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01-02-2022, 03:43 PM | #1 |
Cobra Viper
Join Date: Oct 2021
Location: NY
Posts: 129
|
I'm wondering how you guys like to interact and take care of your GI Joe stuff. If you were lucky to start racking stuff early on when eBay was new to the scene and garage sale sellers were none the wiser, you might have a massive, and highly valued collection. Nowadays, prices for stuff can be steep and borderline crazy but as collectors we cherish these things and can rationalize spending an arm and leg if needed..
I have been collecting for a few months now after a hiatus of like, 15-20 years. I had a pretty tiny collection back then, mostly figures and some of the awful GI Joe VS Cobra stuff. I kept a lot of stuff loose in cardboard boxes like a fool, and some vehicles stuffed away carelessly. Surprisingly, the vehicles are mostly just like I had left them, while some of the figures had busted O-rings and seem to have developed elbow cracks and stripped, rusty screws beyond saving. While buying new stuff, I am also salvaging and organizing the stuff from all those years ago. Now, I have no shelf space in my room any more, and after investigating about plastic degradation on Youtube, am completely freaked that my stuff is going to pulverize into chalky, yellow dust in the course of a year. I've sorted figures in baggies and plan to maybe get some silica gel packs to wick moisture away from them, but I'm mostly worried about my vehicles. I got some big stuff like a Night Raven and Phantom X-19 I am trying to restore. I like to keep my vehicles out anyways. I like to look at them and interact with them, I wanna be able to take stuff down and pose them, maybe take photos. Does anyone have all out battles with your collectibles like you did back in the day? Even if I had the space to do it, I'd be too worried I'd be stressing joints and tabs or compromising the plastic quality with the oil from my hands. Worst of all is temperature and moisture, things that might be difficult to control. After investing a bunch of money in this hobby, I feel like a fool in doing it! What if something yellows or breaks? Now I just wasted my money, right? Sorry for the ridiculous rant but I'd be curious to hear how you guys take care of your stuff and enjoy it. I feel like it's a shame to just keep stuff boxed up or behind glass only to be swapped out routinely. I suppose if you wanna collect vintage GI Joe nowadays, you usually pay high and gamble with the longevity of your toys to chase that rush of nostalgia. TLDR: Help!!! I bought too many GI Joes and I don't know how to take care of them! Are they gonna break if I just keep them in drafty cardboard and plastic boxes like I did 20 years ago? I'm so scared they're gonna be ruined that I can't even enjoy them and still I buy more!!! I need advice, I'm useless! |
01-03-2022, 06:32 PM | #2 |
Cobra Soldier
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Indianapolis
Posts: 55
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I have some thoughts that may help you. In regards to displaying your collection, I think the biggest things to consider are (1) light (2) temperature and (3) humidity. I'm no expert on this at all, but I think storing your items in a very bright room with windows would be bad. The light tends to cause issues with all vintage toys. I also think very hot temperatures are bad as well. If you want to display, think like a museum. They don't put the Picasso in direct sun light.
As for the worry about breaking you toys, just do what I do. I have high quality figures that are for display only, then a second copy for play. For vintage Joes, that means I try to pick up a second of each figure that has already been heavily played with so I know my handling of them won't be an issue. Sometimes I will pose and display my good quality figures, but never play with them. But be warned, sometimes they can break from even posing them. I know the 82-84 figures can shatter like glass. My tripwire's leg shattered in many pieces. Also, there are some figures which can never, ever hold a weapon for fear of losing a thumb (1982 straight arm figs and all the Slaughter's Mauraders). But, at the end of the day, no one loves them like you do, and when you are dead you are dead. So enjoy them! Because no one else will when you are gone. |
01-03-2022, 06:56 PM | #3 |
Mass Nerderer
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Slitherin' around the tank- It's cool, though, 'cause I'm being "watched"
Posts: 9,097
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I personally say that if you're storing them, you're not enjoying them to their fullest. Nothing lasts forever, but you hardly have to worry about your Joes disintegrating- though I'd say different were this post about G1 Transformers. Light and humidity are indeed important, but with a little bit of care, your ARAH collection should be able to be on display and provide years of enjoyment... Though the o-rings themselves will require upkeep. Elbow cracks are a naturally occurring part of the hobby as well- there are some figures that Ive never seen without them in my 22 years as an adult collector. This has far more to do with design and construction than environmental factors.
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I NEED TOYS DAMMIT!!! |
01-04-2022, 11:11 PM | #4 |
Cobra Viper
Join Date: Oct 2021
Location: NY
Posts: 129
|
This is some pretty great advice, but from the looks of it my figures are gonna be screwed. Personal space for my collection is limited for the time being so I basically have all my stuff where I work or play video games..and that's a room with 3 windows. Does anyone know if limiting the light is fine enough? I've been trying to keep my stuff away from direct sunlight thinking it'll be good enough, but I'm not so sure. Also, I've got some house plants in here which is probably a stupid idea, but I'm wondering if that might also contribute to moisture in the air?? No idea.
It's kinda frustrating because I can't totally control certain conditions. I'm thinking about just getting a wad of silica gel packs and some good plastic tubs for storage, maybe a dehumidifier down the line, and A/C for when it gets way too hot. Keeping this room at a steady 65 degrees all year round is kind of impossible but hopefully doing all that will help extend their lifespan and allow them to be more than just display items. I wish I had the dough to afford backup copies of certain 'Joes as insurance, but for now I'm limited to some small troop building and the occasional double of a small vehicle or something. If anyone has any additional advice about light/temperature regulation I'd really appreciate it..I feel like I just invested in a bunch of plastic time bombs! |
01-05-2022, 02:51 AM | #5 |
long time lurker
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: PDX
Posts: 851
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I care about my collection, I do my best to keep all my joes in good shape, but like a boat, it's not really worth having at all if you can't enjoy it the way you want to, you know?
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01-05-2022, 04:43 AM | #6 |
Mass Nerderer
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Slitherin' around the tank- It's cool, though, 'cause I'm being "watched"
Posts: 9,097
|
Quote:
This is some pretty great advice, but from the looks of it my figures are gonna be screwed. Personal space for my collection is limited for the time being so I basically have all my stuff where I work or play video games..and that's a room with 3 windows. Does anyone know if limiting the light is fine enough? I've been trying to keep my stuff away from direct sunlight thinking it'll be good enough, but I'm not so sure. Also, I've got some house plants in here which is probably a stupid idea, but I'm wondering if that might also contribute to moisture in the air?? No idea.
It's kinda frustrating because I can't totally control certain conditions. I'm thinking about just getting a wad of silica gel packs and some good plastic tubs for storage, maybe a dehumidifier down the line, and A/C for when it gets way too hot. Keeping this room at a steady 65 degrees all year round is kind of impossible but hopefully doing all that will help extend their lifespan and allow them to be more than just display items. I wish I had the dough to afford backup copies of certain 'Joes as insurance, but for now I'm limited to some small troop building and the occasional double of a small vehicle or something. If anyone has any additional advice about light/temperature regulation I'd really appreciate it..I feel like I just invested in a bunch of plastic time bombs! As far as light limitation, yes, that should be enough. Bear in mind though that the discoloration associated generally with light is not solely based on light- that's actually a flame retardant used in the plastics called bromine. Light, specifically UV light, accelerates that, but hiding them away in a closet will not prevent it. I myself have come to accept that a V1 Storm Shadow that's perfectly white will absolutely not stay that way forever. For those that can't accept it, you're in luck; a new one is soon to be released. As far as your limited display options, you've gotta think outside the box some. As an example, my collection is also confined to a medium-sized bedroom that serves as my game room. This room has two windows, a closet door , and of course, the entry. I realized long ago that I have no room for vehicles, but I was able to custom build my shelving to accomodate some 480-90 odd vintage Joes (of a possible 600), what will ultimately be around 50 Classified, a possible 150 ish Marvel Legends (including the Haslab Sentinel), and of course, my collection of Super Nes Carts. The way I managed to pull that off was to build low-profile shelving, tailor made for each line. As an example, the ARAH shelf hangs of the wall only at a depth of 3.5", is around 8' in length, and 6' high, split in two for both Cobra and Joe sides. The Cobra side does actually cover a window- that's free "light management" there! An added benefit is that I have a pretty hard limit on my collection... though I did back the Sky Striker, so I have a little over a year to sort that out;) As a result of some careful planning, it's at the point that all of this stuff would absolutely feel more cluttered all boxed up. I'm going to reiterate my earlier statement- it sounds like you're buying these to enjoy, not as an investment, so remember any value here is solely what you assign to it. I myself remember early on in my collection, fretting over small paint nicks, discoloration, etc, and worrying about all of the money aspects of the hobby- "I spent $XX on it, I don't want to fuck it up and have it lose value". Now, I mostly glance over at them, and remember fondly the bright, sunny days of my childhood, spent playing "mountain assault" with my little brother on the side of an old stone chimney- and it makes me smile to think that I have SOOOOOOOO many more Joes now than I did then!
