I started the year with 3,465 Transformers toys in the collection, and ended up with 3,844. A total of 379 for the year.
After a very slow start to the year, and one of the smallest BotCon hauls in 8 years, I was surprised to find that this year just managed to sneak into third-highest annual amount, behind 2008 (479 toys) and 2011 (454 toys)... beating 2010 by just 1.
No milestones this year to mention... but I should make the 4,000 mark by midway next year.
January
The year started off with chasing up loose ends from the Third Transformers Movie toyline, which were either not released here (stores over-stocked first wave in May 2011, with almost no new stock coming into the country for the rest of the year in that series. Of the toys that did make it here, they were so over-priced, it was cheaper buying from American or Asian sources and having them Express posted. (thanks to anti-parallel-importing laws in this country, the foreign-owned toy companies charge more than twice what they charge in some other countries - as such, less than 10% of my purchases this year were at Australian stores)
This was my first shipment of the year, from Ebay.
DotM Darksteel, Air Raid, Armor Topspin, Rescue Ratchet, Leg Soundwave, Speedstars Leadfoot
United Jazz, Tracks (these have the better, shiny decos)
Junior 3-pack (Chromedome, optimus, fortmax) - this was a loose end from about 15 years ago. It was released in the mid 80s in Japan, but when I first found out about it in the mid 90s, I wanted it. But since it was so cheap (often selling for little more than $20), I never got around to buying it. Then in recent years, it was difficult to find one for less than $200.
The items in the top right of the photo were freebies by the person I bought most of these items from.
3,478
This was my first order from the Hasbro America online store - it doesn't ship to non-American addresses, so I had to use a shipping forwarder.
DotM Voy orange Ironhide
Rescue Bots Boulder, Cleveland, Cody
3,486
February
EZ Chronicle series 2 (Gen2 Optimus, Gen2 Megatron, Silverstreak, Prowl, Hound, Starscream, Skywarp, Rodimus)
DotM Dragon Ultimate Optimus
United Stepper
3,497
Disney Label Mickey (Mickey colours)
Disney Label Mickey (Christmas colours)
JP DotM Neo-scanning Bumblebee
Alternity Gold Bug
DotM DLX Soundwave
JP wheeljack/que, Leadfoot
United Windcharger & Wipeout
JP TFPrime Vehicon
3,507
TFPrime Voy W1 (Optimus Prime V2, Megatron)
JP Black MP Rodimus Prime
SWTF Class 1 W3 (Y-wing, Anakin, OB1)
3,517
March
3,524
April
TFPrime Cmdr w1 (Optimus, Megatron, Bulkhead, Starscream)
TFprime 2-pack Bbee Vs Starscream, with Silas, MECH soldier.
3,532
Trilogy Optimus w/ Trailer
BotShots Wave 1 single-packs (Bumblebee, Barricade, Optimus, Starscream, Chase Sentinel + 7 spares)
Botshots launcher Optimus, Megatron
3,540
BOTCON (in Dallas, Texas this year)
DotM Cmdr Dark Sentinel
(TFPrime electronic Mission Mask)
BC Soundwave, Gigatron, Roadrage, Ultramagnus, Metalhawk, Treadshot, Straxus
Thu 26/4
BC Kickoff, Optimus, Octopunch, Spinister, Wreckgar, Junkheap, Scrapheap
Fri 27/4
TFPrime Ratchet, Arcee, JP Skywarp w/ Bulo
JP United Wheeljack
JP Micron/Targetmaster (??), (??)
