An Easy Beginner’s Guide to Gunpla ・ Part ① Tools & Prep Work
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CONTENTS
You’re a Gundam fan with Gunpla dreams, and it’s time to get started. Let’s take a look at how exactly Gunpla models are put together!
Choosing the Right Gunpla
As we start constructing a brand new Gunpla model, our first steps today will be all the preparation that comes before everything comes together, from getting your Gunpla kit to readying all the necessary tools. As discussed in the last Mame Kakao column, Gunpla models come in a variety of scales (sizes), but today we'll choose a size that's massively popular and easy for beginner model-makers to start with. Let's take a look at what it's like to build a 1:144 scale Gunpla!
To star in this particular article, our choice today is the 1/144 Gundam Aerial, which was released on October 1, 2022. Since it's one of Bandai's newer products, the kit is packed with the latest in Gunpla technology. (Plus, this particular Gundam is also at the heart of the latest Gundam anime, "Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury.")
▲ The 1/144 Gundam Aerial
The Tools Required for Good Gunpla
In previous articles, we've gone over the convenience of Bandai's new EG (Entry Grade) models, which can be made without any tools at all, but this time we're taking a look at a more traditional kit that requires the use of some basic plastic model tools. Here are a few of the most popular tools used for building Gunpla models.
① Nippers (Wire Cutters)
Variously called nippers, wire cutters, or some kind of pliers, this is the most important tool used when building a Gunpla model. If you don't have a pair of nippers, your model-building dreams are going nowhere. This practical tool is most often used to nip all the different pieces and parts of the model from a larger frame called a runner. There's a wide range of nippers on the market, including some super-high-grade luxury models that can cut through runners like butter, but if you're getting started you'll be just fine with any of the many basic, entry-level options available.
▲The author's own well-used nippers.
② A Hobby Knife
When you use your nippers to cut a Gunpla part off of the runners, you'll usually be left with a little piece called a "gate" still attached. If you put together your Gunpla model with all those little "gates" left as they are, your finished product will look pretty sloppy. So gate cleanup is a standard part of Gunpla building, and to remove all those excess bits of plastic and leave a clean edge, the best tool is a hobby knife, also known as an exacto knife or utility knife. In Japan, it's called a "design knife"!
These handy little blades are useful throughout the model-making process, not just for removing gates, but also when you're doing other fine detail work like cutting out and attaching decals. You won't regret having one at hand throughout the process.
▲The author's own dependable hobby knife.
③ Sanding Tools
Sanding tools are needed to shave down and smooth out the plastic parts during the Gunpla construction process, especially when cleaning up the last traces of gates, or removing the plastic seams that are sometimes left by the manufacturing molds (called "parting lines"). The most common grits are #400, #600, and #1000, going from course to extremely fine, and they're usually used in order to remove bumps and dips, and leave your Gunpla with a smooth surface. There are a number of options when it comes to sanding tools, including metal files, standard sandpaper, and spongey sanding pads – generally you want to have metal files in addition to either paper or sponge sanders.
▲The author's own selection of sanding tools.
④ Tweezers
Gunpla kits come with lots of little parts that need to be carefully fit together, and small decals to add precise detail, which means a good pair of tweezers can quickly become a prized possession for any Gunpla enthusiast. If you've got extremely nimble hands, you might not need them, but for most people all those tiny pieces can be extremely hard to pick up and manipulate with just the use of your fingers. If you don't have especially dextrous fingers, a good pair of tweezers will definitely come in handy.
▲The author's own sturdy tweezers.
⑤ Other Useful Tools
・A Cutting Mat
Helpful when using a hobby knife, so you don't accidentally scratch the table.
・Glue
Use it to glue any parts you might have accidentally broken or damaged.
・A Parts Separator/Opener
Accidentally snapped two of the wrong parts together? Use a purpose-built parts separator to easily pull them back apart.
・A Desktop Vacuum
Building Gunpla models can create a lot of little bits of plastic and other trash, but a little vacuum cleaner makes cleaning a breeze.
