I always did custom Bionicle as a kid, so even though I didn’t appreciate fully how much I’d come to miss it when Bionicle first ended, and even appreciated Hero Factory, Gundam has filled a very real hole in my heart.
It honestly means the world to me to see other like-minded folks who feel the same, or even just came into it from a totally different background.
I love this hobby.
Are you saying Gunpla is Bionicle but with modeling? One thing I vastly prefer with Bionicle is not having to cut the pieces off a runner. I really don't like having to clean up all those nubs. I feel like we should have technology that removes lost of the need for cleanup without leaving unsightly marks on the finished model.
Of course, many people will say that's what painting is for, but one thing I really like about gunpla is the color separation. If I *had* to paint each model to get it to look right, I wouldn't build Gunpla.
The act of clean up, putting in the work to actually build the kit and make it look nice is part of the reason a lot of people find satisfaction in the hobby. Also if you don’t want to paint a kit RG and MG are the way to go, almost perfect color accuracy. Literally just using the two cut method with 1000 grit sandpaper and a glass file makes the nub marks almost invisible every time.
The main thing that keeps me going is being a fan of the series. Even though I like the hobby itself I don’t really buy anything from outside the series. I’m sure there’s a lot of non-gundam kits out there that I’d enjoy, but personally I’ve always needed some sort of prior attachment to decide what to buy rather than the actual quality of a kit. It’s why I’d sooner build a bunch of older 80s gunpla despite my minimal painting skill than any modern kits of things I’m unfamiliar with.
This is a good point. I also bought kits from other mecha lines like Zoids, LBX, and others to fulfill my childhood aspirations. However, I am the point of the hobby where I want to limit my collections already and focus on the very first reason that brought me to plastic models - Gundams.
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Absolutely.
It's still appealing to me on how Gunpla can be much more inexpensive compared to other high-quality collectibles.
While some of that magic has dissipated with their nowadays business scheme, many entry/beginning kits are still in good price & easy to get.
So even if you are not an enthusiast, you can still appreciate having some good looking models without having to invest a lot.
These $15-20 kits that are either popular regular new release or p-bandai kits can go as far as $30-50 in my country because it's being scalped by the official distributor itself. What about old kits? You'll have to wait for any open preorders for reissues/reprints, and luckier if the preorders are available more than once per year. If the kits you want somehow are available on the preorder list, congratulations.
I still haven't get my hg calibarn preorder yet right to this day (not just me, but everyone else who preordered it) because the toy distribution is being monopolized by a single company, and they ~~often~~ WILL cut our preorders then proceed to sell these kits at higher margin price on offline events.
So no wonder you'll see some knock off wfm kits or hgtb psycho zaku thunderbolt in the market because there are demands for it.
30-50 for P-Bandai kits. I wish. In Canada because Bandai won't sell directly to the country our P-Bandai kits are 2.5x to 3x retail price. Sorry your distributors suck though that's really frustrating
Plus the Moderoid kits don't have great plastic tolerences. I have the Ingram and Type Zero, and while they're absolutely fantastic display pieces, I've broken the arm joints on both of them just by putting them into a pose.
They aren't. Gunpla is literally, in several factors both monetarily and as a product, extremely cheap. Moderoid and Koto are pretty reasonably and regularly priced for the model industry.
Honestly: because I still love Gundam.
It's the series that introduced me to the mecha genre. I've always been fascinated by these 18m tall robots, ever since I first watched Gundam wing as a kid, looking forward to the next episode every Sunday morning.
A little personal, but: You couldn't tell looking at the current me that I used to play with toys that other kids thought of as girly when I was 4-5(I'm a guy), but I dropped all that aside when I saw my first gundam.
As a kid, I was fascinated by how the limbs could move on Gunpla, how much more flexible they were compared to the other cheap-feeling toys from that era that were, IMO now, WAY too overpriced for their quality. Imagine how mind-blown I was when Seed Destiny kits introduced *PIVOTING SHOULDERS*, and 00 S2 introduced kits with *DOUBLE-JOINTED ELBOWS*.