JP Kero Starscream
JP Movie translucent EZ Optimus, Nemesis Prime
JP WST Bumblebee (carded varient)
(JP Movie Swords for Optimus)
SCF 9 - Chase Seibertronian Ratchet (Red Alert)
Device Label Cheetus/Cheetor
SDCC GIJoe Starscream
Sun 29/4
Kabaya WFC Optimus, Hotspot, Deathsaurus, (Protectobots - x6)
3,576
May
BotShots 3-pack (Megatron, Nemesis Prime, Acidstorm)
BotShots Wave 2 (Mirage, Brawl, jetfire, chase bbee)
JP United Axalon & Gen2 Megatron
3,588
CC Runamuck
3,589
June
Device label Soundwave (white)
JP GF Dark Nitro Convoy
3,592
DotM Capsule figurines (6 of 12)
3,593
Shadow Microns (Shadow Ciel/ Shadow Arue / Shadow Gora /Shadow Baro)
Jetwing Optimus Nightwatch version
3x BotCon prints
JP Gen1 Kabaya models (Convoy, Sideswipe, Prowl, Starscream - the bright coloured things at the front, released in the mid 80s)
3,603
Carrera (green cliffjumper - Argentina)
Radio AM Robot (blue version)
(Robot Heroes Ironhide v Dispensor)
TFPrime Weaponizer Optimus, Bumblebee
3,608
TFPrime Vehicles - Wheeljack/Starhammer, Knock Out/Energon Driller
TFPrime Remote Control - Bumblebee, Optimus
3,612
TFPrime Remote Control - Bumblebee, Optimus
3,612
Tokyo Toy Show United Optimus, Crystal TFP Optimus, Shining B2 Micron
Capsule Microns W1 (OPtimus, Bbee, Cobra x2, Gecko x2)
3,622
July
Playskool Big Adventures/Gobots (the Optimus and Megatron in the middle, and the Ratchet toy on the far right were just there for scale)
- - Series 1 (2002) (5)
-Basic - Cheetor (cheetah), Gorillabot (gorilla), Mototron (sportscar), Speedbot (sportscar)
-Mega - Aerobot (jet)
- - Series 2 (2003) (6)
-Basic - Beast-Bot II (panther), Buzzer-Bot (wasp), Dino-Bot (Velociraptor), Reptron (Velociraptor), Fire-Bot (fire chief car)
-Deluxe - Mirage-Bot (Formula 1 racer) w/ Kid-Bot & Doggie
3,633
TFPrime Cmdr Ironhide
3,635
This was my first order from Amazon America, which started shipping to Australia on a number of items... The shipping was so cheap, it was less than if I had posted it to somewhere in Australia.
Rescue Bots Police HQ
TFPrime DLX Hot Shot, Knock Out, Dead End, Shadow Strike Bumblebee
TFPrime VOY Bulkhead V2, Starscream
TFPrime Optimus Maximus
Twincast, Stripes & Nightstalker
Generations DeluxeTF1 Ultimate Guide
HK Gen Legends - Motorbreath, Thundercracker, Bluestreak, Hoist
FOC Gen - Optimus, Jazz, Shockwave
Kissplay Convoy
JP AM Breakdown
3,661
August
Kreo Destruction Site Devastator (1)
Kreo Stealth Bumblebee
SDCC Bruticus, Cliffjumper, HISS Tank
3,672
More Stuff from Amazon, at rediculously cheap prices. (including several comics, and squishy balls)
Kreo Street Showdown (Wheeljack Vs Knockout) (1)
Kreo Rotor Rage (Vortex)
3,675
Kreo preview wave (Spinister, Galvatron, Sunstorm, Crankcase, Scorponok, Waspinator)
(Fall of Cybertron Game + pre-order poster)
3,681
September
Asia Generations Springer, Wheelie, Swerve, Cliffjumper
JP Arms Microns AMW1-6
JP AM Terrorcon Bumblebee
Gari-Kun Robo Cola, Soda
Device Label Tigatron
3,697
From my Trip to Universal Studios in California.
Universal Studios DLX Evac, Bbee, Optimus, Leg Evac
Universal Studios Bazooka, Bumblebee Fazer
TFPrime Leg Wheeljack
BotShots Wave 4 (Ironhide, Powerglide, Jazz, Movie Leadfoot)
BotShots Wave 5 (TF2 Megatron, G1 Bumblebee)
BotShots Launcher Ironhide, Starscream
Robo Fighter Nightwatch Optimus, Elite Guard Bumblebee
TFPrime RC Knock Out
BotShots 3-packs Wave 2 (Shockwave, Brawl, Ironhide) (Jetfire, Powerglide, Skyquake)
Rescue Bots Mobile Headquarters
3,723
More toys from Hasbro Online store.