All Prepped and Ready to Go
As long as you've got the basic tools mentioned above, you'll have everything you need to get started on your Gunpla kit! There are plenty of other tools around, but when it comes to simply assembling the parts of a Gunpla model, this is all that's really required. Check back soon for part two, when we actually put the pieces together, with a Gunpla construction walkthrough!
Original Author: Mame Kakao
English Edition: Sophia Appelbaum
Thirty years old and a huge fan of Gunpla! I recently bought a new photo box, so I started posting on Twitter too. I'll be sharing the hottest news on Gunpla and the like!
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HIROSHIMA
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Hiroshima Prefecture has everything, from world heritage sites to beautiful nature and delicious local cuisine, and it's either an hour and a half from Tokyo by plane, or four hours by train. Itsukushima Shrine on Miyajima Island and the Atomic Bomb Dome, two Hiroshima UNESCO sites, are famous around the world, but in Japan it's also famous for food. Seafood from the Seto Inland Sea, especially oysters, Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki, and Setouchi lemons are all popular, and the natural scenery alone is worth seeing.
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SHIKOKU
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On the other side of the Seto Inland Sea opposite Japan’s main island, Shikoku (四国) is a region made up of four prefectures: Ehime, Kagawa, Kochi, and Tokushima. The area is famous for its udon (in Kagawa), and the beautiful Dogo Onsen hot springs (in Ehime).
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KAGAWA
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Kagawa Prefecture is on the northern part of the island of Shikoku, facing Japan's main island and the Seto Inland Sea. It's known for being the smallest prefecture in Japan, by area, but at the same time Kagawa is called the "Udon Prefecture" thanks to its famous sanuki udon. Aside from Kotohiragu Shrine and Ritsurin Garden, the prefecture's small islands are popular, and Kagawa is full of unique destinations, like Angel Road. They say that if you lay eyes on Zenigata Sunae, a huge Kagawa sand painting, you'll never have money troubles ever again.
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KYUSHU
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Located in the most southwestern part of Japan, Kyushu (九州) is an island of 7 prefectures: Fukuoka, Saga, Nagasaki, Kumamoto, Oita, Miyazaki, and Kagoshima. The island's unique culture has been influenced by Chinese and Dutch trade, along with missionaries coming in through Nagasaki's port. Modern-day travelers love the lush natural scenery and fresh food, plus the natural hot springs found all throughout the area (thanks to volcanic activity)!
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FUKUOKA
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Fukuoka Prefecture has the highest population on the southern island of Kyushu, with two major cities: Fukuoka and Kitakyushu. Thanks to growing transportation networks, Fukuoka is more accessible than ever, and so are the many local attractions. On top of historical spots like Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine, travelers shouldn't miss Fukuoka's food scene, with motsu nabe (offal hotpot), mentaiko (spicy cod roe), and famous Hakata ramen―best eaten from a food stall in the Nakasu area of Hakata. Plus, it's full of all sorts of destinations for travelers, like trendy shopping centers, and the beautiful nature of Itoshima and Yanagawa.
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KAGOSHIMA
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Kagoshima Prefecture played a major role in Japan's modernization as a backdrop for famous historical figures like samurais Saigo Takamori and Okubo Toshimichi, who pushed Japan out of the Edo era and into the Meiji. Because of that, Sengan-en Garden is just one of many historical destinations, and when it comes to attractions Kagoshima has plenty: the active volcano of Sakurajima, popular hot springs Ibusuki Onsen and Kirishima Onsen, World Heritage Site Yakushima Island, even what Japan calls the "island closest to heaven," Amami Oshima. Kagoshima might be found on the very southernmost tip of the southern island of Kyushu, but there's plenty to see.
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OKINAWA
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The island chain of Okinawa (沖縄) makes up the southernmost tip of Japan, which is why it's also the most tropical area in the country. Thanks to a history of independence and totally distinct political and cultural events, Okinawa has a unique culture, and remnants of the Ryukyu Kingdom are still visible all over the islands. Food, language, traditional dress, it's all a little different! It's also said to be the birthplace of karate.
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