PlaymoFriends
General => Collector's Corner => Topic started by: flatcat on December 08, 2009, 18:52:57
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Hi,
Ive got a bit of a storage crisis at the moment, and my Mum is in despair :D
(she can't stand Playmobil at the best of times) :(
Ive got tons of it and about another 150 quids worth coming from ebay this week, and have run out of room now! There's Playmo in my room, other peoples rooms, in the loft and in the sheds :-[
I sold quite a bit of iton ebay about a week ago, but as soon a some goes, lots more comes in and replaces it! 8}
Has anyone got any good space saving storage ideas?
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Go and live by yourself, I did that ;). Now my girlffriend lives here too,but she doesn't mind. Although she kicks over things sometimes.
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Go and live by yourself, I did that ;). Now my girlffriend lives here too,but she doesn't mind. Although she kicks over things sometimes.
That's an idea, but if you start paying rent & utilities it will be difficult to afford additional Playmobil :(! BTW, Does she kick them over on purpose :P?
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Do you have shelves in your room, flatcat?
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Do you have shelves in your room, flatcat?
Yes, I have a 5 tier shelving unit which has got some of my boats and trucks on it, but I can only fit about 3 on each shelf - which isn't many considering the amount of vehicles that I have got :D
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(http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/7871/pict1s.jpg) (http://img13.imageshack.us/i/pict1s.jpg/)
(http://img189.imageshack.us/img189/1318/pict0002dw.jpg) (http://img189.imageshack.us/i/pict0002dw.jpg/)
These are some of my displays.
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They're pretty impressive Bill, I just wish I had the room for my own such displays :(
Everybody seems to specialize in certain themes, whereas I just have a lot of everything that I havent got room for ie. numerous forts, castles, pirate ships, trains and vehicles which most never see the light of day because I have'nt got the space to get them out or set them up, let alone have the room to store them in the first place!
I guess I'm just a hoarder...
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What you see is only a fraction of what I have, most is still stored in their boxes in storage until I rotate things around. I think we're all some what guilty of being hoarders :-[! You need to check out Rasputin's collection & office displays!
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Hi Flatcar :wave:
shelfs shelfs shelfs did I mention Shelfs is the way to use space wisely
These are old pictures and things are changing but you get the idea ;)
(http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/3145/p1010001it.jpg)
(http://img253.imageshack.us/img253/4750/p1010049cd9.jpg)
(http://img247.imageshack.us/img247/3197/p1010048sz8.jpg)
(http://img258.imageshack.us/img258/1337/p1280081zv6.jpg)
Rasputin "The Mad Monk"
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wow, Rasputin, I want to come over to YOUR house!! 8} truly a dream Playmo space.
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wow, Rasputin, I want to come over to YOUR house!! 8} truly a dream Playmo space.
Wow! :wow: :wow: I want to come over to your house, too! :wow: :wow:
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Flatcat,
Maybe an under bed storage system might help, they make risers that will lift your bed up 6" or so or else go for a loft bed system. You do need a good containment system, preferably one that is consistent and easily scalable.
Gepetto
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wow, Rasputin
and even more amazing than this incredible collection are the three boys that get to play with it all, but know how to put everything away when they are finished!!!! they were delightful guests when they came to my tiny not-really-child-proofed sf home and played with just a moderate box of playmobil while rasputin taught me how to take apart my klickies.
kaethe
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Flatcat,
Maybe an under bed storage system might help, they make risers that will lift your bed up 6" or so or else go for a loft bed system. You do need a good containment system, preferably one that is consistent and easily scalable.
Gepetto
Those are excellent ideas Gepetto! I've seen both systems on display @ mattress & furniture stores here. They provide a lot of storage capabilities.
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Flatcat,
Maybe an under bed storage system might help, they make risers that will lift your bed up 6" or so or else go for a loft bed system. You do need a good containment system, preferably one that is consistent and easily scalable.
Gepetto
Hi Flatcar :wave:
Gepetto's bed idea would be really neat . All the Playmobil would be organized right under you. You could build one yourself and make it custom to your collection.
(http://img25.imageshack.us/img25/5365/loftbed.jpg) (http://img25.imageshack.us/i/loftbed.jpg/)
Rasputin "The Mad Monk"
PS: Any time anybody wants to come over I have lots of room to play and Playmobil is always open , as long as you clean up ;). Thanks for the compliment Kaethe :-[ You know your place was so impressionable on them they now know the marina district just by your house.
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hi damo
having been the mother of a 16 year old son in the distant past, but at the risk of sounding like your mother, here are some thoughts:
1/ moms get frustrated about general disorder in their child's room because they unconsciously equate chaotic clutter with not caring about your belongings and not being appreciative of having them, no matter what they are, so if your storage system for your ever-expanding collection resembles cascading piles of boxes and bins, that cover the floor like moguls on a ski slope, start immediately by just keeping them stacked, like with like, or whatever, and give her a path to bring things in to your room and throw things on your bed, or wherever.