Kreo Decepticon Ambush (Cliffjumper/Vehicons) (1)
Kreo Cycle Chase (Barricade/Autobot Troopers) (1)
Botshots 4-pack Battle Pack (Bumblebee, Brawl, Optimus Launcher, Megatron Launcher)
(Unit-E comic)
Marvel Avengers Captain America
BotShots Wave 3 (Lockdown, Mirage, Topspin, Jetfire, clear Megatron)
3,736
Gari-Kun Robo Grape
3,737
October
MP Sunstorm
JP AM Swerve, Ironhide
JP AMW 7,8,9,10,11,12
JP Alternity galvatron & Banzaitron
Masterpiece Optimus Prime
TFPrime Legion Evac, Soundwave
BotShots W4 Clear Optimus
Advent calendar
Keyring torch
DOTM capsule figurines
3,754
TFprime Legion Mirage
3,756
November
AM Thundercracker, Orion Pax, Gaia Unicron
MP Sideswipe/Lambor
Gen Hotspot, Megatron, Powerdive
3,767
Capsule Micron Wave 2 (Bulkhead, Arcee, Megatron, Dado grey, Dado orange)
Gen1 Trainset
FOC VOY Soundwave w/ Laserbeak
3,776
Masterpiece Thundercracker (TRU)
FOC Combaticons (Brawl, Blastoff, Onslaught, Vortex, Swindle)
JP Lawsons VOY Darkside Optimus Prime
Rescue Bots Hoist, Medix
(FOC strategy guide, Rescue Bots DVD)
3,787
From the trip to Universal Studios Singapore
TFPrime Cmdr Skyquake
3,791
Asian Gen Scout Deadend, Brawl
Speedstars bike Dirt Rocket
3,802
Asian Gen Lead Starscream, Ironhide
(BotShots play-mat)
Kreo Microchangers Wave 1 (Springer, Blast Off, Rampage, Bludgeon, Hook, Airachnid, Quickslinger, Inferno, Warpath, Singe, Insecticon, Dirge)
JP AM Smokescrean, Nemesis Prime, Silas Breakdown
3,820
The total Singapore toy haul.
Waiting for me at the post office when I got home from Singapore...
TFPrime Leg Flamewar, Quickblade Bbee
Rescue Bots Blades
TFPrime Vehicle Bumblebee Battlesuit
Gen2 FOC Combaticons (Brawl, Blastoff, Onslaught, Vortex, Swindle)
3,831
December
FOC Leg Frenzy & Ratbat
FOC Leg Rumble & Ravage
3,837
3,838
3,842
2012 (grey) BAPE Prime
3,844
2012 was an eventful year for me, Transformers-wise.
I travelled to two countries (America & Singapore) for the two Transformers Rides, in addition to the annual Transformers convention in April (in Dallas, Texas). I managed to tie up a few (mostly insignificant) loose ends with the collection, plus obtain the biggest, most expensive Transformers toy released in retail stores (the Japanese Grand Maximus).
The year saw some new lines start up, but also prompted me to focus on some old lines that I had little interest in before - Playskool Gobots (from the early 2000s) and the South American original toys from the 80s and 90s.
In 2013, I am hoping to obtain more of the South American figures, plus more of the Japanese Gen1 toys from the 80s... hopefully with a trip to Japan and Hong Kong sometime during the year.
And more importantly, I hope to find some other items from my top 10.
BotCon in 2013 is in San Diego in June, and if the third Transformers Ride (in Florida) is open by then, I'd like to include a detour to that as well, in case they have some new exclusives.
I gotta update my collection page too... I'm so lazy. :(