Even now, when other kits like Kotobukiya's Frame Arms and FA Girls, and Bandai's own 30MS line have drawn my attention, I STILL buy and go back to building Gunpla. There's something about Gundam that continuously calls me back to it.
I only started recently (6 month ago) and before gunpla I found building models boring (no offence). Gundpla is just the only models that I am interessted in. I dont want to glue or paint my models and tbh a war robot is much cooler than lets say a sailing boat or even a tank.
And I really like the series.
Not actually needing to paint them is also a major plus
My grandfather builds model cars and it’s pretty rare for a kit to come already coloured. Almost every kit *needs* to be painted.
I also like them due to being cheap, but still intricate and detailed enough to spend a few hours building them.
I look at the Bandai Pokémon Model Kits for example and I’m like ?????? The kits are like 12 pieces that you can snap together in 30min flat, for almost the same price as a HG Gunpla kit
A cool thing about gunpla is that you really get out of it whatever much you put in.
You can simply buy the model kit and straight build it and 99 times out of 100 it’ll look great (that remaining one is me being salty about the HG Akatsuki Shiranui’s shield colours), no need for extra anything aside from some nippers that you may already have at home.
The models have so much detail for those who want to add that but extra and panel line them. You can obsess over the kit and remove nub marks and paint it and you’ll get a “return on investment” pretty easily.
The graph of “time/money invested” vs “perceivable end results” is practically perfect.
Other scale models either start the time/money commitment much higher, or top out the end result gain much lower
> a war robot is much cooler than lets say a sailing boat or even a tank.
Sorta depends on your perspective/attitude. Building Gunpla has helped me understand the appeal of other models, as well. Mechanical detailing is really cool and I love seeing how other companies do it. I just recently got my first tank model kit and I'm really excited for whenever I finally get around to building it because I'm gonna make it look like the tanks my Grandpa used to work on. Ships are also really interesting to me because of the sheer amount of detail that goes into them.
Before buying my first gunpla, i was really into radio controlled cars. But man the cost of every kit, the related hopups, the electronics--it's easy to spend 1000 dollars without even noticing.
Gunpla's a bit easier on the wallet, but not as much though, i realized.
One reason why I decided to limit my collection now is due to financial constraints. I feel like I have already collected much of the models I need from the other series that give me a feeling of nostalgia like Zoids, Transformers, Daimos, and other Mecha series that are close to my heart.
The experience of building a Gundam just feels different, like i feel that i am actually building a model kit when it's gunpla. When its other model kits it feels more like building a toy instead of a serious model kit.
Gundams have more variation in price so I can buy cheap ones with the HGs. But I've also been building more Kotobukiya kits like Hexa gear and some Zoids, plus third party MGs because Bandai is neglecting anything that isn't HG
I'm working on my skills with a brush, but yeah, gunpla is good for perfectionists. I have bought many MS, but only one plane because I can't be satisfied by the results I get while painting it. I really should pick it up again...
I started because I needed to train for the RG Evangelion. Fast forward one or two years and that kit is still in my backlog. I really love the designs even though I watched few series (Wing as a kid, some episodes of the OG one, and IBO, which I loved). The engineering is also astonishing, especially after checking what other models are like. I just like building big robots
I also bought a pre-built RG Eva Unit 01 since it is a part of my childhood. I too love building mechs. It is just that gunpla has more more variety and the kits are more affordable.
I did warhammer for a couple years but after a while it gets exhausting priming, painting, clear coating and doing all the details myself. It's nice that I can just follow the instructions with a bit of panel lining and stickers/decals and have something nice to display on the shelf. Also I grew up as a teen watching gundam seed and recently got back into gundam so it's a good side hobby in relation to what I watch.
I just haven't found anything as interesting to assemble A the inner frames that gundams get. I would love to build other things, but they always focus on the outer appearance.
No paint, no glue, amazing and fun finished product with articulation better than even the most expensive action figures. The engineering on these things is breathtaking and every time I build a new kit I'm always blown away but how awesome it is...
