Click on the picture to view this Collection! Name: Rick Sosnoski Location:Morristown, TN

1- What is it that you collect?
I mainly collect Gundam figures and miscellaneous debris from this franchise, both Domestic and Foreign. I have a real passion for robots or mechanical entities. I am also drawn to hybrid man-machine merchandise. Mainly, I collect what catches my eye. I still have-even to a flaw-a “completist” attitude with Gundams, however the breadth and depth of their product lines is truly immeasurable! So, this is financially impossible for me. I enjoy Todd McFarlane’s creations. Not the creepy stuff, just the whimsical and more robot-esque stuff. I collect nostalgia items, such as McFarlane’s “Where the Wild Things Are” figures based on Sendak’s children’s novel. Also, Nightmare before Christmas figures (By JUN Planning) and Year without a Santa Claus (Heat Miser, etc) by Palisades Toy Company. I even snatched up a West Coast Chopper 1:5 scale (Monster!) from Wal-Mart for $59 at Christmas time, simply because the detail was stunning. I have become pickier rather than completist with my approach towards figures.

2- What was it that brought you to collecting? And what is that keeps you going?
I really began by spending time at my friend Tom’s apartment, where he had a hallway filled with figures, toys, Fast Food “toy crack”, sculptures, etc. I was hurdled back in time by some of his stuff and got the “bug.” I started, innocently enough, with the first Speed Racer Figures by Resaurus, and there was no turning back after that! I am more motivated now by aesthetics and my internal standards of “coolness,” which translates differently to different people. I like gimmicks. I like die-cast. I like hidden features and well hidden screws under polycaps. I like a GREAT paintjob. I like rotocasting. These things all motivate the purchasing department in my brain.

3- When did you start collecting?
I started collecting when I was 31, 6 years ago, but have enjoyed toys my whole life. My parents traveled abroad when I was younger and I was lucky enough to get some Corgi die-cast cars-like the original James Bond Aston Martin and the TV Batmobile, which I still have to date. I also had the Thunderbirds T2 and T4 by Dinky when I was younger. GI Joe (full size 12”) and (Yikes!) Evel Knievel got a lot of playtime as did your good old Tonka trucks.

4- Why (what you collect) example: Batman, Star Wars, Transformers, etc…?
I collect mainly gundam because the variety and gimmicks and that internal “coolness factor” makes them desirable. It’s a GIANT robot with killer sets of arsenals. Need I elaborate?? J

5- When did you start displaying them?
I finally took some out of the packages about 4 years ago and some got a spot on a black Wal-Mart generic 6’ bookshelf. Since then, I have dedicated 2 walls of my office to even more figures, but I am waiting to move into a new house where a majority will find their way to a proper display case, in glass and sealed!

6- How do you get your inspiration to organize and display your collection?
I’ve seen some well-arranged collections and some truly lame displays online, and have gleaned some insights as to the whys and how’s of setting mine up.

7- Do you have a favorite character(s) you collect?
In the Gundam realm, I do favor the ZEON Mecha, but don’t really have a favorite. The original ZAKU though, is truly a classic!

8- Which item in your collection would you say is your absolute favorite and why?
I was overwhelmed by the APU (Mifune’s Last Stand) figure by McFarlane for The Matrix series. It is by far, the most intricate undertaking a toymaker has ever accomplished (and I don’t think I’m alone in feeling this way about that).

9- Which item was the most difficult to obtain? And which one is your prized possession?
This is a tough question. I had a hard time obtaining several Gundam figures, but e-bay eliminated a lot of frustration there. I’ve never really been stumped by an elusive figure, though there is one and I’m not sure he was even made, because I’ve only seen pix of him at ONE store site. My prized possession? Hmmm. The DX 12” Sazabi is a favorite, just because he is more of an obscure figure, and I didn’t think BanDai would even produce one. The hardest figure to get, now that I’m focused, was the James figure (JUN Planning) from James And The Giant Peach. He and the Pirate Jack figure were tough to obtain and EXPENSIVE!

10- What is the oldest item you own? and the one with the most value?
The oldest is the Corgi Aston Martin-probably 1967-69. The most valuable is probably the Millennium Jack Set of Four Jack Skellingtons from NBX. Valued at around $400. Could be the Ultimate Iron Giant 20” figure which sells for up to the same (around Christmas!)

11- What inspires you to purchase an item to add to your collection?
It has to inspire me in one way or another.  It might me sheer aesthetics or it might be a sculpt or gimmicks, maybe just one in a series I already collect.  Since I'm not really a "completist" anymore, it has to have some attraction, one way or another.

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 bought several figures with the intent to ultimately customize them. I will eventually get an airbrush and compressor to do this.

13- What do you think of the custom Craze?
Customs are a great avenue to personalize your figures. It is a means of expression and creativity and is limited only to your imagination and sometimes, your wallet.

14- Where do you make most of your purchases from? eBay seems to be a favorite with collectors these days, are you an ebayholic?
E-bay is an excellent buying and selling tool. I am well established there and it is where I do the majority of my purchasing. I also have several main haunts Domestically and Overseas.

15- Is your collection insured?
My house is insured so, yes. Specifically, no.

16- What is missing from your collection that you hope to one day acquire?
Several Gundam “holes” in my collection. I’ve always wanted the 5’ Hyper Hybrid Red Zaku. He goes for $2000 + if you can find him anymore. My wife would have a kinipshin though.

17- What is the usual reaction when people see your collection?
It’s either “cool” from artists and creative people and “isn’t he a little old for toys” from the conservative crowd.

18- Do you attend conventions for some of your purchases? could you tell us about that?
I have never been to a convention, but would like to go sometime.

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?
Before Bandai US stopped Gundam production and the line last year, I used to make a run once a week. This included Wal-Mart, K-Mart, KB & Target. The route was always the same and took me to 2 cities, with 3 hours of drive time! I would always find what I was looking for at one if not all of these places.

20- How do you decide what to take out of the package and what stays sealed?
With Gundam, I have only removed what I have 2 of, with minor exceptions. Nowadays, it’s a space thing keeping me from displaying my figures. I will eventually have to decide what to keep and display as well as what to sell off.

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?
My wife has grown tired of it, so I will curb it to more specific purchases in the future. My tastes have known to shift, but I don’t think I will “outgrow” the love of quality toys!

22- What advice would you give someone who just started a collection?
I would definitely recommend buying only what your gut tells you. Some people buy for collectability and future value, some collect line-specific or character-specific stuff. I say buy that which inspires, impresses or triggers your “coolness standard.” Have fun. When it becomes a chore or tedious, you should probably re-think your approach.