(even for those that prefer it)
I do quite a bit of 3D printing but keep that hobby separate from my “prop hobby” as a rule of sorts with myself (excluding some resin printing of un-ID’d parts). I know of a few others that feel the same way, that nothing really beats the real thing.
I regularly find my friends and family who come over to visit stopping by my display shelves and asking about it, and when they see the enthusiasm in what we do, the interest does rub off (I’ve even caught them trying to look things up on eBay lol). So the interest isn’t gone, it even has the potential to spread if shared with others.
Perhaps something could be said about 3D printing not really having gatekeeping…
I know there’s a handful of “youngins” like myself (who were born in the wrong generation it seems) who will definitely keep as much going as we can.
With that said, (and I don’t mean to be too bitter about it) it’s been made pretty difficult by some to allow new or younger people into the hobby. Whether it be ridiculous price inflating of found parts/reference books, or lack of care to share information. For the real fans, I feel that’s a bigger push towards the 3D printing since found parts and truly accurate stuff is too far out of reach anymore…(even for those that prefer it)
I do quite a bit of 3D printing but keep that hobby separate from my “prop hobby” as a rule of sorts with myself (excluding some resin printing of un-ID’d parts). I know of a few others that feel the same way, that nothing really beats the real thing.
I regularly find my friends and family who come over to visit stopping by my display shelves and asking about it, and when they see the enthusiasm in what we do, the interest does rub off (I’ve even caught them trying to look things up on eBay lol). So the interest isn’t gone, it even has the potential to spread if shared with others.
Perhaps something could be said about 3D printing not really having gatekeeping…
This is a very valid point.
There are some builders who have openly stated “I can’t let this information out” when it comes to some discoveries regarding greeblies, dimensions, etc.
It’s my biggest disappointment in this hobby, when I see it.
Thankfully, I pretty rarely run across it.
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Wakeem
Sr Member
That reminds me of a story Adam Savage told about someone he worked with that didn't want to share the technique on something they were building. I think it was in one of the old ILM building tours. There are people like that and it sucks to meet them.
I remember when I was young thinking someone like that was a friend. They didn't want me to know how they made something very basic. And when I figured it out, they made it seem like I stole from them. Little did I know at the time that the instructions were in a book.
It’s definitely a shame.
Fortunately I’ve not personally encountered this with any direct interactions either. (Also don’t want to get this mixed up with cases of “this isn’t mine to share,” that is a different scenario entirely and is understandable).
It is sad though, especially as some of the people mentioning leaving the hobby or selling things off in this thread or in Facebook groups, are actually the members I’ve taken inspiration from, gotten help from (even indirectly), or simply look forward to seeing posts from. Hoping to still see you all stick around even if it’s not in the Star Wars section of the RPF. I’ve even found myself looking into the other sections with things like Blade Runner, Alien(s), Harry Potter, BTTF, etc and peeking at the Star Wars section less.
Fortunately I’ve not personally encountered this with any direct interactions either. (Also don’t want to get this mixed up with cases of “this isn’t mine to share,” that is a different scenario entirely and is understandable).
It is sad though, especially as some of the people mentioning leaving the hobby or selling things off in this thread or in Facebook groups, are actually the members I’ve taken inspiration from, gotten help from (even indirectly), or simply look forward to seeing posts from. Hoping to still see you all stick around even if it’s not in the Star Wars section of the RPF. I’ve even found myself looking into the other sections with things like Blade Runner, Alien(s), Harry Potter, BTTF, etc and peeking at the Star Wars section less.
Prop Collector
Sr Member
I got rid of all of my Master Replicas (I got maybe double what I paid for them on average), all of my vintage figures (still very valuable), most of my Gentle Giant (their value really bottomed out), and have a bunch of random things from every imaginable category. It's really amazing what can be accrued when there's a lack of collection focus. It's also proving to be some of the hardest stuff to get rid of in some cases. In others, they're shockingly valuable. Surprisingly, I don't miss any of it, but at the same time, I wouldn't mind picking up a few things with the intention of actually displaying them.
And here I've got a strong urge to buy both the new retro box with the Han Solo Stormtrooper AND the entire M.A.S.K. box they're releasing!
But I haven't bought a "toy" toy since the 90s. (1/6 figures don't count...!)
But I haven't bought a "toy" toy since the 90s. (1/6 figures don't count...!)
Solos blaster
Sr Member
Feeling that too as of late. Not a massive purge but just "declutter" or more focus what I'm collecting. I'd like to sell off a few things now, but I may wait until I move, set up a display and anything and everything else that doesn't fit or get displayed will be sold off.
I've slowed down on my collection but what I have is because it's something I've wanted, not bought because it's collectable. There is some stuff I have that I bought because it was on clearance at clearance prices, e.g. Rogue One, 8" figures, for about $6 each which I think are really worthless nowadays and are sitting in a tub, but who'd want them?