2/ i echo the recommendations of the others, shelves, shelves, shelves. if pre-assembled shelving is not an option either because of cost or convenience, an inexpensive and almost instant assembly system is the ages old brick and board shelf system. i see you are in the uk, so i do not know if you have any discount building supply places, but look for concrete bricks (not real ones, they are more expensive) and lumber to stack and make your custom shelves. the bricks can be stacked to customize your shelf height, and the lumber can usually be purchased in various lengths and widths. if your mom fusses about the concrete bricks scratching the walls or floor, wrap them in paper before you use them. store the big boxes under your bed, or stacked together as neatly as possible. if you have limited places to put shelves in your room and your bed is up against a wall, consider pulling your bed away from the wall and put a shelving unit between the bed and wall, you can hide less-used or seasonal boxes below the level of the bed and set up your favorites on the shelves above the bed, although the shelf that is at bed height should probably have boxes and bins on it to keep from knocking things over during the night while you dream about buying more playmobil at an incredible sale somewhere. likewise, tuck another set of shelves between your desk and the wall if possible, or at the foot of your bed.
3/ i do not know if you are a store by set, or type or theme person, but if you have your sets out of their boxes, here in the states there are usually sales on storage containers and bins immediately after the christmas holidays so you might plan your budget to buy some then. set aside a day to sort your collection, you will be amazed at how much fun you will have rediscovering pieces and setting up your favorites on the new shelves.
4/ the best thing about this is it is very portable, so you can use them conceivably forever.
hope some of this helps, good luck.
kaethe
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Thanks for all the great suggestions everyone!
I'll be putting them into action quite soon (if my parents agree to putting shelving up) :D
I thought i'd include a pic of some of my mess (it's in my stepbrother's room and he's fed up with it!)
I hope to get all these vehicles put up on shelves etc sometime soon, although it will probably have to wait until after Christmas now :)
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I can certainly understand your mother's concern and the consternation of everyone else! You definitely need some sort of bin system to contain this, if you are going to continue collecting you cannot be antagonizing the people you live with or things will start breaking/disappearing mysteriously >:D, common courtesy dictates you respect shared spaces and you will need the forbearance of these people as your collection grows over time. It may be hard to believe but people are not as understanding towards the hobbies of others if it impacts them negatively in any way. ::)
The fact that you recognize the problem and are seeking to rectify it shows hope, good luck and keep us posted of developments. I notice several nice pieces just in the one photo you have shared with us.
Gepetto
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Here are some pics of my current shelves that I sorted the other day...
My aim would be to get all my Playmo looking like this eventually, with a bit of clever shelving and display :)
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Very nice! You are off to a good start. :wave:
Gepetto
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Shelves with adjustable heights would definitely help, until then try organizing several additional items on each self by placing them in a straight pattern versus angled, because it looks like you could fit more items on 1 shelf than you are currently utilizing. Also try mounting your parts drawer cabinets in another location, like inside a closet so you can use the space of that shelf area to display your collection that is in your stepbrothers area! Your existing shelves have a lot of dead space in between them that could be used if you add a U-shaped home made shelf to have a double decker shelving system providing 2 levels of vehicle storage on each shelf. One word of caution though, be sure to test the shelf's stability because the more weight you add the more you maybe required to anchor the shelves to the wall to keep them from falling. I also recommend that you store the container tubs currently on the your shelves in an area out of sight so your valuable shelves can be used to display your collection stashed in your step brothers area.
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Sorry Bill :-[
I've only just started to get things out of boxes and so wasn't really paying much attention as to how I was putting things on the shelves :doh:
I'll try again this weekend when I get some time!
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Sorry Bill :-[
I've only just started to get things out of boxes and so wasn't really paying much attention as to how I was putting things on the shelves :doh:
I'll try again this weekend when I get some time!
You have started an interesting topic that I along with others may enjoy helping you with! You can update the progress as you go showing if others ideas are helpful! From what I have seen, you have quite a collection to be proud of, so use any means available to you to display it! If you look at my shelf displays, I have so much crambed on to each shelf, but I want to show off as much as possible, but I have to admit I don't dust :no:!
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Thanks for your great ideas Bill :wow:
I'll definately try making some u shaped shelves to put in between, the vehicles on the back part would probably have to go broadside, as the unit isn't very deep but I think it will look great with them all on display :)
Got any ideas for displaying forts? I've got my 2 castles set up on the only table space i've got.