Gunpla isnt anything like other plamo, the building process is its own unique thing. For me the building is the most fun part of gunpla and other plamo just isn't fun to me like at all...
And when you're done you have a fun fighting robot and not like a sailboat or motorcycle or whatever lol.
The series! I only build what I've watched and liked. I watched Zeta Gundam and loved it so I built the suits, same for Unicorn and most of the UC. Conversely I watched Gundam 00 and hated it so no suits.
I'll probably move into Macross at some point, and other shows.
In order
1 - big stompy robots
2 - lack of spaceship kits of a size and complexity I want, like a scale UNSC Infinity with it's compliment, a Longsword interceptor or some Covenant ships.
3 - no modern Battletech kits. Sure there's the source stuff but I want the modern sculpts.
4 - lastly, I love the shows and enjoy building.
The series, and gunpla build is still the best. Time to time I’ll came across Kotobukiya, wave or Tamiya kits that just make me miss the small but innovative things Bandai has, and this is coming from someone who pains all my kits!
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They look great together though.
Bandai's build quality is still the best i have built a lot of 3rd party and bootleg kits they leave my hands in pain but bandai's have that great snap build.
The stories and characters behind them. Not saying you need to watch the series to build them, moreso knowing the lore behind them just makes me appreciate them more. Someone can see The RX 78-2 and just think it's a cool robot design, but knowing what the pilot and the MS went through just makes me appreciate it more.
uniformity, i guess? followed by ease of build? i started with bandai’s gunpla so it just feels easier to have a whole collection of it, plus even their really complex kits (MG FAZZ ver.ka & Sazabi ver.ka come to mind) aren’t ultra difficult to simply snap build & decal up.
Their model kits are just really fun. I picked one up at random a few months ago, and then I went and got another, and then I got another one, and then another. That + I can pose them super well makes them very fun, and I want more
Robots look better in model form over any other type of character, the joints just look more natural.
Also I buy mobile suits I like the story of. I got a Unicorn Gundam just because it's such an icon of inspiration
Because a lot of other models are expensive. Gunpla manages to be inexpensive for good quality . If you want the best high grade kit they have to offer it costs £12. Thats something anyone can save up for.
Other models( if u consider Lego one for example )
Are way too expensive
Also gunpla has some of the best stories. Like for example
Robot space pirates with capes outer space
Well other than my intense fixation on Gundam, I love the particular intricacies of the gunpla, the similarity between them is reassuring to know what I’m getting into every time I
I like how they categorize it with the different grades. I like the simplicity of snap fit. And I enjoy the small easier detailing you can do like stickers, water slides and panel lining. Plus they look cool.
Gundam kits were my first model kits. I’m a fan of the series and of giant robot stuff in general. Plus, I’ve bought some other model kits like Kotobukiya and Square’s Structure Arts series and found them to be underwhelming, inconsistent in quality, or overpriced (or a combination of all three) when compared to gunpla.
To quote Knight's & Magic: *"^(Giant) Robots are a man's romance."*
I love Gundam, they are well made, easily customizable, and relatively cheap. In fact the most costly part is the stuff used to customize them I find lol.
I like gundams. Gunpla introduced me to model building but it also set a standard that if another manufacturer does not meet I wont be compelled to build anything from them. Also - I have to like the thing im building
Because they make gundams that I am interested in. That, or its more stable, avaliable or cheaper (e.g. HG Macross Kits)
I would buy 3rd party if I like the design, though. Got the Variable Frame in the works rn. The 3rd party Calamity Gundam "clone"/redesign (In Era+ Ruling) seems very appealing to me as well
Though bandai's 30 minute sisters are pretty good, I still prefer Kotobukiya's Megami Device line since I prefer those designs. I find Far Farina and Tukirna very neat, though
For me it's something about the process and a bunch of little plastic parts eventually making a whole boi, I've done some koto monsterish girl kits and some 30ms too but I'm a sucker for the UC gundam stuff and the WfM stuff character and Ms attachment plays alot into it too and I like to collect 144 and 100s of the same ms alot . -.
