Gunpla Thread

[TheEvilShadoo]

I just built my first Gunpla, the RG Evangelion Unit-01. I think it looks pretty cool. I picked it up at a con a while back after deciding that I wanted to give model building a try. I'm a little unsure about how I feel about the building process. I kind of enjoyed it, but it was also quite repetitive and a little tedious at times. I found it kind of interesting because for example, I enjoy building a Lego set more than admiring the finished product, whereas here, it's exactly the opposite. Applying the decals at the end was an absolute PITA.

Anyone else here build Gunpla? I have come to learn from this experience that Gunpla => Gundam Plamo => Gundam Plastic Model, but Gunpla != Gundam because obviously an Eva is not a Gundam.

Pics below. Focus be damned—shot on iPhone™.

[Nsensei]

You're brave (or foolish) for starting out with a rg, but I've heard the eva kits aren't as bad as some of the earlier kits in the rg line. I'm not all that deep into the gunpla rabbit hole myself. I've only built a hg zaku 2 and a hg gerbera tetra, and am currently working on a mg zaku 2, but they're really nice models if you don't want to/don't have the tools to paint kits. Did you have proper nippers or did you go old school and use nail clippers to cut the sprues?

[TheEvilShadoo]

You're brave (or foolish) for starting out with a rg, but I've heard the eva kits aren't as bad as some of the earlier kits in the rg line. I'm not all that deep into the gunpla rabbit hole myself. I've only built a hg zaku 2 and a hg gerbera tetra, and am currently working on a mg zaku 2, but they're really nice models if you don't want to/don't have the tools to paint kits. Did you have proper nippers or did you go old school and use nail clippers to cut the sprues?

Why thank you. I figured (pun not intended) it was for the best to jump right in with something cool. The build wasn't terribly painful or anything, but it was mostly just time consuming probably in large part due to it being my first one. Sounds like you've got some nice builds yourself. I don't think I'm interested in painting kits—at the very least, not yet. I did happen to already have a nice pair of nippers. Used to used them quite often for clipping off ski tickets actually, but that's not so much the case anymore with the rise of RFID tickets.


I actually got one other kit too that I'm saving for a little later, the RG Burning (formerly God) Gundam kit. This one looks to be the more complex of my two kits, so it should make for a good rainy weekend activity.

[Nsensei]

I actually got one other kit too that I'm saving for a little later, the RG Burning (formerly God) Gundam kit. This one looks to be the more complex of my two kits, so it should make for a good rainy weekend activity.

I've heard that's a good kit. Rg kits are like fine glass sculptures, delicate but beautiful. I can't confidently say that I like painting more than building, but lately my appreciation for both has gone up, building is a therapeutic part of a model where you spend a lot of time and get to appreciate the molding and engineering that has gone into the kit. And then the painting part is where you get to release your creativity and think of ways to add subtle story into your model through damage and scratches.
Good luck on the build and be sure to post some pictures.

[Nsensei]

Workbench update 1.

This is my first mg kit and it's a kit that I've been looking forward to for some time. perticularly the pistons in the legs. I've decided to paint them black. It was between black, yellow or red and I chose the more boring option, but most likely the more realistic option. I've decided to paint up the inner frame with a two-tone grey scheme, which I hope will end up looking nice and not like the ms has a bunch of stripes. In the picture is only the right leg and feet parts. Painting the inner frame will take a long time since my planned modus operandi is primer->primer->main color->main color->one or two coats of clear. Aditionally I don't have more skewers than are in the picture so that will slow me down by a substantial amount. The current "deadline" is 5.9 when I will be at a model show where I hope to be able to bring this zaku all painted up to have a friendly "competition" with my friend who has also painted a zaku 2.



Originally I was thinking of painting the suit in the black tri-stars scheme from msv, but upon realizing I have enough red paint I decided to make Char's scheme.

There's still time though until I have to paint the outer armor, so if you people think the black tri-stars scheme or some other scheme is better I might reconsider.

Thus far the build has been relatively fun, though I haven't gotten to actually build the legs since I have to paint them first. One big flaw I'd say this kit has, is the amount of flash and seamline placement. The former issue is of course caused by the age of the molds and how many times the kit has been reprinted over the years.

If whoever is reading this thinks I should start my own thread with some builds and workbench updates, then send me a dm or reply to this post mentioning it and I might, but currently the only anime related kits I have are this zaku, a super messiah and a virtual-on 4 kit. Also in the closet is a painted masamune kit from fmdm, but I need to repaint him and that will take some time and a lot of motivation that I do not have right now.
I hope my rambling/long-form posts are entertaining to people, I'll probably continue with this format at least for non-response posts.