Click on the picture to view this Collection! Name: Joshua Bernard Location: Massachusetts, USA

1- What is it that you collect?
Japanese toys, primarily. I collect toys of the characters Raideen, Dairugger (aka voltron 1) and Albegas (aka voltron 2). I also collect stuff from Space Cruiser Yamato (Starblazers), Gatchaman (G-Force), Giant Robots, Godaikins, Shogun Warriors, Popy Diecasts, Macross and other Japanese toy lines. I am also into toys from TRON and THE BLACK HOLE as well as Star Wars. So it’s a mix basically of whatever catches my eye.

2- What was it that brought you to collecting? And what is that keeps you going?
When I was little, I developed a profound attachment to toys. I had some friends, but my toys always meant a lot to me. I LOVED the shogun warriors, and from the Force Five show, I knew there were other characters out there, and from the Mr Big’s Toyland commercials, I knew that there were other cool toys out there, but that I would never have. It seems my entire adulthood has been spent collecting toe toys that escaped me as a child. Now, it’s that sense of discovery. The more foreign and alien a toy is, the more I am intrigued by it. Part of it is the thrill of the hunt, capturing the past. Part of it is being a kid again, and helping to relate to my kids now.

3- When did you start collecting?
Well, I got my first star wars toys in 1978. But when did I start collecting seriously? Probably 1998, when I discovered EBay.

4- Why (what you collect) example: Batman, Star Wars, Transformers, etc…?
I collect different things for different reasons:

Nostalgia – Toys that I had when I was a kid that I want again.
Design – Toys that I find aesthetically pleasing, regardless of line.
Completion – The desire to have every toy of a specific character. I’m sure it’s an illness.
Discovery – I love the thrill of the hunt. I love to find something new, and unique.
Play value – Some toys are collected because they are just fun to transform, click around, and fondle. Hand candy, if you will.

5- When did you start displaying them?
I’ve always had a display. When I first got my apartment, I had a huge display on top of my entertainment center. When I got my house, they went into my unfinished basement. Then, as I built my basement, I built an office / toy room.

6- How do you get your inspiration to organize and display your collection?
Well, one of the reasons I started CollectionDX was to bring my display to the next level, to the electronic world. Now I can look at other people’s collections and get ideas on how to display my own. Largely, my collection is grouped by themes… Jumbos, Chogokin, sentai, transformers etc…

7- Do you have a favorite character(s) you collect?
Raideen is the character I identified most with as a kid, and I am on a quest to get every toy. I have even written a magazine article about the character (Super7, Issue 7).

8- Which item in your collection would you say is your absolute favorite and why?
Hard to pick a favorite. There are maybe 5 toys that I would have to save from a house fire. Those are the toys I saved from my childhood, and a Jumbo grendizer that my wife bought me.

9- Which item was the most difficult to obtain? And which one is your prized possession?
Probably my Raideen Sparcar. It’s the motorcycle that Raideen’s pilot, Akira rides. It’s pretty rare – I hunted for a year for it. That and maybe my Hobby Project Gekiganger 3.

10- What is the oldest item you own? and the one with the most value?
Oldest? I have a stuffed animal from when I was 1. So that’s 30 years old. As far as robot toys? I have some diecast from the early 70s.. I tend not to put monetary value on my toys. I know I have a few $500 toys.. But their true vale cannot be measured in money.

11- What inspires you to purchase an item to add to your collection?
Depends on how I feel that day. Sometimes I would never have thought to buy an item unless I happened upon it somewhere. For example, I came across a deal on a Godaikin Dyjupiter at a flea market. I bought it, and then had to get the corresponding Dynaman toy. It wasn’t even on my radar before that.

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?
No, I leave the toy making to the professionals.

13- What do you think of the custom Craze?
I don’t really. There’s not a huge custom community among Japanese collectors. I think Customs come from the feeling that you don’t have the toys you want, or your toys aren’t good enough. To me, that says you aren’t happy. With Japanese toys, you don’t feel the need to customize, because it’s like defacing a work of art. There are some customs, but not like you see in other genres.

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 be, but now most of my purchases are private, from other collectors. EBay has gotten too popular, and it is too hard to find a good deal. If you do find something good, it’s rare, but rewarding.

15- Is your collection insured?
I have homeowners insurance, which covers documented collectables. Part of CollectionDX was to document my collection for insurance purposes.

16- What is missing from your collection that you hope to one day acquire?
Every Japanese toy I don’t have. Primarily there are some Raideen toys I’m missing. They’re expensive, but they will be mine.

17- What is the usual reaction when people see your collection?
I’ve had the fortune to meet a lot of other collectors in person, and it’s usually received pretty well. Respect, I think. Non-collectors think its neat, and occasionally it jogs some childhood memories.

18- Do you attend conventions for some of your purchases? Could you tell us about that?
I’ve gone to conventions in the past, but there are few that cater to my interests. Nowadays, conventions are overpriced, and the selection of Japanese toys rare.

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?
When I was into star wars years ago, I would spend an entire evening looting wal mart, target, TRU and others.. Boy did I waste my life. I feel dirty now. Maybe once a year, when I go to NYC, I consider that a toy run. Tokyo as well. Now THAT is a toy run.

20- How do you decide what to take out of the package and what stays sealed?
Open everything. Japanese toys usually come in re-sealable packages. The packaging is given as much attention to detail as the boxes do. Non re-sealable packaging gets thrown away. If you don’t open your packages, you’re only getting maybe 25% out of the enjoyment of a toy. A toy is not an investment. Didn’t anyone learn anything from beanie babies? Just open them, play with them. Your soul will thank you.

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?
Perhaps. I see it scaled down a lot. You can only hoard so much. I think my kids will get a lot, and a lot will go into storage. Maybe someday I will donate it all to a museum.

22- What advice would you give someone who just started a collection?
Collect because you love what you are collecting. Do not collect for investment, because it almost never works out. Never let your collection get in the way of your life. Family comes first. Make friends. Get involved in a community. Exercise. Be kind to animals. Donate to charity. don’t become comic book guy from The Simpsons. Visit CollectionDX.com.