I'm fortunate that my daughter loves my collection and would happily take them when the time comes. I'd been buying models kits during my working life, not building many, collecting to build when I retired. I have just over 100, if I build 1 kit a month I have enough to keep me going for 10 years, crazy!
I've got rid of some kits that really didn't appeal to me after I'd bought them, the ones I have left I do want and some are now quite rare and collectable, but I bought them to build but should I keep them off the build list so if i needed the $ I can sell. ) Dropship, Sulaco, Starfighter etc)
I've now been forced into early retirement, my company made me redundant and I'm at the age now I don't think I can find work even if I wanted to. I've been off for 5 months now, and have had many things to do about the house - all those projects waiting for the right time. They're nearly all done, so I'll have the time to build some kits. But once they're built then what? More clutter?
I also have a small collection of 1:18 scale war-bird planes, Zero, Corsair, Spitfire etc as well as a 1:18 SCALE F/A - F18 C HORNET but neither my son or daughter want them so am I better off selling to someone who wants them? I do enjoy having them though I guess that matters.
I'm currently dealing with my elderly parents, dads in aged care with dementia and mum's at home, and she's working through getting rid of her stuff as well as my dads 60 years worth of tools etc in the shed, it makes you think about what you have and what you're leaving your kids to deal with.
I'm fortunate that my daughter loves my collection and would happily take them when the time comes. I'd been buying models kits during my working life, not building many, collecting to build when I retired. I have just over 100, if I build 1 kit a month I have enough to keep me going for 10 years, crazy!
I've got rid of some kits that really didn't appeal to me after I'd bought them, the ones I have left I do want and some are now quite rare and collectable, but I bought them to build but should I keep them off the build list so if i needed the $ I can sell. ) Dropship, Sulaco, Starfighter etc)
I've now been forced into early retirement, my company made me redundant and I'm at the age now I don't think I can find work even if I wanted to. I've been off for 5 months now, and have had many things to do about the house - all those projects waiting for the right time. They're nearly all done, so I'll have the time to build some kits. But once they're built then what? More clutter?
I also have a small collection of 1:18 scale war-bird planes, Zero, Corsair, Spitfire etc as well as a 1:18 SCALE F/A - F18 C HORNET but neither my son or daughter want them so am I better off selling to someone who wants them? I do enjoy having them though I guess that matters.
I'm currently dealing with my elderly parents, dads in aged care with dementia and mum's at home, and she's working through getting rid of her stuff as well as my dads 60 years worth of tools etc in the shed, it makes you think about what you have and what you're leaving your kids to deal with.
Dealing with my own shed is full time work. I have come to find that the search for parts is fun but the search in my own shed for known stored parts is not. I am quickly heading toward owning a permanent garage-sale sign.
For me, the need to declutter and shrink my inventory also has to do with age.
Dumbing down the brand the way Disney has is already bad enough. But with age, and witnessing the incompetence that led to SW sinking this low, not only do my finances supersede the nostalgic desire of owning SW merch, I've reached the "what's the point?" stage in my life. I'll always love the original films, but I no longer want to fund the junk that's coming from Disney.
--
Side note: Does anyone believe that Star Wars can recover? That it can be fun again?
Dumbing down the brand the way Disney has is already bad enough. But with age, and witnessing the incompetence that led to SW sinking this low, not only do my finances supersede the nostalgic desire of owning SW merch, I've reached the "what's the point?" stage in my life. I'll always love the original films, but I no longer want to fund the junk that's coming from Disney.
--
Side note: Does anyone believe that Star Wars can recover? That it can be fun again?
Absolutely.
drusselmeyer
Master Member
Any property can be salvaged if sufficient creativity is applied. Look at how a tiny idea has blossomed with Rogue One. It became an entire series.
Star Wars, Star Trek, anything really can become better if there is someone who is capable taking it on.
Of course, this may require selling a property to a new owner, but whatever works.
PVmodels
Active Member
You should check out the comparisons online between the latest retro figure set and the ones that have Stan Solo versions. I get they are more expensive. But they are better designed and made.
PVmodels
Active Member
I get the frustration with Disney and their version of Lucasfilm. They released a lot thinking that nothing Star Wars can fail. And financially, most of what they did was successful. People that I saw the newer films with who aren’t big Star Wars fans thought the films were entertaining. They didn’t dwell on the fact that Luke was the complete opposite of the character we knew for no good reason. Or that using the force killed him. I’m also not a fan of the sequels. But I have a 30 something friend who absolutely loves them because those are the films he saw as a kid and grew up with. I don’t know if I’d call Mandolorian season 1 and Andor fun, but those have been a bright spot for me in the Star Wars universe.
