For several years we have been doing Transformer Fan interviews with different Aussie collectors.
Well as the Big Angry Trev Blog grows, the borders of our great brown land are no longer big enough to contain it! So it’s time to travel across the watery ditch to a country where my girlfriend convinced me to throw myself off a bridge (no not relationship problems, went bungy-jumping). So coming all the way from New Zealand, we have Transformer Collector James, giving us the low down on his favorite hobby.
Name and/or nicknames:
James Nomansson, James Anderson (current legal name, pending change to the former), PSPS, TheAlderbunny, NoGravitasHere
Family?
One sister and her family unit. The rest of my relations are total writeoffs.
Career?
Professional nerd-plastic shill! I sell Lego Bionicle parts and sets. I’m actually the biggest seller for the theme in the Southern Hemisphere!
Website/Fan-pages?
PSPS Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/PrettySickPartsandSets/
PSPS BrickLink:
https://store.bricklink.com/NoGravitasHere
PSPS Parts Guide:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1il79aXX13p4A3a1bcMh_loPsPNGxQ0nXfJ8EFvAV1iI/edit#heading=h.4vxlko62bgr9
PSPS Social Club:
https://discord.gg/S783q7hudJ
How would you rate yourself on a C scale, C10 being MISB Mint perfection, to the lowest C1 ‘junker not worth it even for parts’?
I guess no lower than C7? I have a real stick up my ass about quality, but there’s a limit y’know?
Fan/Collector since (year)?
I was a 90s kid, so I grew up with Beast Wars, the Unicron trilogy, and Bayverse. The only one of those that really stuck with me was Bayverse of all things. I don’t count myself as a collector until like, 2020-2021 when I started actively seeking new figures. Blame Transformers: Prime and my friend Koda for that.
Transformers Allegiance, if you had one?
Ex-Decepticon turned Autobot, for sure. I uhh… Wasn’t a great person in the past.
Your Techspec motto if you had one?
What is better – to be born good, or to overcome your evil nature through great effort?
What existing, official Transformers character best describes you?
Probably Bayverse Jetfire. I’m only 30, but I feel like a cantankerous, eccentric old man.
Which special ability of any Transformers character would you want to have for yourself?
Teleportation, hands down. It’s just awesome, even if it’s limited to just line-of-sight.
What drew you to Transformers, making you become a fan/collector?
Transformers: Prime was my adult gateway drug. I was bored during the pandemic, and started watching TF:P on a whim. I fell in love with Soundwave’s design in particular, and my friend Koda was kind enough to help me navigate the fandom as a complete novice.
Do you think you will collect Transformers until you die?
As long as they keep making stuff I want, absolutely! My tastes are pretty niche, limited almost entirely to live action and TF:P.
Do people outside of the hobby know you collect TFs (like at work/school)?
Yep! Collection pics occasionally leak over into promo posts for PSPS, and my mates all know I’m a sucker for the big shiny robots.
Were your family/parents supportive of collecting toys or did you have to hide your passion from them and friends?
As a kid, yes.
What does your partner think of your hobby?
Well, it’s just me, along with my cat, Floof. He doesn’t seem to mind.
Have you attended any fan-meets, Fairs, Conventions, Special Events?
Nah, not really my shtick.
Any creative endeavours with Transformers (drawing, writing, customising, etc)?
I commission the odd bit of custom work (paint or printed parts), but aside from that, no.
Favourite series/era/year, and why?
It’s a tie between Bayverse and TF:P. Both have some pretty glaring flaws, but it’s easy to love something that’s perfect. Bot designs, and toy engineering, are where my enthusiasm for the hobby lies. The fact that some of these big, shiny Bayverse bots look so good, and are still able to transform, will never cease to amaze me. They just keep getting better too! I made the leap to unlicensed bots pretty early on, and never looked back.
Collect any comics?
Nope, not my shtick. Wouldn’t have anywhere to put them either, jeez… Space is at a premium here!
Favourite Comic issue/story, and why?
Unknown due to lack of exposure.
Favourite Cartoon episode/story, and why?
TF:P S01E05 – Darkness Rising. Purely for what might be the most savage burn in Transformers history.
Starscream – ‘Surely, Lord, Megatron, the Autobots are… Up to something.’
