We right here at PC Gamer love a mech. Whether or not we’re taking a look at a giant stompy battle hulk within the Battletech custom or one thing nearer to the Armored Core faculty of air-dashing, hover-skating struggle machines, we’re an outlet greater than keen to say “wow, cool robotic.” For a few of us, it is a fascination that runs deep sufficient to bleed over into the bodily. In case you’ve discovered your self (or somebody you like (sorry)) wishing for a extra materials mecha pastime, Gundam plastic fashions—or Gunpla—will get you there.
A phrase of warning: Gunpla illness settles in quick. I solely constructed my first package a couple of yr and a half in the past, however as I write this, there are two displayed cell fits, three assembled fashions in packing containers, and one unopened package awaiting meeting in my visual field. However if you happen to’re prepared to your first dose of mecha-building mind poison—as mind poisons go, it is a fairly good one—there are some nice Cyber Monday offers to get you in your strategy to unsealing a contemporary set of runners to nip.
To begin, Bandai’s personal Cyber Monday deal is a 16% low cost on its HG GQuuuuuuX package at Amazon, that includes the flagship robotic from the latest Cellular Swimsuit Gundam GQuuuuuuX anime. Usually itemizing at $22, the $18 package is what Bandai calls a “Excessive Grade” mannequin, one in every of its mainstay 1/144 scale fashions that—whereas not as intricate because the dearer Actual Grade, Grasp Grade, and Excellent Grade kits—are nice entry factors for first-time Gunpla builders that also function loads of element as soon as put collectively.
Trendy Gundam kits function totally snap-fit meeting; there is not any glue required. And whereas extra skilled builders typically add their very own finishes and detailing, the items come connected to runners which have been injection-molded utilizing completely different colours of plastic, which means there is not any portray vital until you wish to get fancier with it.
You’ll, nevertheless, want some provides, and for these I will level you to USA Gundam Retailer, a stateside purveyor of Gundam kits and passion provides that is at the moment providing a 20% sitewide low cost by December 1 if you happen to use the code “Thanks2025” at checkout.
Essentially the most essential factor you will want to your first Gunpla package is a pair of nippers—or facet cutters—to snip your package’s items free from their runners. In case you’re beginning out, Bandai Spirits Entry Nippers are completely appropriate for HG kits. There’s loads of room for improve sooner or later if you happen to catch a nasty case of Gunpla fever, together with the fabled GodHand Nippers.
A pair of nippers is the one actual requirement for placing collectively a package, nevertheless it most likely will not depart you with the smartest wanting mannequin. It is a good suggestion to have one thing to trim or sand down unseemly bits of plastic flash leftover from slicing your items from their sprues. I simply use a trusty Xacto knife, however USAGS sells their very own passion knife, too.
You could possibly additionally go for a toolset just like the Apex Passion Instrument package, which incorporates each a pair of nippers and a passion knife, in addition to tweezers for delicate decal software and sanding boards for smoothing down blemishes—each of that are good to have.
That is simply scratching the floor. It begins with nippers and tweezers, however earlier than lengthy you are taking a look at Gundam Markers for panel lining and show bases for posing. Subsequent factor you understand, you are searching airbrushes and compressors as a result of the attract of a matte topcoat has grown too sturdy to disregard. And, in fact, USAGS has loads of precise fashions to browse, too. I’ve already bought a backlog of kits to complete, however absolutely including a Sinanju Stein could not harm.
If you have not pulled the set off on a robot-centric fugue state of wanton mannequin extra by the point USAGS’s 20% sale ends on December 1, you will nonetheless have extra time for reductions. Somewhat than ending on December 2, it merely drops to a sitewide 15% low cost if you happen to take a look at with the code “Thanks1525”.
There are worse vices, in any case. Now, if you happen to’ll excuse me, I’ve bought an RG Hello-Nu Gundam to ponder.
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