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In the last year or so, since getting 'into' this collecting hobby I have been collecting pretty much on a 'if I like it - it stays' basis. Like so much about this wonderful hobby, it's been a learning process, and one of the things I have learnt is that this doesn't result in something I would regard as a nice collection. It has resulted, for me at least, in a collection full of models which don't sit well together, are often in pretty lousy shape (this is made worse by my habit of keeping anything remotely htf) and is still nowhere near complete on any level.

Time for a change methinks! I sat down about a week ago and decided I was going to collect around 20 different 'strands' and try to actually collect them well. I do have very varied tastes so was aiming for a roughly 50/50 split between 1-75 models and everything else. The 1-75 gave me a particular headache..... I started with a list of my 'favourite 10'. This didn't work too well as they were still all very different, and didn't really work together. There were some common themes, and I then narrowed my selection down to early cars, early construction/trucks and transitional commercials. All quite different in their own ways, but I've plumped for the early trucks and construction stuff. Quite a laugh really, as I've probably got less of them than anything else so I reckon I'll have the smallest 1-75 collection on the forum. By miles. I've actually picked 12 1-75, and 8 'others' by the way.

I'd be interested to know if anyone else has changed their collecting habits over the years, and do you still do so periodically? Have you ever finished a particular 'set' and struggled to find the next one? Or do you just collect what you like and that's that? Finally, how many of you have models that you do not particularly like, just to complete a 'set'?

Hi Ewan,
My collecting for me has always been the regular wheel models, any model I like them all. Then when I started to find it difficult filling the gaps I went
onto the early superfast, on the way due to buying lots of large lots I got hooked into majors, kings, yesteryears and others.
I have to say i do like them all but space Is getting precious and of course money, I had even bought corgi, dinky and others but most of these have gone now to pay for holidays and stuff for the kids(quite handy really).
I am suppose to be downsizing, I have done quite a bit really but I am nearly left with just matchbox and that breaks my heart.
But you can always collect them again if you wanted to , so the fun just starts again.
Do what you feel is best for you Ewan and enjoy it at the same time.
All the best
Jason

To each his own ... I don't think there is a right or a wrong way to collect. So long as your collection makes you happy it is good!

Personally I would love to be a completest like Diecast or Kerbside, but know that I don't have the money or the space. And as I have never been to a toyfair or swapmeet, eBay is my main source.

I 'restrict' myself to A Series 1-75 Regular Wheels, A and B boxes and Superkings K15 buses. I also have amassed a pretty large representation of other Matchbox buses but don't really call myself a collector of those: more a 'gatherer'! That's all quite enough for me at present, but must admit that a few of the RW B series are starting to call my name.

Martin

Never got into matcbox for the most part but I have changed mine a few times but normally for a reason.
1st time I sold most of my HW redlines & a few other bits was to restore a car for my dads 60th. Always thought I'd replace em and did for the most part.
2nd time I sold everything that didnt hold my attention (and a few that did) was to buy a car (78 Pontiac)
3rd time I sold all my re-acquired HW redlines and all the better/expensive stuff (some of it I know Im probably never gonna get the chance to buy again) was to buy another car (64 GTO)
Im just about finished selling 99% of everything else now except for the stuff I wanna keep - 1/25 kits, Super GTs, Corgi Rockets, LoneStar & my Pontiac diecast.

Think these are the ones I'll carry on with, though ther is another car I'd like.........

If your serious about selling I've found its better to sell the HTF/rare stuff first, as your less likely to get tempted back into buying em unless you change your collecting habits again.

cheers
Si

Hi Ewan, collecting gives you some difficult choices sometimes. Some people simply collect what they enjoy, some collect small variations, some collect variations that can be seen on display, and so on. I'm currently downsizing all the stuff that I'm no longer interested, especially models that came in job lots because my collecting has become a bit haphazard. I seem to have bits of everything (Matchbox, Dinky, Corgi, Tootsietoys, Benbros, Lone Star, Timpo, Charbens, Redlines, etc) They do say that you should buy the best you can afford to avoid the time and expense of repeat buying and upgrading and personally that took me some time to get my head round. I still find it difficult to turn away from a little gem tucked away in a listing though, even if I've got it already. There aren't many regular wheels that I'm looking for realistically and I'm quite interested in the transitional superfast, but I'm a novice at that. But whatever you do, good luck with it!

