COLLECTOR INTERVIEW #86: ArrowFyre

We’re back for more Transformers collector interviews.

Today, it’s Ian, aka ArrowFyre, who many of you might have seen doing the rounds on YouTube. When not reviewing Transformers, he can be found cultivating an impressive array of Masterpiece & 3P figures, it seems – let’s see what he’s got!

Who are you and what do you collect?

My name is Ian, but I go by the alias ArrowFyre, and I’m a Transformers YouTuber doing various videos around toy reviews and deeper discussions around Transformers lore. My collecting habits have stayed confined to Transformers only (both in official and third party) but in the past I have branched into other types of collectibles and models being it model Formula 1 cars or the Japanese anime series of Guyver. Even to some extent, I have collected guitars also.

Nowadays, I am typically a Masterpiece collector of Takara and third-party offerings, alongside the occasional CHUG toy line. The majority of my toys are Generation 1, but I have a nice collection of Beast Wars MP figures, some Unicron Trilogy, occasional Bayverse toys and a branch of IDW figures also.

What do you love most about Transformers and the hobby?

Transformers always fascinated me from a young age as robots/mechs are cool anyway, but what I love most is that each of them has a personality that flows through the character’s design and toys. With the added bonus of being a puzzle in the toy side is just as fun for kids or adults it gets a part of the brain going flipping something from one mode to another…or frustrating for some Fanstoys collectors!

I enjoy the hobby because it was so huge back in the mid-80s and is one of the few franchises that has maintained its relevance to this day. That is in no small part down to the fans of the community who tirelessly support this hobby by showcasing their own talents, be it photography, videos, artwork or putting on conventions to celebrate it. When the fandom comes together like that, it creates an energy that becomes infectious. This is only insinuated on the convention scene that we make many a pilgrimage to each year to enjoy it as one.

How has the collecting scene changed since you joined the fandom?

Strictly speaking, I never stopped collecting TF toys from when I was a kid, but sticking to Transformers collecting in particular: I collected Beast Wars right up to 2001 with RID and Unicron Trilogy, very much going through a stage of buying anything that was a Transformer. Then I made a definitive step towards collecting with the release of the first Takara Masterpiece figure, and not long after, with the Prime Wars trilogy in the Generations line, starting with Combiner Wars, a dedicated step towards figure-by-figure collecting in the waves of releases became the norm.

Collecting has changed over the last 10 years with the added use of Facebook marketplace, eBay and convention trader halls. Now we see figures re-released or updated under the Generations line, we often see older releases discarded or donated when a new figure is released. The other side to that is that when a toy has a limited run, we see now much more often the prices on the secondary market can be easily double the retail price, which is a shame to price out collectors or having to buy knock-off versions to make it a realistic purchase for their collections.

However, I have noticed that people collect a lot more of their childhood toys, and it is much more common nowadays to find someone with a Star Wars, Thundercats, GI Joe or Pokémon collection in their homes, proving that nostalgia is a powerful tonic!

How do you see, or hope to see the scene changing over the next 5 years?

I can see that houses have families’ own individual collections in them. Rather than a parent having just their own space that occasionally they let their children play with, going forward, I can see there being separate collections of parents and children in the houses relating to the era they grew up with, which I think is a nice way to spread the joy of collecting being a shared passion in a household. We see this at conventions with adults playing with their childhood toys and their children playing alongside with theirs.

Alongside that, as many of us started collecting when we were younger and possibly still living with our parents, our room for displays was limited. Now collectors have grown up with a place of their own, they can expand their collections and displays around the house – I often hear of tales of how Transformers have ‘infiltrated’ other areas of the house and see many an image of someone’s TV screen with one or two figures dotted either side of it.

What is the most surprising or outrageous collecting story you have heard?

I heard a story online recently that an avid Star Wars collector has a lot of the toys from the 70s, who then decided they’ve achieved what they set out to do and sold the entire collection for £5 million!! Crazy right!? 

Their view was that they’ve gotten the joy out of them and that kind of money sorts out their family going forward. Whilst it’s a bittersweet story of sorts, there is a pragmatic side to it and a way to provide a different kind of security to your family. Not to take the fun out of it, but collecting can be seen as a form of long-term investing, that is, if you’re happy to part with your figures eventually.

Of course, you could always start collecting all over again…

What has been your single biggest success as a collector, or your greatest ever find?

Sadly, I don’t have great tales of hidden gems like a lot of people do, but one piece I am particularly proud of is the Takara 2010 reissue of G1 Predaking with diecast and a full sticker set, all boxed.

I am a big fan of the Predacons, so to get a G1 Predaking was great in itself, but additionally, this was put to me from a good friend who wanted to be sure it went to a good home. So, I look at it with two views of a brilliant piece, but an emotional backstory to it. One day I hope to return the favour to that person.

I do have something of a Predaking collection on the go, but despite being one of the oldest figures up there, it holds a sense of aura even alongside modern engineering and larger releases.

If you could pick one item from your collection to keep, what would it be?

As I’m a big Beast Wars fan and Masterpiece collector, the one item to save will always be TakaraTomy Beast Wars Masterpiece Dinobot, that was one of my first ‘big money’ MP purchases, and I felt at the time that Transformers Masterpiece had peaked. I stand by that. It captures absolutely everything about the character, right off the TV screen and produces a tremendous figure at the end. I’ve said before that the Takara Beast Wars line is the best line under Masterpiece currently.

I can’t possibly save all my Predakings, because I have too many to get out the door! Some probably wouldn’t even fit through the doorway..

If you could have one item out of someone else’s collection, what would that be?

Again with the Beast Wars theme, the ‘Days of Future Past’ 2006 BotCon box set of the Maximals with their Cybertronian Alt Modes, it’s a very hard-to-find box and likely to be crazy expensive. But that’s certainly a grail. My good friend Lee already has this set, so he’d better watch out because as soon as his back is turned, it’s coming with me!

An outside shot is a G1 Fort Max or G1 Scorponok, just for the ability to say you’ve owned it. Maybe even a G1 Swoop for a reasonable price!

What advice would you give a new collector starting out today?

Don’t stress about missing a figure or collectable; my experience has taught me that you get everything eventually. I’ve picked up some things that I never thought I would, albeit further down the line. Embrace the collecting community, and you find the kindness of others can help you expand your collection too.

Look out for alternative methods of collecting, consider buying items unboxed to save a bit of money (unless you’re a completionist), be aware of reissues and occasionally, an opportunity to purchase a rare item will randomly fall into your lap from time to time.

It’s often said the chase is better than the destination when it comes to collecting, but make sure you take the time to enjoy what you have collected and display it with pride.

Special thanks to Ian for their words & photos! Be sure to give them a shout on Twitter, Instagram, BlueSky & YouTube!