We right here at PC Gamer love a mech. Whether or not we’re a giant stompy battle hulk within the Battletech custom or one thing nearer to the Armored Core faculty of air-dashing, hover-skating conflict 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’re keen on (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 12 months and a half in the past, however as I write this, there are two displayed cell fits, three assembled fashions in bins, and one unopened package awaiting meeting in my field of regard. However should you’re prepared in 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 technique 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 current Cellular Swimsuit Gundam GQuuuuuuX anime. Usually itemizing at $22, the $18 package is what Bandai calls a “Excessive Grade” mannequin, certainly one of its mainstay 1/144 scale fashions that—whereas not as intricate because the costlier Actual Grade, Grasp Grade, and Excellent Grade kits—are nice entry factors for first-time Gunpla builders that also characteristic loads of element as soon as put collectively.
Fashionable Gundam kits characteristic totally snap-fit meeting; there isn’t any glue required. And whereas extra skilled builders usually add their very own finishes and detailing, the items come connected to runners which have been injection-molded utilizing completely different colours of plastic, that means there isn’t any portray mandatory until you need to get fancier with it.
You’ll, nevertheless, want some provides, and for these I am going to level you to USA Gundam Retailer, a stateside purveyor of Gundam kits and interest provides that is presently providing a 20% sitewide low cost by way of December 1 should you use the code “Thanks2025” at checkout.
Probably the most essential factor you may want in 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 should you 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 in all probability will not go away 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 reducing your items from their sprues. I simply use a trusty Xacto knife, however USAGS sells their very own interest knife, too.
You possibly can additionally go for a toolset just like the Apex Interest Device package, which incorporates each a pair of nippers and a interest knife, in addition to tweezers for delicate decal utility 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 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 acquired a backlog of kits to complete, however absolutely including a Sinanju Stein could not damage.
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 may nonetheless have extra time for reductions. Relatively than ending on December 2, it merely drops to a sitewide 15% low cost should you try with the code “Thanks1525”.
There are worse vices, in spite of everything. Now, should you’ll excuse me, I’ve acquired an RG Hello-Nu Gundam to ponder.
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