From Tanks to Diecast Cars

From high school to college, every time I visited the local mall, I always pass by this hobby shop that specialized in a wide variety of kits. I have always drooled at their collection of model military and civilian vehicles, from airplanes to tanks and everything in between. Growing up, we didn’t have much spare money for these pleasures. If I did manage to save some money, I splurged on either books or cassette tapes.

While I was mildly interested in the idea of collecting these model kits, I didn’t think of myself becoming a collector. I was not even aware of toy collecting and the communities built around the hobby until I worked for a toy shop.

My then girlfriend got pregnant and I needed to land a job as quickly as possible. Back then, there were limited opportunities for writers. So when my sister’s boyfriend told me that I could work for him, I accepted the offer.

When I started, the hottest commodity was ToyBiz’s Marvel Legends. I was simply amazed at how much some of the figures would fetch in the aftermarket, considering how low the SRP for these figures were back then. I was practically stumped when customers would ask if we had this or that figure that I could only reply that we didn’t have what they were looking for.

Simply put, I was embarrassed because I didn’t know what my customers were talking about. I ended up signing up for the local toy forums, brushing up on my knowledge of current and upcoming lineups of figures, from Marvel Legends to Transformers to Disney Pixar’s Cars.

Right about that same time, I began collecting toys. I started out with Hot Wheels which, I think, is the default, or perhaps, more accurately, the gateway drug to toy collecting. For one, you can find them practically anywhere, from grocery stores to convenience stores to local hobby shops. Second, they’re dirt cheap. If you’re patient, if you do not collect a highly-targeted model, and if you know where to look, you can even get these for less than the SRP.

Eventually, I transitioned to a few action figures, from Marvel to TMNT to Thundercats to GI JOE. I was particularly fond of the 25th anniversary releases of the latter because I had those growing up. I only bought toys that I liked and never did I think of these as some sort of investment.

I’m an opener, or more accurately, I used to be. Back then, I thought that toys were meant to be opened and played with. And even if I was saving an action figure to be unopened, my daughter would eventually find her way to it and open it. Eventually, I had action figures with loose joints and missing accessories.

Fast-forward a few years later, I got a different job and the mother of my daughter and I separated. I stopped collecting for a few years and shifted my attention to sneakers and books.

I came back to collecting just last year after discovering this selling and trading group for Marvel Universe figures. Now, I’m back to collecting Hot Wheels.

I joined a group which regularly meets up during Saturdays at the local food court. You’d be amazed at the diversity of collectors, ranging from kids still in college to middle-aged professionals to a handful of oldies and women.

At this point, it has become about the hunt — finding the vehicles you like for a bargain price. Even if I abhor grocery shopping with my girlfriend, I sometimes tag along, hoping that I could find the latest item I’m looking for.