Author Topic: How I store and display my loose collection...  (Read 27684 times)

Offline Darth More

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How I store and display my loose collection...
« on: February 11, 2017, 01:28:43 PM »
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




« Last Edit: February 26, 2019, 05:48:25 PM by Darth More »

Offline Darth More

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Re: How I store my loose collection...
« Reply #1 on: February 18, 2017, 03:59:29 PM »
So this how I store them...in the last years I wasn't able to display my collection. But now I am starting to put them back on display...

Here's a little preview:








« Last Edit: February 11, 2019, 06:16:55 AM by Darth More »

Offline Tamer

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Re: How I store my loose collection...
« Reply #2 on: February 20, 2017, 06:54:20 AM »
Nice, reminds me I so need to get back into my own collection and refocus/showcase a few things and maybe purge a few items. Off to share.

Offline Mandalore25

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Re: How I store my loose collection...
« Reply #3 on: February 21, 2017, 11:08:12 PM »
EU, and Disney on the same Shelf? Sacrilege!

Offline Darth More

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Re: How I store my loose collection...
« Reply #4 on: February 28, 2017, 01:22:30 PM »
Nice, reminds me I so need to get back into my own collection and refocus/showcase a few things and maybe purge a few items. Off to share.

Thank Shawn! Hope you have as much fun as I did! Unless the figures fall over after you have arranged them for hours...I don't use stands so I shouldn't complain - haha!

Offline Darth More

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Re: How I store my loose collection...
« Reply #5 on: February 28, 2017, 01:23:58 PM »
EU, and Disney on the same Shelf? Sacrilege!

Haha! Good one! :D
« Last Edit: May 25, 2018, 03:34:17 AM by Darth More »

Offline Darth More

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Re: How I store and display my loose collection...
« Reply #6 on: February 11, 2019, 03:42:39 AM »
Well, my new glass cabinet arrived right before the Holidays and by now I finally had time to display part of my collection in there:

I got this on discount (was the last one unfortunately) for 125€ (~$136) instead of 215€ (~$234).





So here it is:











I got some packed stuff on the top shelf and store some bags of my loose collection in the two drawers below.

This setup should give you a little preview for the year as kind of a "show don't tell". A little sneak peek into stuff I haven't shared/reviewed, yet, and also for upcoming projects.
So stay tuned for that and may the force be with you, always!



- Philipp
 
« Last Edit: April 13, 2021, 01:03:37 AM by Darth More »

Offline Tamer

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Re: How I store and display my loose collection...
« Reply #7 on: February 11, 2019, 04:45:17 AM »
Looks nice to me. I know I sure need to do something with my own collection. It looks like an episode of hoarders in my man cave.

Off to share.

Offline Darth More

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Re: How I store and display my loose collection...
« Reply #8 on: February 11, 2019, 04:55:40 AM »
Thanks for sharing my update, Tamer! I know what you mean. Time and space...

- Philipp

Offline Spitzer

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Re: How I store and display my loose collection...
« Reply #9 on: February 26, 2019, 07:55:19 AM »
Thanks for recognizing the importance of these quality probiotics for women and sharing my update, Tamer! I know what you mean. Time and space...

- Philipp

Man, you're much more thorough and neat than I am, Darth More. I should so do something like this as well...
« Last Edit: October 31, 2023, 07:52:13 AM by Spitzer »

Offline Darth More

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Re: How I store and display my loose collection...
« Reply #10 on: February 26, 2019, 05:15:24 PM »
Man, you're much more thorough and neat than I am, Darth More. I should so do something like this as well...

Spitzer: Welcome aboard! I'm glad if this inspired you. I shared how I store them for the sole purpose to give some ideas for your own collection.
There are so many possibilities! You can also put your figures in plastic boxes along with their accessories.

I got these labels at a dollar store (256 stickers for 1€). And the plastic bags are about 0.1 to 2 cents each depending on the quantity you order. For example I got 10,000 of the 6x11 cm bags for 10€. I also got some bigger bags for taller figures and even small vehicles.

I would like to see what you come up with! Feel free to post some pics here.

Best regards and welcome to Imperial Shipyards!










- Philipp
« Last Edit: February 26, 2019, 05:45:21 PM by Darth More »

Offline jkno

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Re: How I store and display my loose collection...
« Reply #11 on: March 09, 2019, 05:44:24 AM »
Very cool! This is how I store the various parts of the statues and 1/6 figures I own, in small bags with a note about the items written inside. BTW I like those white cabinets
Collecting has the permanence of herpes, it mutates, but doesn't go away
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Offline Darth More

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Re: How I store and display my loose collection...
« Reply #12 on: March 13, 2019, 05:07:45 AM »
Thanks for sharing your thoughts! That's cool! I love your 1/6 scale collection and 1:1 props! Indeed, this white cabinet is very nice! Unfortunately it was the last one. I dream of a common system of cabinets similar to the room of FlyGuydotnet in Australia. His collection room is amazing like yours!

Regards,

Philipp

Offline Darth More

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Re: How I store and display my loose collection...
« Reply #13 on: July 25, 2019, 04:27:59 AM »
On my toy hunt on Monday I had lunch at IKEA. And on my way out I finally got the chance to take a look at the latest assortment of their cabinets and boxes targeted on collectors:







Prices should be similar across the globe. I really dig those acrylic cases and wall cabinets!What do you use to display your collectibles? Let me know in the comments below, please.

Offline Tamer

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Re: How I store and display my loose collection...
« Reply #14 on: July 25, 2019, 06:56:21 AM »
Pretty awesome stuff. A lot of options out there now.

Personally, I built my own set of display shelving as an adjustable entertainment unit (gotta house the tv too) and really like the adjustability it has (just reposition the shelving clips). I am also partial to the wood look although clear stuff is growing on me. I have also done part of mine with class doors with the plan of eventually doing it all with glass doors so I don't have to dust. Still, I must admit it has been years since I did a proper repositioning of my old to new stuff.