Anyone into gunpla - Japanophiles unite to share tips on painting our toys (GUNPLA IS FREEDOM)

[Baby Cakes]

These recent MG releases have me excited for the future of gunpla. Vidar and the Lupus Rex are on my wishlist for sure.

How many of you here actually paint? I don't have the space and haven't really had any ill feelings towards the base plastic. I do panel line, which for sure helps, but have been curious on setups.

I bought a magnifying lamp from a hardware store recently as well, the added light/lens combo has made cleanup easier on the eyes, the amount of "over cutting" has gone down.

Do most people final cut with a razor? Do you hold it in your hand or on a cutting surface? Personally I've "carved" away the nubs, which hasn't caused problems so far. Just having too be critical not too slice myself from rushing a bad angle.

I use a ~$150 airbrush station from Amazon. It's small, has an exhaust fan/hose that can adapt to a crack in a window, and you can fold it up akin to a briefcase for transport. It's great I just wish the fans were stronger. If the circuitry can handle it, I'd replace them myself.

My Plamokojo assembly station has a magnifier w/ light and an independent light bar. Really great if I'm away from home and don't want to make a mess (it has a trim catch tray under the mesh surface). Having a closer look at surfaces is great for minimizing unevenness while carving away nubs and sanding.

I do final cut with a razor until I break out my sanding sticks and/or paper. I think it's a pretty common practice.

 

[Space Police]

And second, a general announcement that various Seed Destiny HGs are getting a revive treatment, so expect better molds and articulation.

Let's hope this doesn't mean partsforming Saviour, Abyss, and Gaia. I hope Saviour gets a reprint sometime soon or a MG/RG if that's the case; it's my favourite Gundam precisely because it can transform into a Vic Viper-style starfighter. Saviour and Abyss can transform fairly simply as it is, but I wouldn't put it past Bandai to sacrifice transformation for articulation and colour separation. I'd rather they revived Calamity or original Duel since those don't need to transform. If they do an RG Saviour, I hope it looks as cool as this:

 

[King Dead]

Fuck yeah! I finally get to have GaoFighGar and Genesic! I am so happy and excited!

Remember that this is from an unconfirmed leak, so don't get too hyped right away. One thing that might count against it is that it mentioned an MG Barbatos Lupus Rex, and we had a Barbatos Lupus announced instead. That could just be a mistake on the leaker's part, either getting the kit wrong or using the wrong image, or it could mean that it's bullshit. I'm leaning towards legit, but I'd give it another announcement or two confirmed before calling it.

How many of you here actually paint? I don't have the space and haven't really had any ill feelings towards the base plastic. I do panel line, which for sure helps, but have been curious on setups.

I keep meaning to get in some practice with hand painting as I don't really have the space for an airbrush, I just haven't gotten around to it yet. I don't care too much about painting full kits at the moment, I'm more interested in learning how to paint details so I can get kits looking closer to the actual mobile suit and avoid using stickers altogether.

Do most people final cut with a razor? Do you hold it in your hand or on a cutting surface? Personally I've "carved" away the nubs, which hasn't caused problems so far. Just having too be critical not too slice myself from rushing a bad angle.

I used to, but I found side cutters to be so much easier. It's a little hard to get it perfectly flush, but I just use my Raser to sand down what's left. While I splurged on the GodHand Ultimate, there are cheaper options out there. Still, they've paid for themselves a hundredfold: no more gouged plastic from cutting too deep, faster nub cleanup, and most importantly, no finger damage.

I still keep my X-Acto knife around for nubs that are in awkward positions that the other tools can't reach, but those are rare. When I do use them, I do as you do, holding the part in one hand and gently slicing away bit by bit until it's close to flush. I tried doing it against my cutting mat before, but I found that to be kind of awkward to do so I stopped.

 

[crowabunga]

I'm getting back into Gunpla after helping a grandparent by building a Walther's kit for their train set: that Walthers kit was one of the most nightmarish plastic experiences I've had (short of almost choking on a LEGO as a child) thanks poor quality plastic, bad tolerances, and clearly degraded molds, and all for a price matching MG Gundam kits. Compared to that, Gunpla is so pleasant.

 

[Broken Talisman]

Greetings. I've been out of the Gunpla game for a while, but after an auspicious trip to a Hobby Lobby having a 40% off model kits sale I have scored an Alex 2.0 and Virtue. Before I started working on any MGs though I figured I'd finally put together my first HG. My little brother gave it to me as a "gift" after he accidentally ordered two. Unfortunately it's a little out of place as my entire collection is 1/100. Started with them as a kid and never tried anything else. It's a real shame they never put out a MG Origin Zaku/Command Zaku. The anti-ship rifle would look so cash in 1/100.

I've got a few suits to choose from as my next build. Wing Zero Custom ver. Ka, Epyon (I got the Sturm and Drang version for the bigass effect part), 00 XN Raiser, Astraea Type-F, and then Virtue and Alex 2.0 like I had mentioned before. I got cucked on a Vidar pre-order or I'd have it as well. If anyone has a suggestion on what to build next off that list feel free to let me know. My model building fate is in your hands.

