Next level of Jumbo collection

[rodman75]

Having collected the 'basic' Mattel jumbos, a Uni-five Gaiking, Taiwanese Daitetsujin 17 and a Popy Grendizer (nothing basic with the Popy, I know), I'm feeling an overwhelming urge to up my Jumbo game, so to speak.

I am now hell bent on trying to find a Combattler V, Poseidon and Danguard Ace. Having spent hundreds upon hundreds of hours on the internet, communicating back and forth with subjects that lived in different continents, and finally locating a seller for a Popy Grendizer in the condition that I wanted, I know how difficult the hunt can be.

With the fun of the hunt comes the unavoidable price tag associated with these jumbo rarities. Nobody selling these JM's will confuse them with trash or a basic jumbo valued at $200 give or take. So there really aren't any bargains out there per se, although there was the forum member who scored a mint Poseidon, but that's the exception and not the rule. Sellers want a premium and in all honesty, they deserve to get it. If not for basic supply and demand principles then for the loss that ultimately comes from letting go of an item that they themselves probably hunted down feverishly.

To put it into perspective, there are hundreds of members here on RJ, but I can think of only a handful that have the rarer jumbos. How were they so fortunate? I would love to hear their stories of acquisition.

I really want to expand my collection but the combination of scarcity and $$ really has me second guessing my decision. For example, there is a really nice Combattler V on Yahoo Japan right now for 89,000 yen (almost $1100 usd). The box looks like it was mangled by a rabid Rottweiler though, I can't communicate with the seller like I could through E-Bay or by pm'ing a fellow RJ member, so any chance of negotiation is out the window. Also, I can't request additional photos or ask clarifying questions. By the time I use a proxy bidding service such as Rinkya, which I've never done before, the cost will be hovering around $1500!

So in closing, I guess the point, albeit long winded, that I am trying to make is this; Taking Jumbo collecting to the next level is a ridiculously expensive proposition. The sellers, if you can find one, want top dollar and they deserve it!! What will my decision be?............Let the dogs off their leashes, the hunt is on!!!

[bourno]

Best with the hunt for higher specimen jumbos. I believe some guys have lucked out with knowing someone in Japan or making a trip to Japan and finding some pieces. I am not sure if there was better pickings about 10 years than there is today. Guess I got lucky with a Combattler and Dangard on regular ebay, but they were well played with jumbos and missing parts.

For myself, I am not sure how much further I will expand my collection. I like the looks of T28 and the Getter series. I do like to work on custom items and maybe in a year, there will be even more affordable 3D printers (UV hopefully) and watch us start producing our own private jumbo collections

I still have my custom spazer dream as buying an original in so-so shape is quite expensive. It is just a couple months behind schedule right now with recent buys for making parts to those.

Again, best with hunts and $$$ for really nice shaped jumbos.

[rodman75]

Unfortunately, my 'hunt' for elusive jumbo's will not expand to visiting Japan. It's not that I wouldn't love to go there but the money for the flight alone would be a major set back.

The idea of producing your own jumbos intrigues me. On the one hand, I love the idea. No longer would the search for jumbo's be frustrating, time consuming and as expensive. On the other hand, from a pure collectors perspective, although most likely perfect replicas, having the original Jumbo or at least 75% original is what makes this hobby so interesting. Collecting something from over 30 plus years ago and finding one in great shape or in halfway decent shape is one aspect of this hobby that I love. I have nothing against 'sprucing up' a beat up Jumbo with some repro parts, hell, I've purchased parts from you and they are perfect, but at my core I know that most of the Jumbo is original. An entire replica would be akin to DNA cloning; no longer is anything unique.

Again, no disrespect to you or any reproduction artists' work. Your work is amazing and I will continue to buy from you and others as the need arises. The 100% replica jumbos will look perfect, I have no doubt, and will probably buy one or two from you. It's just losing that vintage aspect of collecting that I'm struggling with. When I look at my Jumbo's I feel good knowing they are as old as me and they were played with years ago. They represent my days as a child when everything in life was simple and easy.

I'm probably dreaming with this next idea but my vision for a better jumbo future for us all entails; A member(s) of this board with access to Yahoo Japan, allows us to send them $ directly to bid on items. We send the max amount we are willing to pay and once the bid exceeds the $ we have our $ is returned, minus a $50-75 fee for their troubles. A preset price for shipping would have to be determined prior to winning the bid. That person could make some serious money rather quickly and we could get those tough to find jumbo's somewhat easier. Of course, the issue of trust will come up and that might hinder some from getting involved, although I'd think verified paypal accounts would solve that problem?

Have you found an original spazer for sale in the last year or so? I've never seen one for sale. I can't wait to see your completed Combattler and Danguard Ace. I think I'd feel differently about 100% replicas if I were the artist doing the actual work. Then I'd have a feeling of accomplishment in being part of something so incredible. As a non-artist outsider looking in, I don't think I fully appreciate what goes into it.........but let me reiterate; I do respect your work and all the artists in our community.

So until then, I have my feelers out there and hope to sock away some more cash for when/if that elusive 2' sucker comes along.

[mikedeco]

Well, prices are going higher and higher since two years now but you can still find some interesting stuff for decent prices. Most of it is on Yahoo Japan and you have to find a nice middlemen for that. Of course you need to be ready to throw some cash for nice pieces. But there's still good deal out there.
Not so long ago a nice but uncomplete Danguard sold for less than 50.000 Yens.

It was easier a few years ago just because it was cheaper, and a few years before it was harder because internet and auctions where not so popular. You had to have very good connections in Japan, it's still true today but it's hard to find stuff there in shops. Most of the time the asking price is high and it's not that often that you can find interesting pieces.

But the main key is patience, you have to wait until you see something nice and hit with what you have. Don't be fooled by ebay high prices, it's not because somebody is asking a crazy price that it will sell for that price.

[rodman75]

Mikedeco,

What do you think of the Combattler V on Yahoo Japan? It appears to be in really good condition from the pictures. Do you think the price of $89,000 yen is fair? The box is all beat up but I would just contact Kitsir for a mint repro box. I was thinking that 70-75,000 yen was more appropriate. If that was listed on E-Bay right now for 800-900 dollar Buy It Now price, I'd be interested. How did you find most of your awesome collection?