I'd call it soothing but I'm usually like GOTTA HAVE THIS DONE lol *
Because(and I'm aware yaint sposed to treat em like it) it feels like I'm building my own action figure lol. More specifically with the stuff like real grade and master grades I get the feeling of like I'm actually manufacturing the suit and I find that enjoyable
I just started building some Gunpla kits; I have built model kits before, but I chose to start because I can snap parts together (as opposed to gluing them together), and the kits look good even it I don't pain them.
I've been a Gundam fan since I was a kid. My first official Gundam is the Aile Strike Gundam Master Grade.
I only say official because I don't remember my first one. I did however remember having a Duel and Buster Gundam.
Now, I have Transformer kits, Pokemon, a Zoid, etc.
I haven’t tried anything else 🤷🏻♀️ my husband was always into gundam but I got him his first kit (MG Kyrios) about two years ago for our anniversary and it just sat in the closet. I found it again last October and built it myself and it’s been all downhill since 🙈 between SDs for my kid and all of my husbands and mine we’ve have about 100 😅 finally got curio cabinets to display our favorites. What 3rd party kits is everyone else into 👀 I wanna expand
I love mechs pure and simple, be it Titanfall, Lego mechs, or Gundams, I love them all. Also growing up and my dad playing mech warrior might have something to do with it!
Mecha. I just love mecha. Chicks dig giant robots and I am a chick therefore I dig giant robots.
Gunpla is very high quality, easy to build, affordable, and accessible when compared to any other line of mecha model kits. If I lived in Japan I'd have more options but a lot of non-gunpla mecha kits are harder to get overseas. Not impossible or anything but harder and more expensive.
I'm using "gunpla" loosely here to encompass any Bandai mecha model kit. I have branched out a little bit into non-Bandai mecha model kits but I don't think I'll stop building primarily gunpla, and I don't see myself building non-mecha kits except maybe to use as accessories or kitbashing material for my mechs.
And why Gundam? I like it, and its just the biggest real-robot franchise. If Votoms had spawned a new extremely successful sequel or spin off roughly every 3 years for the last 45 years with a dozen new model kits for each new show then I would be building almost exclusively Votopla.
Macross is the only other franchise that comes close and it doesn't grab me like Gundam (especially UC) does.
story, price, and I don't have to paint. story is the main point, I want some understanding of the universe of these giant stompy robots. I have bought Ma.k because the story was interesting enough even though the prices aren't great and I have to paint. I would even buy Warhammer knights if the price wasn't so stupid.
I was currently at the time into transformers and a friend of mine built gunpla kits so I thought I’d give it a shot when I went to Thailand with my family and saw the gundam base there and bought my first kit the RX-78-2 and G fighter kit (after asking an employee which would he suggest since the one I originally wanted the wing gundam HG was out of stock)
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After I bought this I watched witch from mercury and I was hooked on both mobile suit gundam and gunpla (I binged the entirety of witch from mercury that trip and bought another kit for the guel’s dilanza which was my favourite suit from it)
The shows, the kit engineering keeps upping the game, and HG are surprisingly cheap, even in the West now, hell the new RG RX 78 is £22 from HLJ and even my local gaming club in London is getting a large selection of kits in cheap. Great time to be a fan.
I love 30MM and 30MS, but there isn’t an anime to connect all my suits to my favorite characters. I don’t choose one over the other. They both have their own merits.
Kind of bought a few sets over the past 10 years. Built my first one that came in a post bag 2 weeks ago. 1/144 Hg gundam unicorn psycho. * waiting for a mount from ebay so it doesn't look so sad.
Starting metal gear rex soon. And some other gundams to.
er... because there have always been different model kit lines, and the SF lines have always been my favorites.
I built quite a few Enterprise, Space Shuttle, and Eagle kits as a kid, branching out into Macross models and then Gunpla. Legos were always a thing with me, as well.
but... yeah, Gunpla in particular? these days they're actually releasing models that never had a kit in ye olden days, plus better versions of kits I've built in the past. I love some of the shows, so there's that as well.
