"Regrets? I've had a few...but then again, too few to mention."
Frank Sinatra
But then again, too many to mention. This week's assignment for the League of Extraordinary Bloggers:
Why did I buy that? Why did I sell that? My biggest regret
is…
First of all, I don’t just have one. I have many. Nature of
being a toy collector I guess.
Most of my regrets have been selling off portions of the
collection. Too much space. Trim down the credit card. All that good stuff.
McFarlane Military – I still have the entire McFarlane
Military collection loose, and many still packaged. However, I sold sealed
cases for about $50 a pop of the first three series, including the redeployed
sets. Ugh. Those figures collectively run for a lot more these days. That is
painful.
McFarlane Aliens and Predators – Sold a large loose lot of
almost all of McFarlane’s earliest Aliens, Predators, and AVP figures. Not as painful but the sculpting was awesome
and wish I hadn’t done it.
McFarlane Yankees and Red Sox – I collect McFarlane NFL, NBA
and anything Chicago, but for some reason, in the early days, I grabbed all the
Yankees and Red Sox as part of my jigsaw puzzle company idea. I sold them as
loose lots. Didn’t get as much as I expected and wish I still had them.
Marvel Superhero Squad – Sold my entire, near complete
collection of Marvel Super Hero Squad figures. Loved these things. This is one
of those things I may eventually have to rebuild. I also regret not picking up
the larger figures (Apocolypse, Fin Fang Foom, more Sentinels) when they were
on clearance. Saw Sentinels on clearance for months. Now they command top
dollar on Ebay.
1/6 Scale Snowspeeder – I bought a custom 1/6 scale
snowspeeder from an Ebay seller. This thing was solid wood, well designed, expertly
crafted with awesome detail. It was a one of a kind work of art. It was also
very big. I can’t believe I sold it.
Sideshow Platoon – Had the entire set, snapped the photo, and then sold them off.
Kenner Raiders of the Lost Ark - Went to a toy show 20 years ago picked up a bunch of carded and boxed vintage Kenner Raiders toys. Sold them years later. Included carded figures of German Indy, Toth, Mechanic, and Sallah.
Marx Playsets – I love the vintage and new playsets from
Mark, Barzso, Conte and Toy Soldiers of San Diego. Unfortunately they also take
up a lot of space. I’ve bought and sold Barzso’s Last of the Mohicans
set….twice, Marx Navarone, Marx Battlefield…twice, Barzso Daniel Boone, Vintage
Marx Military Academy, TSSD Romans and Barbarians, TSSD Custer’s Last Stand,
Conte Battle of Stamford Bridge (most painful) and Conte’s Civil War set #3,
the Crater.
Marvel Legends – My only regret with Marvel Legends is not
collecting them earlier. I started around Series 7.
1:18 Ultimate Soldier Vietnam - I collected the WWII figures. When I saw the Vietnam sets, I thought "how cool, I'll pick them up later." They didn't last long and now they command top dollar.
Palisades Muppets - Once again, thought cool, but never grabbed them. Wish I had.
Too Young to Know Better: Toys I had growing up and sold at
garage sales.
Shogun Warriors
Shogun Godzilla
Shogun Rodan
Product Lines I regret were canceled by the toy companies.
Mezco - Heroes Series 3-4. I loved the first two seasons of
this show before it went downhill. Series 1 figures did fairly well at first
but then warmed the pegs for a long time. Series 2 disappeared immediately. I
was so looking forward to Series 3 with Nathan Petrelli, the Haitian and Elle
Bishop. Series 4 had a new Claire, Maya with bloody eyes and Ando. So sad these
didn’t make it to market.
McFarlane Military WWII – Other than the Air Force Combat
Controller in Series 1, I didn’t see McFarlane Military sitting on the shelf
for long. When they announced the first two historical series, I was totally
psyched. The range of uniforms and periods would have been amazing, to include
enemy combatants. Series 1 included D-Day Army Infantry private, Battle of the
Bulge BAR gunner, Iwo Jima Marine with Flamethrower, and Tuskeegee P-51 pilot.
The box set for series 1 was a 30 Cal Gunner during the Battle of the Bulge.
How kick ass would that have been?
Series 2 included D-Day Ranger, Navy Gunner’s Mate in the
Pacific, Army Infnatry Grenadier at Monte Cassino and Army Airborne Captain,
Battle of Carentan.
So that’s it. Plenty of regrets, but that’s the nature of
the beast.
Other Leaguers:
