CONTENTS
Gundam fans, are you ready to make those Gunpla dreams finally come true? We’ve got all our Gunpla tools ready, and now it’s time to actually put one together!
Gunpla Unboxing & Prep
Ready to make Gunpla your new hobby? In the first installment of this little beginner's guide to Gunpla, we went over all the tools we'd need. This time, we're finally going to put the kit together! We'll be constructing a 1/144 Gundam Aerial, so let's get started, and open up that box!
The first thing you pull from the box will be a package of "runners" with all of the little Gunpla parts attached, and so our first step is to open that package up for inspection. Each of the runners inside is labeled for identification, usually using the alphabet (A Runner, B Runner, etc.) or a combination of letters and numbers (A1, A2, etc). To make things easier for yourself while you work on your model, you'll want to get all of the runners in order when you get them out of the box! If you don't mind spending a little extra on your Gunpla setup, you could even pick up some specially-made "runner stands," which help you efficiently organize your runners.
When removing your runners from the box and organizing them, make sure you check the instruction booklet as you go. When it comes to Gunpla, this little instruction booklet is the be all and end all. You won't get anywhere without it. The pages contain lists of the parts and where they are on the runners, so you can check to make sure your kit isn't missing any parts.
Start Putting Together Your Gunpla
If you've got your runners and your instruction booklet all laid out in front of you, it's finally time to start construction! Give the booklet a thorough read, and follow the instructions step by step to start putting things together. The first part of the process for each step is to check the runner label in the instructions, and cut off the parts you need for that step. As you do that, there are two things to keep in mind.
① Always use your nippers (wire cutters).
When you're removing the parts from your runners, your hands are a no-go. For the vast majority of Gunpla kits (except for special cases like EG/Entry Grade kits) the parts and runners are connected by bits of plastic called "gates," and this thin plastic is usually weak enough that you could easily rip the parts away. But pulling the parts off with your hands is a risky business – it's easy to accidentally leave holes or ugly marks on your model parts, leaving them looking far from perfect. (This can sometimes happen if you try to use everyday scissors as well, so purpose-made nippers are really your best bet.)
② Prepare your parts using a 2-cut process.
When you're cutting Gunpla parts off a runner, you'll be cutting the gate part, but if you're thinking you want to cut right up against the part, then hold your horses. First, you always want to cut it so that a little bit of the gate is still connected to the part, generally called a "nub" in English. These days you can find nippers that are so high quality that you can cut directly up against the part, but in most cases, doing so will leave a little white spot called a "gate mark" or "nub mark." The nippers are forcing the plastic in ways that just don't look all that pretty. To avoid the white spots on your parts, leave a little nub (about 1mm is fine) when cutting away from the runner. Then, go back to the part, and carefully align the cutting edge of your nippers where the nub meets the part for a clean cut that won't leave a scar.
Follow the Steps for Easy Construction
Now that our parts are all cleaned up with the 2-cut process and ready to use, let's move on to putting them together. As mentioned a while back in our intro guide for Gunpla beginners, Gunpla uses a "snap-fit" adhesive-free system, so the pieces fit together with a satisfying snap – no glue needed. The pegs pop right into the corresponding holes to keep everything together. And if you accidentally put the wrong parts together, there's no need to get frazzled, you just have to carefully pull them back apart. If you panic and start trying to force the pieces you might end up breaking them instead, so if you're having a really hard time getting the pieces apart without brute force, then you can just use a "parts opener" to help with the process!
And a little tip for the little pieces: sometimes Gunpla parts can get pretty small, so once you've cut them away from the runners you'll want to keep them all together while you work. And don't forget the little decal stickers either! When you're snipping the pieces away from the runners and snapping them together one after another, it's easy to zone out and go on full steam ahead. Remember to check the instructions for any stickers you might need to attach as you go.
Finish Your Gunpla
If you stick to the tips above and put together all the parts according to the steps in the instruction booklet, you'll have yourself a finished Gunpla model! Once you're done you can do whatever you want with it – keep the finished Gunpla on your desk to admire throughout the day, or take pictures of it in cool poses!
When you first start your Gunpla journey, the whole model-building process can take some time, but the more time and effort goes into the Gunpla, the stronger the sense of accomplishment you feel when you see the fruits of your labor! And don't sweat the small stuff. When you first start building Gunpla, you're bound to make a few mistakes, but if you can look past them and just aim for the goal of finishing your Gunpla, that's what's important!
In Conclusion
So, now that we've followed the Gunpla construction process from start to finish, how does it feel? In this article we've gone over the foundations of Gunpla, and if you use the tips above, soon enough you too will join the ranks of splendid Gunpla model makers! The kit used in this article is far from the only one available, so explore the wide variety of Gunpla kits currently on the market. If you challenge yourself with more and more complicated kits, you'll be able to polish your skills to perfection!
That's all for now, but look out for more tips in the future, including some techniques for intermediate and advanced Gunpla model makers!
For more info and updates from Japan, check Japankuru for new articles, and don't forget to follow us on X (Twitter), Instagram, and Facebook!
PROFILE
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!
