COLLECTOR INTERVIEW #90: Samsformers

We’re back for another Transformers collector interview!

Many will know Sam, aka Samsformers, from his popular Instagram page, if not from his regular attendance at many UK (and international) Transformers conventions. He also happens to have one of the neatest and most curated displays we’ve seen, and some wise words besides, so over to you, Sam!

Who are you and what do you collect?

Hi, my name is Sam, and my online name is Samsformers. Like many of us, I’ve been a fan of Transformers since I was a kid. I grew up in the ’80s, so Transformers was one of my favourite cartoons. I’m a huge fan of the ’80s in general, and I love anything that reminds me of that amazing decade.

One of my other passions is Star Wars. I’d say I’m a bigger Star Wars fan when it comes to the movies and TV shows, but when it comes to collecting, Transformers wins hands down. Early on, I decided to avoid collecting Star Wars figures and just stick to Transformers – though I do own a couple of lightsabers!

I mainly collect Masterpiece Transformers, both from the official Masterpiece line and third-party companies. FansToys is my favourite company – I own almost every release, apart from a few repaints and reissues. Recently, I’ve expanded into XTB, Magic Square, DX9, and others. If I had to choose just one company to make all my future figures, it would definitely be FansToys.

I’ve also dabbled in Legends figures and occasionally picked up a Studio Series figure here and there. More recently, I’ve jumped onto the Blokees and Yolopark train, as the model kit scene really starts to take off. Another line I collect is Robosen. I own a few of their figures, which are simply incredible. They’re pricey, but they’re worth every penny in my opinion.

What do you love most about Transformers and the hobby?

When I look back at all the years I’ve been collecting, what I love most isn’t the figures – it’s the people. The friendships I’ve made because of this hobby are priceless. I’ve been lucky enough to meet people from all over the world, travel to visit them, be welcomed into their homes, and even meet their families. I’ve also attended conventions abroad and experienced everything that comes with them.

Becoming part of such an incredible community, both here in the UK and beyond, has made this hobby so much more than just collecting plastic figures. One of my favourite weekends of the year is TFNation. The first time I went, I only knew a couple of people, and it was still a great experience. Now, I look forward to the whole weekend because I get to catch up with so many friends.

Honestly, the Transformers aspect of the convention has become secondary to the people I’m going to see. For me, the community is the most rewarding part of the collecting journey.

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

The biggest changes I’ve noticed are in popularity and price. Years ago, when I first discovered third-party figures—especially FansToys—you could buy them easily and at relatively low prices. That’s definitely not the case anymore! Prices have gone up fast, and availability has become much tougher.

I remember when you didn’t even need to pre-order FansToys figures. They were always easy to get. Then the popularity exploded, and suddenly you had to pre-order immediately or risk missing out completely.

A big driver of this change has been the rise of online communities and social media. Companies now promote their products to a much bigger audience with ease, which has fuelled demand worldwide.

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

For me personally, I’ll probably aim to narrow down my collection. I’m running out of display space, and I want to be more selective about what I add. There are definitely figures I could move on, so I’ll be more picky going forward.

As for the hobby in general, I think the non-transforming/model kit trend will keep growing in popularity. But I also hope we start to see more new characters, not just endless remakes of the same core ones.

Community-wise, I think events like TFNation will go from strength to strength. Other shows like TFUKCon, BotCon, and TFCon will hopefully continue to thrive too—giving fans more chances to connect in person.

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

I can’t think of one single outrageous story. What I really enjoy is hearing people’s personal collecting journeys—how they got into the hobby, what they collect, and what they love most about it. Listening to those stories, and sharing in the passion, is something I truly treasure.

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

Without a doubt, my biggest success has been becoming part of this incredible community. It may sound corny, but the greatest thing I’ve found along the way is friendship.

I’ve been fortunate to join toy groups both here in the UK and in the US. I’ve travelled to conventions abroad, helped out at some of them, and even been invited onto livestreams to talk about the hobby. I have been able to spend time at the new Transformers Store in Battersea, which is a wonderful place. TFNation is my favourite weekend of the year, and I’m proud to now be part of the volunteer team there.

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

This is a tough one. Most of my collection is modern Masterpiece figures, which don’t really hold sentimental value. I do own a few original G1 toys, but most of those were bought later rather than being my childhood ones.

If I had to choose, I’d probably keep my G1 Jetfire (or Skyfire, depending on the day). He’s my favourite character, and while I never had him as a kid, one of my fondest memories is playing with my friend’s Jetfire after school. That toy stuck with me.

After that, I’d probably pick Robosen Grimlock—just because he’s an absolute work of art.

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

I’ve been lucky enough to collect most of what I really want. Of course, I see things in other people’s collections and think, “I’d love that,” but I’m generally satisfied with what I have.

If I had to pick one, it would be the HasLab Unicron. I didn’t back it, and part of me regrets that—just for the planet mode alone. I have no idea where I’d even put it, but it’s definitely a piece I’d love to own.

That said, when I see rare items in other people’s collections, I remind myself that I’d probably just end up storing them away. So I’m happy enough to admire those from a distance.

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

Don’t worry about what other people think of your collection. There’s a quote I love (not mine): “If you like it, you win.”That’s what matters most. Too many people miss out on figures because they listen to others’ opinions instead of their own.

Think about how you’ll display your collection, too. Don’t just buy everything without a plan—half the fun is showing it off.

Also, try to stay focused. I’ve mainly collected Masterpiece-scale Transformers, and that’s kept my collection manageable. I’ve dabbled in Studio Series and Robosen, but only in moderation. (Though I’ll admit, Robosen is a line I wish I hadn’t fallen for—my wallet definitely wishes I hadn’t!)

Most of all: enjoy it. This is a wonderful hobby, and if it makes you happy, that’s all that matters.

Special thanks to Sam for their words & photos! Be sure to give them a shout on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook & YouTube!