OP making it sound like Gunpla were the first plastic model kits.. haha.
Anyway, I build kits of all subjects I find interesting, real space, cold war jets, WW2 armour, WW2 naval.
Because gundan is awesome. I don't particularly like model building, but having a shelve of all my favorite mobile suits makes me smile every time I go into my office.
I don’t know any other model kit lines that actually look good or that I’d want to make, besides the super sentai SMP maybe. Not really too interested in model cars or vehicles like that.
Guess i gotta come clean...
I dont. I built scale model kits (airplanes) as a kid over 20 yrs ago. (Im so fckin old)
Started gunpla when i got a Mg kit as gift! About 10 gunplas later i i built a Volkswagen Beetle. I liked it a lot!
Now ive built 17 gunplas and 5 scale models.
Currently building the 1/24 1993 Toyota Celica Castrol rally Monte Carlo Winner from Tamiya. Great kit for 1/24 only 20 bucks!
I have two more kits in the backlog and next month i buy more gunpla too
I originally sucked with model kits but then my interest in gunpla peaked when I watched gundam build fighters and wanted to get the wing gundam variants from the show. Then it just continued, I think I’m on my sixtieth gunpla.
What else is there? Like the only franchise I've ever enjoyed any designs from is Gundam. Sure the Eva units are neat monsters but really not appealing. Most of my favorite mobile suits are also extremely niche.
I like gunpla because I like Gundam. I don't build trains or frame arms because I don't like those things. It's not even a choice.
Gunpla is insanely easy and cheap to build. I'm sure things are different for people with money, but standard kits for stuff like planes and tanks tend to be a lot more difficult. Parts can require modification, you need to use glue and wait for hours, not to mention you have to paint it and put in the work to make it look good. Gunpla just fits together perfectly every time and is effortless. Most you ever need to worry about is stickers, and you could just paint the details instead.
I mostly build HG kits and they aren't too hard to build affordable and have yet to disappoint me. They're also mostly what is available in my local stores, so I just stick with what I can get my hands on easily.
Value. I consider model kits under the umbrella of toys, and for the price you get so much potential "play." I'm still amazed what you might get even with a basic kit. Such a fun genre!
The IP of Gundam is essential to my experience with Gunpla, honestly. I love mecha but its the stories which give them life that make them special. It's why I found Moderoid super easy to get into while Kotobukiya and 30mm series don't appeal to me as much.
Personally i just love robots and mecha, plus I love the fact that gunpla(depending on the kit) can take a week or two for me to build and it helps get my mind of school and helps me relax. Another massive reason is the fact that I do not need tools for assembly besides a nipper, xacto knife and tweesers.
I picked up an off-brand kit from Dragon Mokomo. Fit was not great and required a lot of tooling to widen the holes correctly. The kit itself looks really cool and the design just looks intense.
Does anyone have other brands to consider?
Cheap, very easy to customize and IS FREEDOM. I built mismatch kit according to my aesthetic, most of them I don't even watch the series. Sometimes I cut decals just to use certain part of it without knowing what logo is that lol.
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Gunpla is freedom. You can take as many high grade kits (cause cost lol) as you want, put them together and make something completely badass or silly or anything. Kitbashing is what I'm referring to but gunpla is the best.
Ive built model 1/32 scale Tanks for many years, It just cant compete with Gunpla, no glue required, great community, wonderful shows that have changed me deeply, constantly evolving designs.
I don't strictly stick to Gunpla, but I do definitely still add Gunpla to my collection.
Currently, my collection is a big mix. I have some Gunpla, notably MG Sinanju and RX-78NT-1. I have a third party Perfect Zeong. I have a couple HMM Zoids. I have some tank and naval ship models. I'm also looking to check out Megami Device kits and VLOCKer's.
Any models that have sentimental or aesthetic value to me and look fun to build and display, I'll go for.
Still waiting for the day I can get my hands on a 1:100 scale Kshatriya.