Thanks for all the feedback guys - it is very reassuring to know that so many of you have collections that appear to be in a permanent state of change just like mine! Just like Martin my collecting is mainly through ebay, and I think this leads to more 'joblot' buying than would otherwise be the case - it makes financial sense when the cost of postage is taken into account. I love a mixed lot, and what tends to happen is that I'll get an item I've not had or seen before, then I'll research it, then I'll see a whole lot more in the same series I like and before you know it, another 'wishlist' has appeared!

I must stress my recent decision is based on what I like, not some idea I have on what a 'collector' should be. The basic premise is that I'll nearly finish one model off the list before adding another - in practise the word nearly has to be in there - I may never find an affordable yellow 15a or green 20a to name but two and it would be absurd for me to let the lack of such a variation stop my collecting indefinitely - it's far too much fun!

I have tried to resist being a completist because there are castings I dislike like the #65 Combine and #68 Hatra which are the only 1963-71 1-75 series castings I do not own.I do have some castings that I dont like but the only way they get in the door is to come for under 20DKR £2.20 in c9 or better condition - like the RW2c which started a great forum debate about shouldered wheels and embossed tyre sidewalls. My collection grows buy buying what I like when it see it at flea markets or toy fairs,rarely ever buy anything online.Not good at clearing out cars that no longer interest me altho I wish I was!
Have around 2500 cars,buses & trucks with Corgi & Lesney making up half and just about everything having some connection to childhood memories.

I, like Mick could never become a completist, my main area of collecting is Superfast and in particular transitional models. I will also collect more recent SF's but i cannot bring myself to collect anything other than cars. I have absolutely no interest in for example the SF#2 Rescue Hovercraft, SF#2 S-2 Jet, SF#25 Flat Car Container, SF#32 Field Gun, SF#44 Passenger Coach or the SF#47 Pannier Loco and dont get me started on the Superfast Caravans. That said i do have my favourites for example the SF#9 AMX Javelin, SF#8 Ford Mustang, SF#8 Wildcat Dragster, SF#14 Iso Grifo, SF#22 Pontiac GP(shade variations), SF#45 Ford Group 6 or the SF#70 Dodge Dragster, all of which i am determined to complete where possible every variation of each because they make my heart beat, i just love them. And so in some sense i am a bit of a completist but only for particular models that Rock My Boat!!!

I would however say that every collector is different and the way they collect will be determined by a number of factors including, Nostalgic Childhood memories, display space available, Budget, Specialist interest i.e aviation, railway, motor racing, American cars, British cars etc etc etc.

Everyone is different and everyones collecting tastes should be respected................unless of coarse they collect Bulgarian/Hungarian issues!!!

I'm a completest.

If it's made in England Lesney 1-75 and came in a cardboard picture box or matchbox style box, then it's in. Outside that, it's the odd thing I like here and there, but the focus is Lesney 1-75 almost exclusively. I don't exclude any casting, even if I'm not a big fan, and every variation of model or box is good for me. I'm pretty sure that those parameters will mean my collection is never as complete as I'd like it to be.

I have a couple of Bulgarians and a Hungarian, but only as "examples" - if I could find a reasonably priced Brazilian, I'd add one too. Otherwise, not really fussed by any of those, as one could go more than a lifetime trying to get them all...

Cheers,
Gavin

In my early days I had Dinky, Corgi, Trax, and Yesteryears, but I thought I would never be complete in all these brands. So decided To consentrate on the Yesteryears, I got them up to date until I decided to collect the 1-75 models in about 1994, as Matchbox really started to mess about with the Yesteryear Models.

I started to collect the 1-75 Models in 1994 when they were readly available in Mint Boxed condition, I then decided that I would only collect the Regular Wheels, and the 1st issue Superfast. But as I also collect the Boxes I had to get a few of the 2nd issue Superfast just to be complete with the "G" Boxes.

Been with the 1-75 models for the last 20 years, but as I collect any variation (wheels, treads, colours, and casting variation I do not think I will ever be complete on these models, my collection of these 1-75 models is nearly 1500, and I still need a lot more variations

Yes I am a completest at heart

George T.