The return of the forum “Flex Until the Last Breath” continues to open up many opportunities to “show off” impressive personal achievements, leaving the community in awe. Posting a write-up that resonates with the spirit of the group, the user named Minh Đỗ boldly “flex” his massive toy collection. Just looking at it is hard to estimate the number of models he owns.
Contacting the author of the post, Mr. Đỗ Tuấn Minh (born 1988) happily and openly shared his passion and the unique hobby he has been pursuing for 11 years. He started the story with an introduction:
“Since I was a child, I have had a passion for building models, especially those with mechanical designs that resemble humans. Gundam – a line of robots from Japan is my favorite, with models commonly referred to as Gunpla (Gundam Plastic models). The first gunpla model I bought was the SD Hinu model in 2013.”
He then paused his collecting efforts for three years due to financial constraints. In 2016, he marked the time as the official start of his “hardship” journey.
Due to his personal interest in assembly, most of the models Minh owns are model kits. Specifically, players buy them, cut each part from the runner, and assemble them according to the accompanying instructions. Additionally, he also purchases models from the metal build line (pre-assembled with metal frames) or various robot lines from China. To date, with an exceptionally huge number of models owned, the collector himself is also stumped when asked about the exact count: “I haven’t counted, and to be honest, even if I did, I couldn’t, because I own so many and in various sizes.”
Therefore, estimating the exact value he has spent is also difficult for Minh. He mentioned that some items were purchased new, some were second-hand, some were found at good prices, and some were gifts. This collector revealed: “The smallest ones only need about 15,000 – 30,000 VND to have a fun little display piece.”
“Additionally, this hobby involves customizing and painting, so the value of the model will increase beyond the original value if done by a skilled artisan. One of the most expensive models I ever owned was the Mechanicore Kyrosha model, which was painted, but its price was ‘only’ 25 million VND.”
I say ‘only’ because currently in Vietnam, the Gundam hobby has developed, with more players and many people making intricate and beautiful models, the total cost of a fully customized model can reach several hundred million VND” – the long-time player explained.
To preserve and display this massive collection in optimal conditions, initially, Minh only placed them on the table like everyone else. As the quantity increased significantly, he bought cabinets and used tape to minimize gaps. Currently, he has invested in better quality display systems and shelves.
With an ever-growing “treasure trove” of toys, Minh admits he is like most other model collectors, who do not receive approval from their families. However, he understands his relatives’ feelings: “I see myself as the one at fault, because I have bought too many, and even though they are family, if they don’t share the same interest, they won’t understand. Therefore, I always say to my fellow collectors/friends who buy items from my liquidation: ‘Just buy what you need, don’t be like me, it’s exhausting!’
This realization came about when he moved houses to the point of stress and almost wanted to give it all up. Currently, he has almost stopped buying more, except for models he truly likes. His current philosophy is to only buy when he has sold an old one and has a place to display the new one.
Looking at the impressive collection, viewers may worry about preservation, especially with young children around, making the area prone to “invasion”. Here, this father of two is quite relaxed. He gleefully shared: “My two kids have been instructed from a young age, knowing that these are daddy’s toys, so they never take them or mess with them as everyone worries. Of course, if the kids develop an interest in building models in general, I will support and guide them from basic to advanced kits. However, currently, the boy only likes cars, and the girl is passionate about cooking, so it seems dad will still be playing alone.” – Minh confided.
In the end, Mr. Đỗ Minh honestly stated that “flexing” this spiritual asset is simply a way to connect with those who share the same interests. Especially since he has put in a lot of effort, he also wants to “show off” to receive compliments. He hopes many friends will like it and find similar joy.
Let’s take a look at some images of this impressive toy collection that has taken over a decade to build!