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I NEED TOYS DAMMIT!!! |
01-05-2022, 09:43 AM | #7 |
Crimson Guard
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Kansas City burbs
Posts: 1,514
|
I don't have much in storage but I also have the luxury of having a bachelor pad. I have my Joe's in my bedroom in a wall mounted 4' x 5' custom display and three 26" x 38" x 5' tall open glass shelf display stands. The rest of my stuff (think 80s toy lines greatest hits) which is transformer focus and marvel legends are in my office displayed all around. I LOVE and feel blessed to be able to enjoy the collection. Fiddling and reposing this stuff is a true joy. Sometimes I'll grab a fig and go relax with it watching movies or tv shows. Repose it and then put it back in display. I wouldn't be able to do this if I kept stuff packaged away. I sold my G1 transformers collection for this same reason last year. This stuff costs big money but if you enjoy it everyday it's worth every penny.
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01-05-2022, 09:48 AM | #8 |
Crimson Guard
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Kansas City burbs
Posts: 1,514
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Here are some pics!
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Feedback: http://www.hisstank.com/forum/buy-se...thehoss75.html BST: http://www.hisstank.com/forum/g-i-jo...arah-sale.html Last edited by fearthehoss75; 05-23-2022 at 11:33 AM.. |
01-07-2022, 03:29 AM | #9 |
Cobra Viper
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Mediterranean
Posts: 204
|
I was lucky enough to build most of my collection around 2008, when I could get nearly all joes between 1-5 $! but my collection has suffered greatly over the years, improperly stored in cardboard boxes.
My advice is only buy what you like, and what you are going to enjoy. You never know what the price will do, maybe Hasbro re-issues absolutely everything and the value drops to the floor! or the pandemic continues, they hardly release anything, everyone keeps collecting and you find the price keeps going crazy. For what I have seen, I advice you to never leave any plastic collectable toy at more than 27?celsius, and never more than 70 % humidity. This year I plan to invest to get enough AC so as to protect my GI Joes, other collectables and my health as a bonus! as if your collection is happy and comfy, you will be too! Having said this, whenever I can I substitute some of my yellowed joes. But now is hard to. About sunlight, I would fret too much, I have found that if direct sunlight is not hitting them, it doesn't really affect. High temperatures and high humidity are to blame, and everything decays awfully with this two factors, simple light doesn't affect that I have experienced.
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The Cobra Factor My blog about GI Joe and Cobra customs. Toy Soldier Chest My blog about reviewing and showing 1/72 painted figures and WW2 vehicles |
01-08-2022, 11:18 PM | #10 |
Cobra Viper
Join Date: Oct 2021
Location: NY
Posts: 129
|
Quote:
I was lucky enough to build most of my collection around 2008, when I could get nearly all joes between 1-5 $! but my collection has suffered greatly over the years, improperly stored in cardboard boxes.
My advice is only buy what you like, and what you are going to enjoy. You never know what the price will do, maybe Hasbro re-issues absolutely everything and the value drops to the floor! or the pandemic continues, they hardly release anything, everyone keeps collecting and you find the price keeps going crazy. For what I have seen, I advice you to never leave any plastic collectable toy at more than 27?celsius, and never more than 70 % humidity. This year I plan to invest to get enough AC so as to protect my GI Joes, other collectables and my health as a bonus! as if your collection is happy and comfy, you will be too! Having said this, whenever I can I substitute some of my yellowed joes. But now is hard to. About sunlight, I would fret too much, I have found that if direct sunlight is not hitting them, it doesn't really affect. High temperatures and high humidity are to blame, and everything decays awfully with this two factors, simple light doesn't affect that I have experienced. Thanks for sharing your experience on this topic, this is a relief to hear! Sounds like cardboard is no good, but like you that's exactly how I was storing my figures for years..probably a decade or more. A lot of broken O-rings and some stripped screws but only a few yellowing figures due to poor storing conditions. In the summer it can get really hot in here without AC. I had a few figures that I took out of storage several years ago to keep on my desk and I basically ruined them due to neglect. The changing seasons completely yellowed a Storm Shadow V2 and I'm pretty sure my V2 Snake Eyes developed elbow cracks because of this =/ At least now I have a better understanding as to how I should maintain my collection. I will have to plan accordingly for when the warmer weather comes! |
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