We right here at PC Gamer love a mech. Whether or not we’re taking a look at an enormous stompy battle hulk within the Battletech custom or one thing nearer to the Armored Core faculty of air-dashing, hover-skating battle 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. If you happen to’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 few 12 months and a half in the past, however as I write this, there are two displayed cell fits, three assembled fashions in containers, and one unopened package awaiting meeting in my field of regard. However for those who’re prepared on 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 solution to unsealing a contemporary set of runners to nip.
To start out, 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 Cell Go well with 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 Good Grade kits—are nice entry factors for first-time Gunpla builders that also characteristic loads of element as soon as put collectively.
Trendy Gundam kits characteristic 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 hooked up to runners which have been injection-molded utilizing totally different colours of plastic, that means there is not any portray essential until you wish to get fancier with it.
You’ll, nonetheless, want some provides, and for these I am going to level you to USA Gundam Retailer, a stateside purveyor of Gundam kits and pastime provides that is at present providing a 20% sitewide low cost by means of December 1 for those who use the code “Thanks2025” at checkout.
Probably the most essential factor you will want on your first Gunpla package is a pair of nippers—or aspect cutters—to snip your package’s items free from their runners. If you happen to’re beginning out, Bandai Spirits Entry Nippers are completely appropriate for HG kits. There’s loads of room for improve sooner or later for those who 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, but it surely 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 slicing your items from their sprues. I simply use a trusty Xacto knife, however USAGS sells their very own pastime knife, too.
You can additionally go for a toolset just like the Apex Pastime Instrument package, which incorporates each a pair of nippers and a pastime 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 already know, you are looking 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 received a backlog of kits to complete, however certainly 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. Reasonably than ending on December 2, it merely drops to a sitewide 15% low cost for those who try with the code “Thanks1525”.
There are worse vices, in spite of everything. Now, for those who’ll excuse me, I’ve received an RG Hello-Nu Gundam to ponder.
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