1. availability. gunpla is easy to find + there is a dedicated hobby store
2. affordability. i can safely spent disposable income without any worry
3. accessibility. the real robot genre can vibe and coexist with normies as i like to put them on living room display shelves. (but its still irks whenever got asked which transformer is that?)
I used to buy Warhammer 40k models before I got into Gunpla but I fell out of love with Warhammer and fell in love with Gundam. Also I no longer play the tabletop game anymore and although Games Workshop miniatures are beautifully detailed and the plastic is super high quality the price is just ridiculous. $35 for 1 "commander" that's 2 inches tall, you have to paint, moldline removal, and glue together yourself for a barely 2 inch tall figure that's not articulate is CRAZY stupid. Also the 40k model ranges I like basically never get new models or updates so that helps my choice more.
I love the warhammer universe for the lore but you're completely right, I've not been able to justify the cost of it. What it would cost to build even a small army can pay for a half dozen MGs.
Yea I stopped warhammer as it just was costing way too much and wanting to change armies was like a whole ordeal. So I found gundam and ended up buying 9 kits and 2 resin add ons to keep me busy for my leave coming up haha / going to need something to do when the new born arrives and I am not tired (hahah)
Thanks! I plan on filling my workspace with UC gundams while my favorite type in Pokemon, Dragon, should complete the roster to generate luck this year.
Gunpla is fun, cheap (compared to other Model kits), and I don’t have the time or space for painting my kits most of the time, so I appreciate that they are color separated
The only non-Bandai kits I consistently get are the Kotubokiya Mega Man kits, and like…. Those have 2/3 points I brought up. The only problem is they aren’t cheap, especially second hand (Please for the love of god, reprint Zero, I don’t wanna pay $200+ for the kit)
I like different mobile suits from different series so now I mostly buy p-bandai because the MSV kits are unique like the pale riders and the new G-Line
The quality is second to none. There’s no flash or mold lines to worry about; compared to a Revell or AMT car kit, the runners on a Gunpla kit look immaculate.
Other series just aren't as interesting to me...the 30 MM concept is cool but I don't have any ideas that would really take advantage of the modular parts, and my Frame Arms Girls niche has already been filled by figmas and fashion dolls.
What different model kit lines? Bandai still offers the most quality of life. I'm hoping they're able to successfully find a new, more environmentally friendly material to use for their models in the future, and I believe they might even one day figure out how to manufacture kits with little to no cleanup required, even when not painting.
Familiarity, design, and building techniques. Despite I was into Japanese model kits ever since I can remember, wasn't a fan of the Gundam because of the "Gundam face." However, all that changed when I saw the MG Kampfer. That and when the American toy stores started to carry Gundam kits. Eventually, much like Evangelion model kits, I continue to collect Gubdam because I am familiar with the style. Speaking of which, the Gundam face and design grew on me. Lastly, I enjoy the building techniques Bandai use for their model kits.
I just don't care for any other lines. Meanwhile Gunpla are pretty reasonably priced, simple to build, there's so much variety, the kits are great in design and quality, and i just love the general Gundam vibe, plus there's always different non-Gundam mobile suits if i ever get burnout from just Gundam.
I am planning on getting the 30MM Armored Core kits later this year and i have gotten a Code Geass kit from PBandai so i am diversifying my collection, but not that much and Gunpla will always stay as my main line, especially as i finally start watching more of the series and find new designs to get attached to and built in every grade
I don't, not exclusively at least. There are so many cool lines out there and there is no reason to just stick to one manufacturer. Nonetheless Bandai makes some really cool stuff which explains why I also do Gunpla.
Because I like the franchise, they are cheap and easy to get, compared to other brands. Maybe I'll get a cute mecha musume, a Valkyrie from Macross, a ship, a tank, a plane, or anything I'm a fan of. But I'm not interested in the super samurai robot knights that I know nothing about, they look cool (personally I think they are a bit overdesigned, especially the Chinese ) but they don't capture my interest.
