Click on the picture to view this Collection! Name: Rein den Hengst a.k.a. iDarkDesign Location: Amsterdam, NH, Netherlands

1- What is it that you collect?
I collect Transformers, Gundam and DVD’s. Yet with the former two I don’t just collect everything that is Transformers and Gundam. I have made up some rules for myself just so that I can control my urges. For Transformers I collect every series from the eighties up till now. Only requirements that I set to the toys: They need to appear in the show/ comic. (of course even I make some exceptions) and it’s just the toys, no other apparel. With Gundam I used to collect all Gundam Wing models but I completed that a couple ago so now it’s only Master Grades and Perfect Grades. I buy only one or two every two months or so. With DVD’s it gets a little crazier. It’s a collection I share with my brother. Mainly anime, but a lot of movies too and series of course!

2- What was it that brought you to collecting? And what is that keeps you going?
The internet, I guess. Before that they were just a collection of old toys stored away. What really sparked my collectors spark was a website called timetravelertoys.com which was selling a dinobot Swoop figure, the only transformer I always wanted but never got. So I ordered it, and with that the official collecting started. This was in 1999. The first DVD I got was The Matrix, it was in that same year.

3- When did you start collecting?
I started collecting Transformers in 1999 (with a starting collection of childhood toys) Same year for DVD’s and somewhere along the way the Gundams joined in there.

4- Why (what you collect) example: Batman, Star Wars, Transformers, etc…?
Transformers started out from nostalgia, getting the toys I never got to have when I was a child. Now with all the new figures I collect because I like the toys, the show and the fandom (community). I started out collecting Gundam models because I wanted to try one out, and building a model robot just has some sort of charm with it.

5- When did you start displaying them?
Immediately after I got back into collecting! I display every piece and store the packaging away at my parent’s attic.

6- How do you get your inspiration to organize and display your collection?
As I stated before I collect show characters. Naturally I display them by show. Every display has a few basic ‘rules’ to them. The factions get grouped together per show. The bigger toys move to the back and the smaller toys to the front. If space and toy allow it I like to pose my figures. If not it’s like soldiers in a row. The DVD’s are stored by show, genre, saga, director etc. It has a logic only me and my brother totally understand.

7- Do you have a favorite character(s) you collect?
No, not really, show characters, and I have a couple of Spawn figures.

8- Which item in your collection would you say is your absolute favorite and why?
An absolute favorite . . . I like the toys with the most posability or with the coolest character. I can’t think of one favorite.

9- Which item was the most difficult to obtain? And which one is your prized possession?
I’ve never have real difficulties getting any of the items I own. And my most prized possession would be my whole collection; I wouldn’t part with any of the items for the world. It’s a zen thing.

10- What is the oldest item you own? and the one with the most value?
Must be some of the Generation one Transformers from 1982/1984. The item of the most value. I’d say complete C8,5 Metal Predaking but with the upcoming reissue that’s gonna drop in value for sure (not that I care)

11- What inspires you to purchase an item to add to your collection?
New series, new show, cool toy, pretty colors! I’m a sucker for very cool figures too. That’s why I have other figures too: Spawn, Akira, Hellsing, Trigun, Stikfas, Alien, Macross, Dragonball Z. . .

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 have never bought customized figures; I did buy a few custom accessories like figure specific figure stands and other stuff from various transformer shows. I don’t customize the figures either, I do however add custom accessories that I either ‘build’ myself or find that it very much fits the toy in it’s original form. I have once build a figure from scratch (long gone now) which won an award too. (it was a Quintesson judge figure)

13- What do you think of the custom Craze?
I love seeing customs! Keep up the great work!

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 do use Ebay, but not that often. I order at online stores most of the time, and sometimes I buy figures from friends, the fandom or at conventions.

15- Is your collection insured?
Yes but not specific, I added a new post with my insurance company.

16- What is missing from your collection that you hope to one day acquire?
I really, really, really, want a Japanese Toys ‘R’ Us Exclusive GodFireConvoy figure. It’s very rare and very expensive. I come across one or two every once in a while, but at such a high price (excl shipping the huge box) that I just don’t think it’s worth the money.

17- What is the usual reaction when people see your collection?
Usually something like ‘WOW’ and ‘Oh My God’, people don’t think of me like the geek I am at home. (I’m a social butterfly and a party animal to boot) They wonder at the collection for 3 minutes, they ask me what it is and why I collect, but by then I am usually already in the kitchen cooking up a dinner.

18- Do you attend conventions for some of your purchases? could you tell us about that?
Yeah I attend one or two conventions a year. Mostly for meeting the fandom

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?
No, not really. I scan the internet for new figures and I always have something on pre-order. I live very near to a collectible store and comic store so if I pass them while going home I look into the window, if I see something interesting I walk in, if not I just pass. If I attend a convention I like to purchase at least one figure.

20- How do you decide what to take out of the package and what stays sealed?
Everything gets freed from their cardboard or plastic prison. For me it’s not an investment, it’s for personal use. Never thought of selling anything.

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?
Maybe, maybe not. I live by the day nobody knows.

22- What advice would you give someone who just started a collection?
Don’t start buying anything and everything! Come up with some guidelines for yourself so you don’t find yourself in any financial or social troubles. And most important have fun collecting, don’t do it because you must, do it because you can.