The end of my journey

[jumboman]

DUDE.....that is a WICKED collection. As I sit here waterin' at the mouth all I can say is....MAN AM I JEALOUS! Great collection and great job!

[snowdog]

Awesome collection, Mike! Shows that dedication and focus pay off. I also love the way you've set up your display. It's very neat and you can really appreciate every robot.

I just have one question: in the last pic your posted, the display cabinet on the right (the one that has the Shogun warrior Jumbos), what's the name of the robot that stands between Aphrodai and Great Mazinger?

[mikedeco]

Thanks guys.

Yes it's going to be time to focus on some custom projects and expand the collection with never made before Jumbos.
As for the one between the Aphrodai and Great Mazinger, he's called Lightron: Provider of Artificial Sun Light. He's got some amazing shine power

[KingboyD]

Ahh, I was going to guess Dehumidifier X.

[Robot Lover/Fighter]

Wow, It took you 15 years to complete but complete it you did... Congratulations !!! Awesome, awesome collection... Only a few can get everything on their want list, you must be so proud ... Cheers to you !!!

[truecrud]

Personally I love that the power ranger jumbos look like they are outside in the cold looking in at the jumbos through a window with jealousy in their sad little robotic eyes. They can see into the house where the loving family is but they just can't get through the glass. It's like the little match girl.

[zambot3]

Incredible collection. That would be the way to go for me as well if I wanted to get all of those. I just can't see going after all the other companies or the bootlegs. I just think the Popy ones look better next to each other too sans the dragons. Although I must admit the Mekanda is pretty cool looking piece.

[choryujin]

I've been back every day just to drool over those images. It just dawned on me that this is what $100k+ of jumbos looks like.

[repairtechjon]

Mike! Congrats on reaching a goal, and even having some focus, and a goal in the first place. (in contrast, I'm mostly a magpie/opportunist/whatever falls my way collector, haha)
You've been real generous with your photos, and knowledge/observations of the hobby for a long time. I don't see that stopping soon.

Showing what can be done with some 3D printing, and elbow grease(sanding/paint) to fill in long lost gaps in a collection was fun to see too.

Having met you at Alen's a couple years back, and seeing your mini-machinder productions in person was cool. Thanks for making that long trip to visit! (Nicest guy right here folks!)

[admin1 aka Ed]

Congratulations Mike and I can relate on some levels

For me there are a couple of directions:

1) Do more customs for fun
2) Get into the splinter groups of the hobby (Godzilla, ultraman, MFV, etc). Dangerous.
3) Get into cars and guns, LOL
4) Store things for a few years and then have Christmas all over

A few of us have had a bit of a stop, end of the road, finale, but you will just start on another aspect of the hobby..... I hope it is a relatively cheap path

Ed

[sabbath]

Two or three years ago, when I saw for the first time Mike's collection pictures, I fell on the ground, incredible! The dream for all fans of Popy and rare quality Jumbos. Simply a must.
But I admit, that I am to be one of rares to dream about a big collection of bootlegs like the UFO, Zork, King Of The Jungle, Super K.... For some people, these robots are hideous like the Mazinger Z ( Italian version) of the firm Morel, but I like these pirates! And my dream is having Popy, Shogun Warrior,... and the bootlegs! OK, OK, I have also all the Power Rangers Jumbos in stock, not in the best places too in my collection!
Ah!

[choryujin]

Which ones exactly are repro pieces? Obviously the Garada but is the Q9? I remember seeing a site that had someone reproing the whole jumbo and it cost over a $1k just to do that.

[sabbath]

If I remember, the Q9 repro from a site is the Mike Jumbo, a very great work, and colors are perfect!

[mikedeco]

Thanks a lot guys for those nice messages.

@jon and Mike: it was super cool to be able to come to the Summit a few years ago. Wish I can do it again in a near future as it's really amazing to be able to gather like this and see and exchange with other collectors. That's one thing that I really like in this hobby: meet other robot fanatic.

Yes the Q9 is a replica. I also did the Garada K7, the Green Ghost C3 and the Lenzari. All those are way out of my budget for the moment. I dream to be able to upgrade one day with real specimens but that will probably never happen. So for the moment I'm happy looking at my replicas.

[choryujin]

I you don't mind me asking, what was the time and cost to repro them? Like you, a Q9 is out of my budget, but an amazing quality repro could be.

[Mr. Ginrai]

Did you ever follow mike's blog? Google Free Time Toys and check it out. He showcased a lot of his design and production of his machinders there. It was really detailed and well done.

[zambot3]

Does it really cost $1000 to repro a jumbo? Price probably go down significantly if someone were to make more than one? Economies of scale I guess. It would probably put a dent to some of the high pricing we've been seeing of late. But it would also open up for someone trying to pass off a repro for an original.

[choryujin]

Wow...just wow! Mike, you have some amazing skills! I'm completely in awe of your work! I'd kill for some of those repros....hell, I'd kill for those minis you made! You should make a custom Alphonse Ingram from Patlabor...I'm a sucker for that show and the robot design.

[sabbath]

Dec 19, 2013 5:07:18 GMT -5 sabbath said:

Mike is also lucky, finding jumbos it's a thing, but later it's necessary to have a good place for put them!

[eyeone]

mikedeco: I thought I'd jump in and congratulate you as well MikeDeco!!! Cheers!