Click on the picture to see this Collection!! Name: Elvin Pena Location: Astoria, New York

1- What is it that you collect?
My collection consists solely of Optimus Prime/Convoy (what he’s referred to in Japan) figures and all of the different variants (both rare and common) that exist.

2- What was it that brought you to collecting? And what is that keeps you going?
I’ve always had a passion for Transformers (both the show and the toys); since their inception to be honest. But as with many collectors, I didn’t have the funds available to me back then to buy all of the stuff that I wanted so I always held off. Now that I’ve got the funds available to me I’m “catching up” on lost time.

The thrill of the hunt is what keeps me going as there’s always something out there that I’m missing. That, and the fact that I’ve met some great people and made some amazing friends is what keeps me going.

3- When did you start collecting?
I started collecting seriously roughly 5 years ago.

4- Why (what you collect) example:Batman, Star Wars, Transformers, etc…?
As a child Transformers, in particular Optimus Prime, always appealed to me. Prime was my childhood hero as he was a bold, fearless, leader who was always looking out for the well-being of his fellow Autobots and human friends.

5- When did you start displaying them?
I’ve always had them displayed for all to see. As the years have gone by I just added additional shelves when need be. Being that I’m a focused collector, my collection isn’t nearly as large as that of other Transfans, so I’ve never had a pressing need to find space in my home.

6- How do you get your inspiration to organize and display your collection?
No one person really inspired me to be honest. It all pretty much started when I just told myself that I wanted to own every Prime/Convoy figure out there. Since then, as they say, the rest is history.

7- Do you have a favorite character(s) you collect?
Hehe… YUP!

8- Which item in your collection would you say is your absolute favorite and why?
This is a tough one. To me it’s like asking a father which one of his six kids is his favorite. I really don’t like one more than the other per say, but I value some more sentimentally then others.

For example, my MISB US G1 Optimus Prime. I remember it took me nearly one whole year to find a G1 Prime in that condition. My bother and I were frantic in our search until we finally found a big time collector that was right in my backyard (Brooklyn, New York) that had one and was willing to sell it. I was a bit concerned when I found out that he had it as I didn’t have all of the money necessary to buy it. Fortunately my wife surprised me with the rest of the money that I needed. She had been saving up for months (without my knowing) as she knew I wanted one pretty bad. So, that’s a piece that’s very special to me in many ways.

9- Which item was the most difficult to obtain? And which one is your prized possession?
Check out number 8.

10- What is the oldest item you own? and the one with the most value?
Same as number 8. There are very few case fresh MISB US G1 Primes around now-a-days.

11- What inspires you to purchase an item to add to your collection?
If it’s Prime/Convoy, I have to have it.

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’ve never been big on customizing, though I’ve seen some amazing work online and at the various conventions I have attended. There are some very gifted people out there, I’m not one of them. Hehe…

13- What do you think of the custom Craze?
I think it’s great! It adds a whole new dynamics to collecting as a whole.

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 used to use eBay a lot when I first started out, but throughout the years I’ve been fortunate enough to meet and do business with some of the best Transformers dealers out there. I very rarely buy anything from eBay any more. It is, though, a great place to start looking.

15- Is your collection insured?
Absolutely! The fine people at Collectibles Insurance Agency have me covered.

16- What is missing from your collection that you hope to one day acquire?
I have a few pieces that I’d really like to own and I’m sure I will in due time. One of the pieces that I’d really like to have is the Lucky Draw Red Super Fire Convoy. It’s limited to only 15 in the world but unfortunately I’ve never seen one for sale.

17- What is the usual reaction when people see your collection?
I usually get a positive response, and I appreciate everyone taking the time to visit my site. I get the occasional, “Free your toys from their prison” emails, but I know that my fellow fans aren’t serious. To them I say, “MISB for life!”. Hehe…

18- Do you attend conventions for some of your purchases? could you tell us about that?
Absolutely! I can’t tell you how much I look forward to them. My two favorite ‘cons are Cybercon and BotCon, two of the finest Transformers conventions out there. I’ve had the honor of being a staff member at each of those conventions as well and I can’t even begin to tell you how awesome those experiences have been.

The biggest highlight of my ‘con experience was having the opportunity to meet and hang out with Peter Cullen, the legendary voice actor for the original Optimus Prime, at BotCon 2004. That was great!

19- Most collectors today go on what they call a toy run, do you participate in that as well? And what are your favorite spots? Do you have a routine?
I occasionally go on toy runs to pick up anything new that’s out. I usually go to Toys R Us Time Square as it’s only a few blocks from where I work. I also like to go to Image Anime to pick up any new imports. As I mentioned previously, though, I usually go through private parties to get anything that I’m looking for.

20- How do you decide what to take out of the package and what stays sealed?
Everything stays sealed unless I’ve purchased it opened already.

21- At what stage do you think your collection will be at 10 years from now, do you think you would have grown tired of it?
I don’t think so. Transformers have always been a part of my life (at varying degrees of course) and I don’t intent to let up. Granted, I’ll always put my family’s financial needs ahead of my collecting habits, but so long as I have the ability to do so, I’ll remain in the game for many years to come. Now that my wife and I are expecting our first child I can’t wait to share this amazing hobby with my son/daughter.

22- What advice would you give someone who just started a collection?
Patience, patience, patience! Don’t ever buy the first thing that you see out there unless you’re absolutely certain you’ll never see it again. Also, try to network and find dealers outside of the “public eye”, so to speak. As I mentioned, eBay is great, it serves it purpose, but dealing with private vendors is a heck of a lot more beneficial as you have a better opportunity to negotiate and find exactly what it is that you’re looking for!

Good luck!