Gunpla

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MG Sinanju Build Review

Bandai’s 1/100 Master Grade Sinanju was my first build of 2009*.

(I haven’t proofed this article, so suck it)

From a build quality this kid if fucking fantastic. Not only does it look great, but it’s a big sucker, considerably taller than most MG Gundams. Much to my surprise this kit lacks pollycap joints. While I hated that on my Crossbone the mechanics here are great. The joints are innovative and make for lots of movement. The only issue here is that the shield can be a bit heavy (at least with the beam saber things attached) than the arm can support. If it’s clipped on the forearm it has a tendency to pop off all to easily or slowly cause the arm to dip down. read more

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Char Aznable Action Base

If you’re as impatient as me you often brush things by in the store quickly, not often gathering all the details.

One such item for me was the Char Aznable theme’s action base for 1/1444 & 1/100 scale kits. The bag art contains pictures of the stand covered with Zeonic & Char markings. For a while I thought, “that’s nice, shame I don’t have any of Char’s Gunpla or it would be a good fit” moving on to the clear action bases instead. What use would a Char detailed stand for my RX-87-2?

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Layman’s Gunpla Guide – Construction Guide

Welcome to the construction guide! The goal here is to review some of the basics of taking transforming that box of plastic runners into a proper Gundam kit. Beginners who have picked up their first kit have probably opened up the box, looked at the runners, than the Japanese instructions. How do you feel? Excited, maybe have a sense of tribulation? Well worry not!

Despite the number of small parts and the Japanese instructions putting together a kit perhaps the easiest part of the hobby.

Basic Terminology

Before we begin it’s important that you familiarize yourself with some of the common terminology. Those plastic things with all the pieces attached? Those are called runners. The parts of the runner which connect directly to the kit’s pieces are called sprues. When you cut a piece from the runner and sprue there will likely be a little piece of plastic left sticking out of the piece itself, that is called a nub. read more

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MG Ball, Vr. Ka

Master Grade for only $15? Well, it is just a Ball…

The Ball is probably the most under appreciated suit in Gundam. Cannon fodder way before the arrival of the GM. It’s single time to shine was that those brief scenes early on in the beginning 08th MS Team.

You can get a MG Ball for less than $15 and it shows. Not due to the build quality but because it’s such a small kit. At least a third of the instruction manual is nothing but pictures and information about the Ball. Of course none of it I can read, but it sure looks nice! read more

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Layman’s Gunpla Guide – Buying Kits & Difficulty Grades

First timers might be wondering where exactly to start. There have been hundreds of kits released since 1980, if not thousands. Over the years the complexity and engineering has (generally) improved as Bandai’s production technologies and design methods advance.

Size and Scale

Gundam models, like most other plastic models have an accompanying original to model ratio, or scale. A 1/100 kit would be roughly 100 times smaller than actual size of the object the kit represents. A 1/60 scale kit would only be 60 times smaller resulting in a larger model. read more

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Layman’s Gunpla Guide – General Building Equipment

If you’re looking to build Gunpla you’re going to need some tools. Thankfully you only need a small set at your disposal to accomplish great builds.

 Must have…

 Must have if you’re building regularly…

A pair of basic hobby nippers

A pair of GodHand nippers

General Hobby Nippers

Unless you’re a 15 year-old me you’ll want to do the smart thing and cut – not rip – all your Gunpla pieces from the runners. The easiest and safest way to do so is with a pair of hobby nippers (also known as hobby cutters or side cutters).

Ranging from $10 to $80 you should be able to find a pair at any hobby store and many online retailers. You’re probably wondering, is the more expensive pair better than the cheaper pair? Well, the short answer is, yes. Long answer is that generally, especially when it comes to tools, you get what you pay for. read more

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Layman’s Gunpla Guide and Tutorial
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Layman’s Gunpla Guide and Tutorial

Hello and welcome to the Layman’s Gunpla Guide!

When I created this guide back in 2008 I wanted to translate all I was learning about Gunpla into an easy to use guide for all ages and all skill levels. Since then I’ve seen a lot more people enter the hobby, fads come and go, and the proliferation of YouTube and other video tutorials. Me, I’m sticking with the written format – just think it’s easier and more approachable than videos stuffed with ads and filler. The proliferation of social media has also helped connect hobbyists across the globe. In the end, there are lots of great resources now and I encourage you to use them as well. Make sure to check out this section of the guide with my favorite sites and Discord channels. read more

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