Terence Tee has taken the idea of collecting to a whole new level by owning an entire room dedicated to Marvel‘s Iron Man character, filled with almost 150 figures of the Avenger.
In an interview with YouTube channel Our Grandfather Story, Tee showcases his massive collection of 1/6th scale Iron Man figures, mostly made by Hot Toys, with various Sideshow Collectibles pieces dotted here and there. "I’m actually quite obsessed with collecting Iron Man figures in the sense that I will complete whatever is released," says the 38-year-old collector. Tee recounts the time when he flew to Hong Kong just to buy an exclusive piece — he was even required to set up a local bank account and put in a deposit before he could get his hands on the figure.
Explaining his particular interest in Iron Man over the other Marvel characters, Tee says: "He [Iron Man] has different colored armor, which I enjoy collecting. One figure itself has from about 250 to 300 pieces." Gaining the nickname "The Destroyer," Tee enjoys disassembling his figures and admiring the individual pieces and how it all comes together. In one occasion, Tee said he even built his own Iron Man Mk 31 by taking apart and matching different parts and painting it himself all because Hot Toys does not make one.
"My Iron Man collection is really a dedication hobby," he says. "Some people call them toys, but to us, they’re actually collectibles. It’s like a dedication of how far and how much I can do for a hobby."
For more things Marvel-related, Hot Toys has unveiled its Venom figure in celebration of Marvel’s 80th anniversary.