Megatron (with the most sarcasm ever) – ‘Reeeally, Starscream?’
Favourite Character, and why?
Optimus Prime. Either as space–dad, or grumpy war-crime machine. As an aside, the live action films are kind of a fun wee slide into Nemesis Prime if you squint a bit.
Sexiest Transformers (robot) Character?
Unknown, not my thing. The concept baffles me a bit, to be honest.
Which Transformers character would you want to exist for real?
Probably TF:P Arcee? Not for sexy reasons haha, I just love 2 wheeled transport. I never enjoyed driving cars, and Arcee’s characterisation in Prime is surprisingly complex. The PTSD element, which she works through as the show progresses, really adds a more mature sorta vibe to her as a character. She’s not just like, the token female y’know?
Approx TFs toy collection count (or give a range like 200s, 300s, 2000s etc):
54, and a pile of Scraplets.
Sealed collector or out-of-packaging collector?
FREE THEM! Let them breathe! Out of packaging, for sure. Can’t transform them in a box!
How much do you think you’ve spent on your collecting habit?
Nope, not answering that. That’s the Forbidden Math question hahahaha. I know they’re insured for like $8000NZD though.
Any rare/expensive figures in your collection?
A couple, yeah! The most expensive would be MM01 v2 Bumblebee Movie Optimus Prime, and his upgrade kit. As for the most rare… Possibly the TF:P Vehicon Flyer General?
What interesting Licensed Merchandise items do you have?
None whatsoever!
First Transformers toy?
I think it was Beast Machines Obsidian?
One toy you most want?
Toy that exists? Go! Smokescreen, from TF:P. It’s got much more accurate paint than the other decos, but it’s a total fart to find.
Toy that doesn’t exist? A decent TF:P Knockout, or an MPM/MPM+ scale DOTM Jetwing Prime.
The centrepiece/favourite toy in your collection at the moment (and why)?
God I hate this question.
For the big live action stuff, it’d be MM01 BBM Optimus, or Black Apple Thunder Leader ‘07 Optimus.
For my smaller stuff, probably APC Attack Prime v2? The chrome just makes the figure pop, and he’s absolutely gorgeous in hand. Huge pain in the ass to find in the right paint though.
Favourite toy in your early years of collecting?
TF:P RID Soundwave. I love that weird lanky dude, so much.
Worst toy(s) ever in your opinion?
SS WW2 Hot Rod. That mould and figure are abysmal. It was a stain on my early SS collection. I gave it to a friend who ended up selling it. More power to him, I couldn’t justify asking money for that pile of crap.
Toy(s) that were most disappointing when you got them?
MPM Starscream’s mould. The lack of bicep rotation was a huge disappointment. Thankfully, one of my friends modified his arms.
Thoughts on gimmick and non-convertible Transformers toys?
Not for me personally, with the odd exception. I have some ‘accessory’ figures that don’t transform, like the Scraplets, or Lockdown’s Steeljaws, or Igor. My personal collection ‘rule’ is that if a Transformer doesn’t transform, it’s usually not for me. No hate to people who go in for the Threezero/YoloPark/whatever non-transforming stuff though, each to their own!
Which single TFs toy should every fan own?
TF:P RID Vehicon. Steve is just a funky little dude. Any version of that mould is just an absolute delight to handle.
Which Transformers toy/product would you give as a wedding present?
Probably none? I’d much rather give the happy couple something they can both enjoy at the same time. Transformers are a bit hard to co-op transform.
Do you collect other toys?
God yes. I have a disgustingly expensive collection of Bionicle masks, as well as a bunch of system sets I repurpose for D&D. And some pretty UCS/UCS equivalent space sets, mostly Star Wars. Again, my tastes are very niche, but if I see something I like, it’s coming home.
What is your favourite TF themed post on this website?
Pretty boring of me, but I loved seeing Trev’s collection of TF:P bots! I covet his Go! Smokescreen fiercely. If it’s ever on the market, I call dibs.
How did you find out about www.bigangrytrev.com?
Trev and I bumped into each other in Botposting, and struck up a conversation about Vehicons. It all went downhill from there hahaha.
Thank you James for sharing your hobby with us! If you’ve got any questions for James, pop them in the comments section below.