COMMENT
FEATURED MEDIA
VIEW MORE・Accommodations for Odaiba Sightseers: Mitsui Garden Hotel Toyosu PREMIER ・住宿推薦 三井花園飯店 豐洲普米爾 ・오다이바 관광 맞춤 숙소: 미츠이 가든 호텔 토요스 프리미어 ・ค้างคืนที่ Mitsui Garden Hotel Toyosu Premier โรงแรมสำหรับผู้มาเยือน Odaiba #japankuru #odaiba #tokyo #tokyotrip #japantrip #japantravel #mitsuigardenhotel #mitsuigardenhoteltoyosupremier #tokyohotel #odaibahotel #toyosu #tokyoview #tokyobay #rainbowbridge #미츠이가든호텔토요스프리미어 #오다이바 #오다이바맛집 #오다이바건담 #오다이바해변공원 #오다이바야경 #오다이바온천
Nagano Prefecture is famous for delicious soba noodles, and in the city of Ueda, you can learn from the experts! Local aunties run this cooking class, teaching you everything you need to know to make your own delicious plate of soba noodles entirely from scratch. #japankuru #soba #sobanoodles #japanesefood #travelexperience #japan #japantrip #ueda #nagano #japaneseculture #japanexperience #daytrip #daytour #cookingclass #japanesecookingclass #上田市 #そば作り #소바체험 #우에다시 #나가노여행 #일본소바
Kuramae Shrine is known for its early-blooming cherry blossoms and its gorgeous golden mimosa blooms, making it a great sakura spot for travelers arriving in Tokyo a little early for the main cherry blossom season. It’s also tucked away in a neighborhood packed with trendy cafes and coffee shops. Kuramae is a lovely place to spend the day. 🌸☕️ ・ #japankuru #kuramaeshrine #kuramae #tokyo #tokyotrip #cherryblossom #cherryblossoms #mimosa #tokyocherry #花見 #蔵前神社 #ミモザ #桜 #東京 #Japan #日本 #일본 #Japon #ญี่ปุ่น #Japão #Japón #япония #japantravel #日本旅行 #日本旅遊 #일본여행 #japan_of_insta #japantrip #traveljapan
Local Japanese Favorites at the Okinawa Don Quijote ② Ohta’s Isan, the digestive aid of the Japanese people ・ ・ 2024唐吉訶德不可不知的好物推薦② 日本國民消化小幫手:太田胃散 ・ ・ 오키나와 돈키호테 숨은 꿀템2. 일본 국민 소화제! 오타이산 #japankuru #okinawa #donki #沖縄 #오키나와 #오키나와여행 #오키나와돈키호테 #일본쇼핑리스트 #오타이산 #일본소화제 #太田胃酸 #ohtasisan
Happy Valentine's Day from the Japankuru team! May your day be full of sweet chocolates and sweet nothings. 💕 Or, if you're like a rising number of women in Japan, take the opportunity to treat yourself! 🍫💝💆 • Find out more at Japankuru.com! (Link in bio.) • #japankuru #valentinesday #valentineschocolate #japanesechocolate #japaneseculture #バレンタイン #バレンタインチョコ #メリーチョコレート #Japan #日本 #일본 #Japon #ญี่ปุ่น #Japão #япония #japantravel #日本旅行 #日本旅遊 #일본여행 #japan_of_insta #japantrip #traveljapan #japan🇯🇵 #japanlife #igerstokyo #explorejapan #japanfocus #enjoyjapan #japantravelphoto
Japankuru Coupon: BEAMS fashion, accessories, lifestyle goods, and more! BEAMS 5% Discount Coupon ▶︎ Validity Dates: February 1 ~ February 29, 2024 ▶︎ Discount: 5% off all products in-store ▶︎ Usable At: BEAMS stores throughout Japan (all stores except BEAMS JAPAN Izumo and BEAMS JAPAN Nikko) ▶︎ Details: Please present this coupon page before payment to receive your discount! This coupon is also valid in combination with tax-free discounts/refunds for foreign tourists. (Tax-free shopping is only available at some BEAMS locations.) Some products may not be eligible for discount. ・ ・ ・ BEAMS - JAPANKURU優惠折扣券 BEAMS 2024年2月限定特別優惠券 店內全部商品95折 ▶︎使用期間:2024/2/1到2024/2/29 ▶︎使用範圍:日本全國店舖 ▶︎使用方法:結帳時請務必事先向店員出示本優惠券,若未出示本優惠券恕無法享有本優惠。本優惠券可搭配免稅優惠一併使用,但不排除特定門市無法使用本優惠券。此外,不排除特定商品不適用本優惠券。 ・ ・ ・ 「빔즈(BEAMS) x 재팬쿠루(JAPANKURU)」스페셜 할인 쿠폰 빔즈(BEAMS) 5% 할인 쿠폰 ▶유효기간: 2024년 2월 1일 ~ 2월 29일(한 달 동안) ▶︎할인율: 매장 내 전 상품 “5% 할인" ▶︎해당 매장: 일본 전국 빔즈 (BEAMS) 매장 (BEAMS JAPAN이즈모、BEAMS JAPAN닛코는 쿠폰 할인 대상 제외 점포입니다) ▶︎상세 내용: 결제 전 본 쿠폰 페이지를 제시하면 정가대비 5% 할인된 금액에 구매하실 수 있습니다! 본 쿠폰은 외국인 관광객들을 대상으로 하고 있으므로 면세 혜택(빔즈 일부 매장)과 별도로 추가 할인이 가능합니다. (일부 매장 및 제품은 대상에서 제외될 수 있습니다.) #japankuru #beams #beamsjapan #beamsginza #coupon #재팬쿠루 #빔즈재팬 #빔즈 #일본여행 #일본쇼핑 #일본쇼핑리스트 #銀座 #東京 #tokyoshopping #japankurucoupon