I’ve been a collector since I was a kid.  There’s a picture floating around of me with my Land Adventurer and 5 Star Jeep.   Boy do I wish I still had those!  Collected the 3 & ¾” series through the 80’s and 90’s and bought a bunch of the Hall of Fame Joes in the early 90s.  Then it went downhill from there.

Where is 1/6 going?  Probably down the same road, with many leaps and bounds.  Companies such as Hasbro, Formative, DML, BBI and Hot Toys are going to increase their level of realism and detail in their product lines.  The mainstream companies, such as Hasbro are quite important at keeping the inflow of new hobbyists coming in.  No matter what a person collects, it really does revolve around GI Joe.  It’s name recognition.  Many people who had Joe as a kid sees something new, pick it up and somehow manage to find info on all the other brands out there.

We see a lot of division in the hobby lately.  What in your opinion could we as collectors do as a united front to constructively reunite this as a stand alone hobby again?

The division in the hobby is actually disappointing.  With hobbyists collecting so many different lines there’s a bit of a rift.  Collectors of the more detailed DML/BBI products tend to knock the Joe collectors and vice versa.  There’s plenty of room in the hobby for everyone to fit in.  The other problem is our egos.  When one brand is criticized, some of the collectors defend it like zealots.  I’m actually guilty of it myself.  Unfortunately it wears down everyone.

I think we all need to have a little more patience with one and other as well as realizing there’s room for everyone.  The hobby is about having fun and playing with your toys. 

There are many faces of collectors in the action figure hobby.  Some loyal to brands, others to eras.  You are best known for your motor pool.  How exactly did the motor-pool come to be AND approximately how many vehicles does it currently include.  Also, if you had to pick one favorite, which would it be and why?

There’s a loaded question.  <laughs>  I’ve always been fond of military hardware.  Part of it has to do with me as a kid looking through some of the photos of my Dad’s military service.  Dad served with the 4^th Armored Division in Germany in the early 1960’s.  Lots of pics of jeeps, tanks and especially of the M114 (the M113 APC’s little brother).  I also always had a lot of tanks and jeeps as a kid, so it just carried over.  Another thing that added to it was I build a lot of 1/35 scale armor.

The first recent vehicle I picked up was the SotW Medic Jeep.  Prior to that I had bought a HOF Rhino jeep.  In the past year I’ve thinned out the motor pool a bit.  Making way for new pieces, or to fund more expensive pieces.  Right now there are probably 125 vehicles.

If I had to pick a favorite it would be hard.  After thinking about it I’d have to say that right now it’s the custom Russian WWII BA-64 that I got from customizer Tim Loeb (Plastic Panzers).  It’s one of only four that he made and I’m lucky I got it.  You can probably follow that up with the Action Man sub from the new series.

I have caught up to you at several GI Joe Conventions, most recently in Orlando.  We all know how much effort goes into planning such an affair, but yet, you chose to beat the odds and hold your own action figure show in Connecticut not once but twice a year.

It’s always a blast to attend a convention or just a local show.  And it’s not only for the good deals that can be found.  Many of my friends attend and that’s 75% of the reason.  Orlando was a blast and getting to spend time hanging out with folks like you and Charlotte is an immense plus.  It’s also the activities that occur around the convention that turn it into a vacation. 

There’s quite a bit that goes into planning a show.  Some folks understand it and some don’t.  I always chuckle when I see someone say “they should hold it in my hometown.”  I give credit to Brian Savage for constantly choosing new locations for the Joe Con.  I also need to give some credit to Buddy Finithy and the Joe-Lanta guys for supporting me in doing a show up here.  I’m finally going to make a Joe-Lanta show this year and I’m looking forwards to it immensely.

What drives you to keep hosting these shows and can we expect bigger and better things in the future of the events?  How much of a family affair are your shows, or do you carry the burden alone?

What drives me to do the shows is the fun I have and meeting new people in the hobby.  I don’t always have the ability to spend as much time talking with everyone that I’d like, but it’s great to hear stories about someone’s collection, or the great score they just made that day.

2005 is going to be a bigger year.  I’ve added a small winter show to the line up on February 27^th.  The spring show has been pushed back a few weeks to June 5^th and the Fall Super Show is September 25^th.  I’m looking for some new things to do in the fall for both the 12” collectors as well as the 3 & ¾” folks.  There were some outstanding entries in the contests this past year and I’m looking forwards to this year’s entries. 

A lot of vendors stepped up to the plate and donated some killer prizes as well.  The support of the companies and vendors is what helps to make a good show better.  The guys from the Connecticut Joes club have also provided me support with the show and it’s great to have a bunch of local collectors to share the hobby with.

Your family has been very supportive of you in this hobby.  Is there any signs of you slowing down?  Can we expect to see your family next summer at the convention?

Family support is what carries me through the show.  My Mom and sister can usually be found at the front door to the show welcoming everyone.  I think Mom actually has more fun then I do.  The entire family does support me in the hobby as well, so I’m very lucky. 

I don’t plan to slow down right now.  With my three shows this year, the Joe Con, Joe-Lanta, a few of DeSimone’s NY shows and the Esprit De Corp Weekend in Virginia this year I’ll be quite busy.  I hope I’ll be able to get some play time in as well.

In your own words, tell everyone what impact the hobby has had on your life and what if anything would you change about it.

It’s increased my circle of friends and my appreciation of them.  It’s a huge family.  You can take two collectors at total ends of the spectrum in every way, shape and form, toss them a Joe, and they’ll be long lost brothers.  That’s the power of Joe.

Change it?  Nah, I like it just how it is.

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Thanks, John, for taking the time to answer our questions for our first Collector Spotlight!