 

[00R-Gundam]

Greetings. I've been out of the Gunpla game for a while, but after an auspicious trip to a Hobby Lobby having a 40% off model kits sale I have scored an Alex 2.0 and Virtue. Before I started working on any MGs though I figured I'd finally put together my first HG. My little brother gave it to me as a "gift" after he accidentally ordered two. Unfortunately it's a little out of place as my entire collection is 1/100. Started with them as a kid and never tried anything else. It's a real shame they never put out a MG Origin Zaku/Command Zaku. The anti-ship rifle would look so cash in 1/100. View attachment 7162460
I've got a few suits to choose from as my next build. Wing Zero Custom ver. Ka, Epyon (I got the Sturm and Drang version for the bigass effect part), 00 XN Raiser, Astraea Type-F, and then Virtue and Alex 2.0 like I had mentioned before. I got cucked on a Vidar pre-order or I'd have it as well. If anyone has a suggestion on what to build next off that list feel free to let me know. My model building fate is in your hands.

Nice looking Zaku. I would recommend Epyon or Astrea Type-F.


Also my nigga please clean your fucking keyboard.

 

[Broken Talisman]

Also my nigga please clean your fucking keyboard.

Shits is in my garage. It's a lost cause.

Edit: to respond to the important part, I was thinking Epyon myself. Always loved the human Zechs machine.

 

[Judge Dredd]

Finally had the hobby time to start building the kit I got ages ago. I built the head, but I have questions before I continue.

1. Is it normal for hairline gaps in the panels? When I hold it to the light, from certain angles I can see tiny little gaps. I'm not sure if filing down the pushfit studs or a little bit of plastic cement would fix those right up, but I thought I'd ask if this is normal.

2. Like regular minis, I snip from the sprue runner, carve off excess with a knife. This leaves a tiny white mark where the model attached to the sprue. Supposedly this means my clippers are blunt, old, and/or low quality. That the snip alone should leave a clean cut. A. Is that true? And B. Are expensive clippers like "godhand" worth it?

 

[Pod 042]

Finally had the hobby time to start building the kit I got ages ago. I built the head, but I have questions before I continue.

1. Is it normal for hairline gaps in the panels? When I hold it to the light, from certain angles I can see tiny little gaps. I'm not sure if filing down the pushfit studs or a little bit of plastic cement would fix those right up, but I thought I'd ask if this is normal.

2. Like regular minis, I snip from the sprue runner, carve off excess with a knife. This leaves a tiny white mark where the model attached to the sprue. Supposedly this means my clippers are blunt, old, and/or low quality. That the snip alone should leave a clean cut. A. Is that true? And B. Are expensive clippers like "godhand" worth it?

1.yes it's sometimes normal to have small hairline gaps, you can try filing down the studs to see if that helps but it could also be warping. If you're using plastic cement then I would just try to hold pieces together to close gaps or use a rubber band if the part is long and needs to be compressed.

2.if you're getting white marks on parts after snipping then off it's most likely due to your snippers being dull. The stress of the dull blade crushing the plastic instead of cutting it is what causes it. Get a good pair of model snippers, it doesn't have to be god hand any brand you can afford will be fine. Also you can treat the stressed plastic with a little bit of heat and some fine sanding sticks and get the original color back. (look for 600 grit and up to 1200).

 

[King Dead]

Finally had the hobby time to start building the kit I got ages ago. I built the head, but I have questions before I continue.

1. Is it normal for hairline gaps in the panels? When I hold it to the light, from certain angles I can see tiny little gaps. I'm not sure if filing down the pushfit studs or a little bit of plastic cement would fix those right up, but I thought I'd ask if this is normal.

2. Like regular minis, I snip from the sprue runner, carve off excess with a knife. This leaves a tiny white mark where the model attached to the sprue. Supposedly this means my clippers are blunt, old, and/or low quality. That the snip alone should leave a clean cut. A. Is that true? And B. Are expensive clippers like "godhand" worth it?

It's pretty normal to have very slight gaps, to the extent that you generally don't need to worry about them. When they're on display, you won't even notice them unless you're eyeballing them from really close. Some people do seam welding to remove them entirely, but that's extra work that also removes your ability to disassemble later if you find you made a mistake. Personally, I don't bother.

Standard procedure for part removal is to leave a nub when you cut off from the runner, then go back with a second cut with a finer tool like a side-cutter or a knife. This lowers the overall stress on the piece and reduces how much of a mark is left on the plastic. If you're shaving down the nub with a knife, it shouldn't leave much of a mark, though you still might get a little bit. Try rubbing it with your thumbnail, that typically helps to lessen the appearance of any stress mark. Sanding or filing will also help (insert my repeated recommendations for using glass files here).

As for whether expensive nippers are worth it, it's less about cost and more about having the right pair. Side-cutting nippers (like the God Hand Ultimate) have a single blade instead of two, which makes for a more delicate cut. You can use standard nippers for your initial cut, then swap to the side-cutters for the nub cleanup. I bought the Ultimate a few years ago, and it's more than paid for itself over the dozens of kits I've built since. It still cuts just as well as it did when I first got it, and I honestly use it for every cut I make, both initial and cleanup. As long as you make sure to use it properly (cut with the middle of the blade, avoid using the tip, don't use it on giant sprue connections, and be careful with clear plastic), it'll last a long time. It may be a big expense up front, but if you're planning on sticking with the hobby, it'll be worth it in the long run.

