Toy Collector: Daniel Dixon

Interview with Toy Collector: Daniel Dixon

Welcome to my Fifth interview segment, where a collector answers 13 short questions. The same questions will be given to every collector appearing in this segment.

I’m really excited to welcome South African Masters of the Universe Collector, Daniel Dixon onto the blog.

MOTU!: Before we start with the magic 13 questions, can you tell us a bit about yourself?

Daniel: Yes, No problem. I’m a South African living on the south coast in a place called George. I am in the automotive industry selling second hand vehicles. I’m married to a awesome wife and I have three kids.

MOTU!: 1. What inspired you to collect?

Daniel: I would say my fascination with fictional characters. Since I can remember I always loved the idea of good versus evil and good always prevailing. Obviously MOTU was my very first experience into these worlds and therefore I enjoy Motu the most.

MOTU!: 2. How long have you been collecting?

Daniel: On and off for about 11 years, but extensively for about 4years now.

MOTU!: 3. What do you collect?

Daniel: As it stands now I collect a lot of Motu stuff, I also recently bought some of the new The Loyal subjects figures which I am still waiting for. I collect Marvel legends, TMNT figures, some DC figures, comics and Hotwheels.

MOTU!: 4. What’s your grail and favorite piece in your collection?

Daniel: I really truly don’t have a grail. My whole collection is my grail. I do own a comic with the 1st appearance of wolverine which if I had to select one item it might be this comic but I love my whole collection.

MOTU!: 5. What collectors inspire you?

Daniel: The type that use their hobby to develop friendships. Ive made so many friends over the years and I enjoy sharing my passion with others who also enjoy it. Jaun Vermaak, Dewald van Tonder and Jeremy Price just to mention a few.

MOTU!: 6. What is your most embarrassing moment as a collector?

Daniel: I cant say that I have one, I’ve taken almost two days thinking about this one and I cant think of anything. I’m really sorry, normally these types of questions create some laughter but I am spoiling the party.
 

MOTU!: 7. What is your favourite MOTU Filmation or 200x Series Episode or MOTU Mini Comic and why?

Daniel: Filmation, diamond ray of disappearance. I love how He-Man breaks that diamond with his bare hands.

MOTU!: 8. What would you change about the collecting community?

Daniel: Not much. I believe each to his own. In any community you will find people getting on well with certain people and with others you just don’t click.

MOTU!: 9. Forums or Facebook groups?

Daniel: I like both, I’ve obtained some nice stuff using both.

MOTU!: 10. What MOTU character do you most resemble?

Daniel: Definitely Adam. He seems to be very incompetent to others and even himself, but within him there lies a greater power that often comes out.

MOTU!: 11. Is there one thing that collectors may not know about you?

Daniel: I’m sure there are a lot of things :P but one thing I can mention is that I sing and play guitar in a church band.

MOTU!: 12. I notice that a lot of collectors also collect comics (myself included). What do you think is the common factor that draws some people to both of these hobbies?

Daniel: comics bring the characters we love to life in a way.

MOTU!: 13. And finally, what is it about the hobby that has kept you collecting for all of these years?

Daniel: the fact that the people behind the scenes just keep making it better and better for the fans.

MOTU!: Well thank you so much for joining me today Daniel. It has been an immense pleasure and I’m sure my readers will enjoy reading your answers as much as I have!

Daniel: Awesome job Cobus. You are definitely doing your part in keeping the collectors together. Thanks to you for allowing me the opportunity to share my side of the story.

How to look after your Masters of the Universe Figures

How to look after you Vintage Masters of the Universe Figures:

I got this article from a friend of mine when I started collecting Masters of the Universe Figures a couple of years back. I am not sure who wrote it and I don't know who I can credit it to, but this is a very useful article and one that I have followed to insure that my MOTU Figures stays in great condition!!

Remember Vintage MOTU figures are more than 30 years old and they are very fragile, especially the legs. The first thing that usually breaks is the rubber cord that connects the leg to the body. Don’t pull on it or bend the legs to far over please!!!!

Taking good care of your action figure collection is easy. It takes very little time, and will help your collection last longer, making for nice displays and maintaining their collectible value. Just like any collection (stamps, coins, comic books), action figures can be susceptible to environmental factors and aging. A few simple steps will help keep your action figures looking like new.

Why Do I Need to Care for My Figures?

The materials that action figures are made from are far from indestructible, and can, over time, show signs of aging. Paint can chip or rub off, the plastic can become discolored or dirt, grime and dust can build up.

Your Action Figures' Most Dangerous Enemies:

· Direct Sunlight: Too much direct sunlight can cause the plastic to become faded and blotchy.

· Heat: Intense heat, usually in conjunction with direct sunlight, can cause the plastic to become soft and misshapen.

· Humidity: High humidity can cause the paint on the action figures to peel and chip, can cause decals to fall off and joints to loosen, causing your figures to have a hard time maintaining their poses.

· Dirt and Dust: Dirt and natural oils from your fingers can cause a grimy buildup on your figures if handled too much. Dust, while not really harmful to the figure, can build up and make for a less than pleasing display.

How Do I Care for My Figures?

Here are a few simple steps that will help to keep your collection in great shape. It's smart to get into the habit of regularly maintaining your collection, perhaps by setting aside one day a month to devote to the upkeep of your figures.

Helpful hints:

· Keep your figures displayed in an area where no direct sunlight can reach them. If they're displayed on a bookshelf or display case, make sure they are set in an area of the room farthest from any windows that allow in a lot of sunlight.

· Keep your figures stored or displayed in a room that keeps an average comfortable room temperature. Do not store your figures where excess heat can affect them, such as a garage or an attic. Nobody wants a melted collection!

· If you're storing your figures in boxes, use sturdy plastic storage containers with lids that seal on in order to help keep out excess humidity. Consider sealing each figure in its own zip-lock plastic bag before they're put into the container. Cardboard boxes are not ideal for storage as they let in heat and humidity as well as often contain acids that over time can destroy plastics and discolor paint.

· Fight off dirt and dust build-up by handling your figures carefully. If they do get dirty, most figures can be cleaned by letting them soak in warm soapy water and scrubbing gently with a soft-bristled toothbrush. Dust can be easily removed with a can of air-propelled dust remover like you'd use on computer equipment and keyboards.

"Mint In Package" Action Figures:

If you choose to keep your figure in their original packaging, the packages themselves require some care. The materials used by the toy companies are meant to be temporary and thrown away after the figures are removed, therefore they often use cheap materials that were never meant to be kept for a lifetime.

Common Dangers to Packaging:

· Heat and sunlight can cause the plastic bubble that encases the figure (called a "blister") to become extremely brittle which can lead to cracking. Also, heat and sunlight can cause the glue that holds the blister to the cardboard backing (called the "card") to loosen, making the blister fall right off of the card and now your figures can be considered "loose" whether you like it or not.

· Direct sunlight can wreak havoc on the printing inks on the card, bleaching and fading the graphics in a matter of weeks and destroying its "mint" value.

· Be mindful of the backing card as it's made of inexpensive cardboard that can easily bend, crease or peel apart if handled improperly or dropped. Also, your finger's natural oils can cause the inks on the card to discolor or bleach if handled too often. All of these things will lessen the mint value of your figure, as other collectors look for these problems when buying or grading a "mint on card" action figure.

Enjoy Your Collection!

Following these few simple rules will help you to better enjoy your collection, make it more impressive when you show it off and keep their resale collectible value high and hopefully profitable down the road.