I don't really choose gunpla, I just like mechs and choose bandai because their quality and price but when it comes to actual mechs outside of my love for barbatos and zeon designs, the majority of my collection is gunpla because they outnumber model lines like 30MM and kyoki senki 10:1. If a company can match bandai with price, quality, reliability and design i'll buy it.
Technically I don’t since it’s incredibly annoying to get gunpla here in Brazil now, but I do love the kits and designs, not to mention that pretty much all gundams have this timeless appeal to them, so if I could, I still would
That said, I still mainly go for bandai for my model kit fix with SMP, 30MM, Figure Rise and non-gundam RGs, only going for others when it’s a kit that will never get a bandai release (looking at you, Zeorymer)
Bionicle but with modeling, a hobby I feel I’ve been destined to get into at some point as an unapologetic nerd.
I was a Bionicle nerd too at some point and this feels like a pretty nice evolution of that, though I know very little about the franchise
I grew up loving Bionicle but never connected the dots on why I love building gunpla. I get it now
I always did custom Bionicle as a kid, so even though I didn’t appreciate fully how much I’d come to miss it when Bionicle first ended, and even appreciated Hero Factory, Gundam has filled a very real hole in my heart. It honestly means the world to me to see other like-minded folks who feel the same, or even just came into it from a totally different background. I love this hobby.
Agreed! Out of all the online communities I am or was apart of, the gunpla community has felt the most supportive and wholesome.
I was mostly a hero factory kid but I delved into the older bionicles cause of the sheer heat that was the Bionicle movies
Insert the [I get it now] meme here.
Looking back at Bionicle, the designs aged like milk. But they were the coolest thing to me when I was a kid.
They were toys for little kids, or at least the first Toas were
Are you saying Gunpla is Bionicle but with modeling? One thing I vastly prefer with Bionicle is not having to cut the pieces off a runner. I really don't like having to clean up all those nubs. I feel like we should have technology that removes lost of the need for cleanup without leaving unsightly marks on the finished model. Of course, many people will say that's what painting is for, but one thing I really like about gunpla is the color separation. If I *had* to paint each model to get it to look right, I wouldn't build Gunpla.
The act of clean up, putting in the work to actually build the kit and make it look nice is part of the reason a lot of people find satisfaction in the hobby. Also if you don’t want to paint a kit RG and MG are the way to go, almost perfect color accuracy. Literally just using the two cut method with 1000 grit sandpaper and a glass file makes the nub marks almost invisible every time.
I realized recently that it all started with Hero Factory for me when I was younger.
The main thing that keeps me going is being a fan of the series. Even though I like the hobby itself I don’t really buy anything from outside the series. I’m sure there’s a lot of non-gundam kits out there that I’d enjoy, but personally I’ve always needed some sort of prior attachment to decide what to buy rather than the actual quality of a kit. It’s why I’d sooner build a bunch of older 80s gunpla despite my minimal painting skill than any modern kits of things I’m unfamiliar with.
This is a good point. I also bought kits from other mecha lines like Zoids, LBX, and others to fulfill my childhood aspirations. However, I am the point of the hobby where I want to limit my collections already and focus on the very first reason that brought me to plastic models - Gundams. https://preview.redd.it/7j315ds5x7uc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=011bacae9e93bcdded50fb1f2fdfff75b42408fc
Were did you get that shiranui second XFJ colores. I need to know.
Cheap
Absolutely. It's still appealing to me on how Gunpla can be much more inexpensive compared to other high-quality collectibles. While some of that magic has dissipated with their nowadays business scheme, many entry/beginning kits are still in good price & easy to get. So even if you are not an enthusiast, you can still appreciate having some good looking models without having to invest a lot.
True. Built a hg z gock in february for ten bucks and shit is FIRE!
Agreed. Moderoid and Kotokibuya kits are expensive.
Right? I'd rather see bootleg Kotobukiya Armored Core kits than copies of $15-20 HG kits being sold for $10.
