Click on the picture to see this Collection!! Name: Dave McCormick Location: Toledo, Ohio

1- What is it that you collect?
I collect Mego 8" action figures and a few from their 12" line. I also collect vintage Star Wars.

2- What was it that brought you to collecting? And what is that keeps you going?
I had about half of the vintage SW figures from my youth, and ran across them in storage. I decided to finish off the line and make a display. Not long after I completed those, I was at the in-laws and my son walked up to me with a beat up Mego action figure. It was in "Grandma's Toybox" and belonged to one of my wifes brothers. Holding that figure brought back a lot of memories. They were such a big deal when I was a kid. I was on ebay that night looking for Megos.

I stay involved because of the friends I've made collecting, and also because of the customizing I do. The lines never end when you customize. Keeps it interesting and new.

3- When did you start collecting?
I've always been a collector of something. Music when I was young (still do to a small extent), comics for a while, things like that. I probably started on toys 4 years ago. I've stayed hooked and don't seem to be slowing down.

4- Why (what you collect) example:Batman, Star Wars, Transformers, etc...?
I collect what I loved as a child. When I was real young, the Megos were the thing. I always had a Batman and Superman, but when they did Planet of the Apes, I had to have them. I loved those movies as a kid. Later, it was more hero's, Star Trek, and some figures from knockoff lines like LJN's SWAT. Eventually Star Wars came out and changed all that. I had to have Star Wars figures, but remember being disappointed they were not the 8" action figures I was used to. Eventually I got used to it though and those hold strong memories for me as well.

5- When did you start displaying them?
About 4 years ago when I started collecting again. I try not to collect anything I can't display. If it's packed away, there is no point in it for me.

6- How do you get your inspiration to organize and display your collection?
Inspiration? Not really inspiration, and much as space limitations. That really dictates how my collection is displayed. I try to keep like items together. I just start messing with it, and when I think it looks good, I'm inspired to leave it.

7- Do you have a favorite character(s) you collect?
I tend to collect lines with more than one character.

8- Which item in your collection would you say is your absolute favorite and why?
Wow, that is a really hard question. There are a couple pieces that I struggled to find, and those pieces always have a special place. I would say both my absolute favorites are actually custom pieces made by friends of mine. One is my first custom action figure of Star Trek's villain, Khan. The other my custom Trek TOS custom captains chair. Both

9- Which item was the most difficult to obtain? And which one is your prized possession?
None were that hard to obtain, but my Mego Romulan might be my most prized. That was the first time I had spend "real" money on a toy, and I was almost sick sending that money off. I remember my hands were shaking just a little when that box arrived. I was nervous that something would be wrong with it and that I had just wasted money.

10- What is the oldest item you own? and the one with the most value?
Oldest= Mego Action Jackson. Early 70's. Most value= Mego/Palitoy Space 1999 Alan Carter complete.

11- What inspires you to purchase an item to add to your collection?
I like a complete collection, so if it belongs in one of my lines and I don't have it, you can bet I'm looking.

12- Customizing figures and statues has become very big, have you ever purchased a custom figure or statue and have you ever tried making one?
I own over 100 custom figures, most of which I've put together, but some I bought outright from others. I sell custom stuff to help finance my collection.

13- What do you think of the custom Craze?
I think it's healthy. Once you finish a line, it's hard to stay interested. Customizing lets us play with our toys and make new stuff to keep old lines fresh.

14- Where do you make most of your purchases from? ebay seems to be a favorite with collectors these days, are you an ebayholic?
I ebay a lot, but these days I seem to trade more off ebay with other collectors

15- Is your collection insured?
Yeah

16- What is missing from your collection that you hope to one day acquire?
An original Mego/Palioty Zorro. Complete.