 

[LobsterBoy669]

Sanding or filing will also help (insert my repeated recommendations for using glass files here).

Side-cutting nippers (like the God Hand Ultimate) have a single blade instead of two, which makes for a more delicate cut.

Seriously, anyone who doesn't have either of these tools: get them. After trying a glass file and a pair of single blade flush cut nippers, I will never look back. I can not imagine ever building a Gunpla again without them.

 

[MS-09 DOM]

Seriously, anyone who doesn't have either of these tools: get them. After trying a glass file and a pair of single blade flush cut nippers, I will never look back. I can not imagine ever building a Gunpla again without them.

My usual "Toolkit" I use goes as follows, branding can vary but I'll include mine.

1 x Razer glass file
1x godhand nippers
1x side cutter
1x hobby knife / pole razer
Various sanding blocks (post glass file tidy)
1x wet rag (for plastic dust)

I'll usually cut on the further most sprue with my regular side cutters, flat side against the "wall". After the piece is free, I use my "Godhands" too clean up the remaining sprue.

Some kits (MGeX Strike) has some beautiful sprues, which I could simply slice away with a hobby knife. For all other kits, I cut the sprue away "near flush" than clean up with the glass file.

While using my glass file, I prefer a wet sand method, I'll wipe my file on the rag, file down the remaining sprue, then re wipe. I don't have enough room too have ventilated air, so the wet rag comes in handy.

Another thing I picked up, for my eyes, was a simple adjustable magnifying-lamp (I got mine from an auto shop). With this I'm able too get up close and personal with my work.

After the piece is cleaned up, I'll re wipe too clean up any residue, then set aside for next step.

 

[crayolasword]

I‘ve hade excellent results with the Stedi brand glass files. I think the set of four was like 16 bucks and come in a bunch of useful shapes.

 

[crowabunga]

I think I made a mistake picking an AC6 kit as one of my first to practice panel lining, so many greebles I can't ignore, I haven't even finished the torso, oh God the flash makes it look even worse

 

[Almighty Space Duck]

Just picked up these two kits-



The last time I built anything is 25 years ago when the only models that could be got were Gundam Wing series stuff from Argos. So did I fuck up? Also beyond the quote below are there any other must have bits? I might grab some of those metallic highlighter pens for detail work.

My usual "Toolkit" I use goes as follows, branding can vary but I'll include mine.

1 x Razer glass file
1x godhand nippers
1x side cutter
1x hobby knife / pole razer
Various sanding blocks (post glass file tidy)
1x wet rag (for plastic dust)

As for why I picked those, the red one looked really cool in the shop and the blue on, well, I wanted tax free but apparently that isn’t a thing in that store.

 

[An Ghost]

So did I fuck up?

Gouf custom is alright. I remember being annoyed by the orange bit in the chest piece coming loose. Bro is also extremely sleepy.

 

[MS-09 DOM]

Honestly @Almighty Space Duck ,"must haves" are just nippers and a sanding pad. Everything else is extra too make "life easier."

I started with just a pair of side cutters (different then nippers, both blades are cutting sides) and glued piece of sandpaper too a piece of rubber. It wasn't much, but it completed my first HG. Detail was atrocious comparing too now, but it's learning!

Your kits are fine, some earlier RG's (from what I read) can suffer the "flop", but aside that the world is your oyster. I still have only watched thunderbolt (not into anime tropes) but just enjoy building model kits.

Welcome to the fold, you're here forever

 

[Almighty Space Duck]

@MS-09 DOM I did grab some nippers. Looking at side cutters, they look to me like the same bog standard set of wire cutters that come in most toolkits, or am I missing something? As for the sandpaper, I guess a spread of high grits?
I might pick up a couple of the cheaper small models to do before starting on that red one just to get some initial failures/learning done as I don’t really want to make a shit job of it. I picked those two models up at the Kyoto Gundam store so I would really like to make a good job of them as they’re also holiday memories for me.

 

[LobsterBoy669]

Looking at side cutters, they look to me like the same bog standard set of wire cutters that come in most toolkits, or am I missing something?

Normal wire cutters are double bladed. Side cutters are a single flat blade and a little metal arm. Rather than snipping the plastic, they slice right through it cleanly.

Get yourself a pair and try them out, and I'm telling you, you'll feel the difference on the first cut.

 

[Almighty Space Duck]

Welcome to the fold, you're here forever

I think I am beginning to understand.
Went back to the Gundam store again today to pick up some of those metallic highlighters and found a queue outside. Being a bong I joined it and felt right at home. Turns out there are, I think, some new models released today?

I present, Police Zaku and GQuuuuuux.


And while I was at it I grabbed a couple of the other interesting looking models.


Then just to round it off I got this little thing so make a bunch of mistakes with while paining/building (see post above about not wanting to make shit of the nice models).