Guide 5 min read Updated 30 September 2026

Storing sets and starting a collection

Sets are played with, taken apart and rebuilt. With a few habits they stay complete, for the next child or for a collection.

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The set number

Every set has the manufacturer’s article number printed on the box, and each brand has its own numbering. With that number you find the set, its instructions and its parts list again.

On ToySetFox you can type a set number in the search box to open that set straight away.

Building instructions

Keep paper instructions flat, in a folder or with the set. Playmobil lets you search its building instructions online by product number, and other makers publish instructions too.

For sets with many building steps, a complete manual is the difference between a set you can rebuild and a box of loose parts.

Storing sets

Sort the way you play: per set, so a scene is quickly set up again, or per kind of part, which makes free building easier. Small parts go in closed bags or boxes with a label.

Store plastic toys dry and out of direct sunlight: light can fade colours and turn white parts yellow over time. Keep boxes flat and dry if you want to keep them.

Missing parts

A lost part does not have to be the end of a set. Playmobil’s online spare parts service lets you order missing, defective or lost parts; for other brands, ask the manufacturer’s customer service.

Check a second-hand set against the parts list in the instructions before you buy it. Small accessories are the first to go missing.

Starting a collection

Choose a focus: a theme (such as Playmobil Novelmore or Schleich Horse Club), a period (such as COBI’s historical models) or one brand. A focus keeps a collection manageable and makes gaps easy to see.

Sets disappear from the shops when a manufacturer stops making them. Collectors usually value complete sets with box and instructions most, so keep them that way from the start.

Frequently asked questions

Where do I find lost building instructions?

Many manufacturers publish instructions online; search with the set number from the box. Playmobil lets you search its building instructions by product number.

Can I order a single missing part?

For Playmobil, yes: its online spare parts service sells missing, defective or lost parts. For other brands, ask the manufacturer’s customer service.

How do I keep sets from fading?

Store them dry and out of direct sunlight. Light can fade colours and turn white plastic yellow over time; closed boxes or cupboards help.

Browse on

ToySetFox sells and tests nothing itself. This guide sums up what the manufacturers publish. Always follow the age marking and the warnings on the box.