Click on the picture to see this Collection!! Name: Mark Billen Location: Scsotland, UK

1- What is it that you collect?
Anything monster or creature related really. McFarlane, NECA or Now Playing figures – anything that I think looks cool and is (preferably based on a movie). I’ve started collecting a lot more model kits and movie replicas now though.

2- What was it that brought you to collecting? And what is that keeps you going?
I started collecting things from a very early age – He-Man, Thundercats, Ninja Turtles and Ghostbusters figures mainly. It all started from there and I’ve just continued, changing the theme of my collection over the years. I’m more into building/painting and collecting models (vinyl mainly) now, so that keeps me going these days and is an enjoyable way of spending a few hours (or days!).

3- When did you start collecting?
I really started collecting seriously when I was about 7 or 8. I was home from school ill and my mum brought me home a Gamorrean Guard figure to cheer me up. I quickly looked out and found my other vintage Star Wars figures I had (about six) and displayed them together. From then on in I was heavily into Star Wars for years and amassed a great collection. My taste in sci-fi and horror films has just changed as I’ve grown and so too has what I collect.

4- Why (what you collect) example: Batman, Star Wars, Transformers, etc…?
It primarily comes down to loving the designs. I’m a huge fan of sci-fi and horror special effects work, particularly creature design. Some of the monsters created by Hollywood are fantastic, and I’ve always wanted to have a part of that – to own miniature replicas of the fantastic creatures I love watching onscreen. Giger’s Alien, the Predator, the Kothoga, Krites, Gremlins – they’re all brilliant creations I want to surround myself with (even if that does make me seem odd!)

5- When did you start displaying them?
It would have been when I was 7 or 8 with my Star Wars collection. That’s when it really began.

6- How do you get your inspiration to organize and display your collection?
It all comes down to shelf space really. Unfortunately I live in a top floor room that has slanted upper walls where the roof is, so there are very few vertical sections of wall to put shelving units against. I try to keep everything themed (Alien, Predator, models, etc), but it’s more a juggling act just now with the available shelf space. Of course when I get a place of my own, things are gonna change…

7- Do you have a favorite character(s) you collect?
I’d say that the Alien is my favorite, closely followed by the Predator. But I’ve also got a lot of love for some of the more obscure B-movie characters I collect, like the Krites (or Critters) – it’s just a pity that there are so few products available of the other creatures I love.

8- Which item in your collection would you say is your absolute favorite and why?
My favorites would have to be my two life-size Krites from Bump In The Night Productions (they’re now discontinued). I love the Critters movies, but it’s so rare to find merchandise for them.

9- Which item was the most difficult to obtain? And which one is your prized possession?
The most difficult to obtain was probably my Powerloader model kit. I was looking for a reasonable priced one of those for ages. Prized possession would either be the Krites again, or possibly my original pre-production Captain Everton A3 artwork done by Steve Johnson’s XFX for the movie “Virus” – that looks superb framed properly.

10- What is the oldest item you own? And the one with the most value?
Oldest item I own is probably one of my vintage Star Wars figures, or a bizarre miniature metal Iron Maiden torture device I picked up at an Antiques and Collectibles fair. Most valuable is probably my vintage Star Wars Yak Face figure (for its size), though my built up models are very valuable to me in that I’ve spent hours finishing them.

11- What inspires you to purchase an item to add to your collection?
Unless it’s a new item that I just have to have, I usually pick things up if I see something I like at a bargain price.

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 not bought any customs, and I’ve not really made any (not what I would consider is a custom anyway), but I have taken a couple of figures and repainted them and given them bases (improved a crappy 80’s E.T. figure and painted a gold Cave Troll keyring in movie accurate colors).

13- What do you think of the custom Craze?
Customs are great. I’ve seen some fantastic Alien/Predator hybrid figures.

14- Where do you make most of your purchases from? eBay seems to be a favorite with collectors these days, are you an eBayholic?
Sadly there are very few sci-fi shops near where I live, so there’s virtually nowhere that stocks what I want. Consequently I get most of my stuff online. I have to admit to being addicted to eBay – I love it and am on there way too much.

15- Is your collection insured?
No it’s not. Maybe it should be…

16- What is missing from your collection that you hope to one day acquire?
Well there are a LOT of model kits that I’d love to get (Hogan’s Bones Kothoga being one of them). And of course, a life-size Predator would be nice.

17- What is the usual reaction when people see your collection?
It depends on who it is. Kids want to touch everything and invariably knock things over (yeah, they’re pretty much all banned now). Adults get an odd look in they’re eye and back out quietly…

18- Do you attend conventions for some of your purchases? Could you tell us about that?
There really aren’t many (any?) conventions near me. I’d like to go to more, but it would involve a lot of travel.

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, there aren’t enough stores that stock what I want to do a toy run. I always make sure I get to Forbidden Planet and the other sci-fi stores whenever I’m in the city though.

20- How do you decide what to take out of the package and what stays sealed?
Everything comes out. I collect for the love of the designs, not for money, so I like to show them off to the best advantage.

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 hope I never grow tired of it, there’d be too much to get rid of! I seriously doubt I’ll ever stop collecting. It’ll be more models and high-end movie replicas in the future though I think.

22- What advice would you give someone who just started a collection?
Buy what you like the look of and let ‘em breath. And don’t be put off by anyone thinking you’re weird, or nerdy, because you collect toys. And shop around – you’d be surprised how much money you can save!