AFHub Handle: Ricky Sunshine
Real Name: Ricky Tinio
Year of Birth: 1973
Location: Quezon City

Anyone and everyone who has been collecting action figures for as long as I have would know that Ricky Sunshine is one of the local authorities when it comes to action figures – even vintage toys. Just take a look at his superb Super Powers and G.I. Joe collections and you’ll immediately get that same kind of awe a kid experiences when taken to a huge toy store for the very first time. I still get that up to now.

I first came to know of Ricky’s online persona sometime back in 2003 – on Adrian Faulkner’s action-figure.com forum. Ricky was one of the regular posters on that board back then, when it was the only available toy forum catering to local collectors. What I remember most about him was his DC collection and the way his posts were always accompanied by background info on the DC Direct character(s) being released at the time. I personally think that he is one of the few people responsible for influencing a huge number of local collectors to get into this hobby full-time.

While I have already met Ricky in person a few times, I have to admit that I still know very little about him. I hope this brief interview gives us a better insight on one of the mainstays of the local action figure collectors community. And by the way, don’t let the bruiser image on his mug shot intimidate you – he is a nice guy in person (though I think he’d break me in half without question if I ask him to give his entire Super Powers collection to me for Christmas).

1. When did you start collecting action figures?

I started collecting 12 years ago when the Star Wars Power Of the Force line came out. But I have been a collector all my life owning several toy lines while I was a kid like Star Wars, Masters of the Universe and G.I. Joes. I think I have more than 3000 figures now. I stopped counting 2 years ago.

2. What was it that brought you to collecting? And what is it that keeps you going?

It helps bring out the child in everyone and it’s a stress reliever for me.

3. What toy lines do you collect? And why? (please give a short reason for each toy line).

1. STAR WARS – This movie gave me brain damage! Its very cool to have 3D versions of your favorite Star Wars characters
2. DC DIRECT – I grew up watching Super Friends and reading DC comics.
3. WRESTLING – I love wrestling so much that it inspired me to do body-building. Its a soap opera for men! Very cool figures and playsets
4. MARVEL – Just like DC, the characters are very cool not to have them as toys.
5. G.I. JOE – The very cool characters, vehicles and playsets are a must have

6. DRAGONBALL – I absolutely fell in love with the characters.

4. Which items was the most difficult to obtain?

The Super Powers Wave 3 figures which include Cyborg, Shazam!, Orion, Plasticman, Samurai and Mister Miracle

5. You are one of the few lucky people who owns a complete Super Powers collection. Was it difficult finding all the pieces? Please share with us some details on how you managed to complete this line.

It took me more than 4 years to complete this line. I have all the figures including the mail-ins, exclusives, all the vehicles and playsets. I actually had the 1st wave as a kid and then got the 2nd and 3rd waves later on. I had to search in eBay just to get these. At one time, I had to bid on an auction for a loose lot just to get a stupid staff accessory for Golden Pharoah. Its a very expensive line.

6. What is the oldest item in your collection? When and how did you acquire it?

An old G.I.Joe Duke action figure back in 1981. I got it in Nova Fontana.

7. Do you still have an item that you desperately want and hope to some day own?

A lifesize Han Solo in Carbonite would be very cool in my living room! Since I’m in WWE mode now, I would love to own a real scale replica of a WWE Championship Belt!

8. Do you consider yourself a completist? Please tell us why or why not.

Not really. I have completed only one line in my whole collection. I never buy anything for the sake of completing a line.

9. What’s the first thing people tell you when they see your collection?

It’s a tie between ASTEEEG! and AWESOME!!! (LOL):

10. Tell us one good thing and one bad thing about this hobby.

This hobby is very relaxing and an alternative to Wine, Women and Song. But we need to be very carfeul and not to be very addicted to the point that you’ve become an impulse buyer.

11. If you had to choose only one, which item in your collection would you say is your absolute favorite and why?

Absolutely SUPER POWERS!!! I grew up collecting this.

12. Where do you do most of your toy purchases? Do you shop online?

I buy in Greenhills and in the local toystores. I sometimes shop in eBay for the HTF’s.

13. How do you display your collection?

I had a Toy Attic built while my house was being constructed. The Toy Attic occupies the whole 3rd floor of my house. I have several giant glass cabinets there to house my precious collection.

I like displaying my figures in playsets and dioramas.

14. How do you decide which items to open and which ones to keep mint-in-package?

I open 99% of my toys. I seldom keep them MOC. I only have several MOC figs. You can’t truly enjoy a figure without taking them out of the package. Besides, the smell of a newly-opened toy is great! :lol:

15. Being a known veteran collector, what advice can you share with those who are just starting a collection?

First of all, don’t splurge! Never buy unless you can afford it. Never buy using your credit card or else you’ll get used to it and end up in a lot of debt. Remember our hobby is very addicting.

Second, concentrate on 1 to 2 toy lines only and always have a theme. Less toy lines means less expenses. I have collected more than 10 lines in the past and it made me sick. Its very expensive. I have trimmed it down to 5 lines now. WWE, DC Direct, Marvel Legends, Star Wars and G.I. Joe.

Third, having the most toys doesn’t mean you’re the greatest.

— end of interview —

Check out Ricky’s magnificent collection…

See more of Ricky’s stuff here:
https://www.afhub.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=265

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