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You might try Bill's method of displaying his aircraft and suspend some from your ceiling (with your parents' approval of course) I notice you have several helicopters and at least 1 plane.
Gepetto
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You might try Bill's method of displaying his aircraft and suspend some from your ceiling (with your parents' approval of course) I notice you have several helicopters and at least 1 plane.
Gepetto
I have 4 helicopters and have just recieved a 3187 Lufthansa jet plane from ebay today, so that will have to go somewhere! <*)
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Thanks for your great ideas Bill :wow:
I'll definately try making some u shaped shelves to put in between, the vehicles on the back part would probably have to go broadside, as the unit isn't very deep but I think it will look great with them all on display :)
Got any ideas for displaying forts? I've got my 2 castles set up on the only table space i've got.
You are correct about depth of shelves! My shelves are 18" deep so the 3879 & 3182 ladder fire trucks can fit side by side of each other. There are so many possibilities for fort & castle displays! It may be a better idea to display them on deep shelves at eye level height. You can get green model rail road carpet that looks like grass for a shelf covering base to set them on. Rasputin used brown bulk fabric material for a covering & it gives a finished look to his displays. Use shelving brackets that attach to the wall studs with screws. You can still use 18" shelves to stay consistant, but if your castle needs more depth you can use 1/4" plywood sheeting in a larger size to over lay on the existing 18" X 36" shelf going to 24" deep X 48" wide. This procedure gives a 6" over hang, but remains sturdy. In the future if you decide to dismantle & store your castle or fort you take the over lay off of the original shelf, & presto it doesn't look out of place. I recommend using wood screws to attach all items together just in case of a sibling disaster or rampage ;)!
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I have 4 helicopters and have just recieved a 3187 Lufthansa jet plane from ebay today, so that will have to go somewhere! <*)
I use white cup hooks, & 8lb. fishing filament line. My displays turn & twirl continually 8}! I made custom harnesses to suspend my jet liners from the ceiling out of the same fishing line.
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I have 4 helicopters and have just recieved a 3187 Lufthansa jet plane from ebay today, so that will have to go somewhere! <*)
THE 3187 LUFTHANSA JETLINER :(o): ?????!!!!!! I've been wanting some of those forever now :doh:!
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THE 3187 LUFTHANSA JETLINER :(o):?????!!!!!! I've been wanting some of those forever now :doh:!
So have I, it was just luck that one came up for sale in the UK (appologies if I outbid anyone on here) :rudy:
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So have I, it was just luck that one came up for sale in the UK :rudy:
Well done young man! An item truly worthy of being displayed from a cup hook :)9!
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Is a garden shed a possibility?
If there is garden space, and parental permission, a shed could hold a lot of packed stuff, freeing up room space for displays. Probably not blue boxes, for fear of damp, but fortunately Playmobil itself if almost 100% cold and damp proof.
I used to have a lot stored in the attic, but it was too awkward to get it down to view so it just piled up in secret.
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Is a garden shed a possibility?
About 1/3 of my Playmo is in the shed - the last 3 pics I posted were in the shed. I know it doesnt look much like a shed but we lined the walls and painted it yellow (carpet as well!) There isn't much room for it in my room because of all the other junk I collect - Playbig, Top trumps etc thus why it is all over the house! :rudy:
I don't keep any of my blue boxes out there, as it can get very cold in there at this time of year <*)
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Hi Flatcar :elf:
I do not know how you are communicating with others in your house but you might want to let them all know whats going on. Even if you think they know, never assume. Simply telling them that you are well aware of the fact that your Playmobil is inconveniencing them and it may be a problem for them. You are trying to solve the situation ASAP. Sometimes even asking for their knowledge and advice will not only help soothe any ill feelings towards your collection they may enjoy the challenge. Who knows your parents may help find some shelfs for you and then you could have more funds for jets ;)
The system you started looks like a great start but like already stated, there is a lot of lost space when dealing with fixed self units. I bet with creativity you could double the items on each unit. The system I used I custom made out of redwood fence boards I milled . The boards are very cheep and it was rather simple design. I wanted to be able to remove levels for taller items ( like you castles ).
You seem to have a lot of space and I am sure you can fit a lot more in there with planning. You just do not want to aggravate others so they start to despise your hobbies. This is something you do not want to learn the hard way :-[
Rasputin "The Mad Monk"
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Sorry for no updates recently, as I have been doing my GCSE's at the moment, and just haven't had the time to do anything, although I sold a few items before Christmas as I got the mega farm set, but luckily i've sorted out some large plastic storage boxes to store it and other things in.
If your in the UK, they are 80ltrs from Wilkinsons at half price for £4.99 :)
Sorry I cannot any pics at the moment as someone has stolen the batteries out of the camera >:D