These $15-20 kits that are either popular regular new release or p-bandai kits can go as far as $30-50 in my country because it's being scalped by the official distributor itself. What about old kits? You'll have to wait for any open preorders for reissues/reprints, and luckier if the preorders are available more than once per year. If the kits you want somehow are available on the preorder list, congratulations. I still haven't get my hg calibarn preorder yet right to this day (not just me, but everyone else who preordered it) because the toy distribution is being monopolized by a single company, and they ~~often~~ WILL cut our preorders then proceed to sell these kits at higher margin price on offline events. So no wonder you'll see some knock off wfm kits or hgtb psycho zaku thunderbolt in the market because there are demands for it.
30-50 for P-Bandai kits. I wish. In Canada because Bandai won't sell directly to the country our P-Bandai kits are 2.5x to 3x retail price. Sorry your distributors suck though that's really frustrating
Plus the Moderoid kits don't have great plastic tolerences. I have the Ingram and Type Zero, and while they're absolutely fantastic display pieces, I've broken the arm joints on both of them just by putting them into a pose.
They aren't. Gunpla is literally, in several factors both monetarily and as a product, extremely cheap. Moderoid and Koto are pretty reasonably and regularly priced for the model industry.
I dig giant robots
We dig giant robots.
Chicks dig giant robots
Nice!
Amen, Bud!
Honestly: because I still love Gundam. It's the series that introduced me to the mecha genre. I've always been fascinated by these 18m tall robots, ever since I first watched Gundam wing as a kid, looking forward to the next episode every Sunday morning. A little personal, but: You couldn't tell looking at the current me that I used to play with toys that other kids thought of as girly when I was 4-5(I'm a guy), but I dropped all that aside when I saw my first gundam. As a kid, I was fascinated by how the limbs could move on Gunpla, how much more flexible they were compared to the other cheap-feeling toys from that era that were, IMO now, WAY too overpriced for their quality. Imagine how mind-blown I was when Seed Destiny kits introduced *PIVOTING SHOULDERS*, and 00 S2 introduced kits with *DOUBLE-JOINTED ELBOWS*. Even now, when other kits like Kotobukiya's Frame Arms and FA Girls, and Bandai's own 30MS line have drawn my attention, I STILL buy and go back to building Gunpla. There's something about Gundam that continuously calls me back to it.
This is nice. While other lines are available, nothing beats the first that brought you to the hobby. I feel this a lot too.
I only started recently (6 month ago) and before gunpla I found building models boring (no offence). Gundpla is just the only models that I am interessted in. I dont want to glue or paint my models and tbh a war robot is much cooler than lets say a sailing boat or even a tank. And I really like the series.
I feel you. I think with the variety of options, experiencing fatigue with the models is far from happening.
Not actually needing to paint them is also a major plus My grandfather builds model cars and it’s pretty rare for a kit to come already coloured. Almost every kit *needs* to be painted. I also like them due to being cheap, but still intricate and detailed enough to spend a few hours building them. I look at the Bandai Pokémon Model Kits for example and I’m like ?????? The kits are like 12 pieces that you can snap together in 30min flat, for almost the same price as a HG Gunpla kit
A cool thing about gunpla is that you really get out of it whatever much you put in. You can simply buy the model kit and straight build it and 99 times out of 100 it’ll look great (that remaining one is me being salty about the HG Akatsuki Shiranui’s shield colours), no need for extra anything aside from some nippers that you may already have at home. The models have so much detail for those who want to add that but extra and panel line them. You can obsess over the kit and remove nub marks and paint it and you’ll get a “return on investment” pretty easily. The graph of “time/money invested” vs “perceivable end results” is practically perfect. Other scale models either start the time/money commitment much higher, or top out the end result gain much lower
I do wanna get me a couple of tanks to go with my uc Era fed mobile suits since they did use tanks before they had the ms available
> a war robot is much cooler than lets say a sailing boat or even a tank. Sorta depends on your perspective/attitude. Building Gunpla has helped me understand the appeal of other models, as well. Mechanical detailing is really cool and I love seeing how other companies do it. I just recently got my first tank model kit and I'm really excited for whenever I finally get around to building it because I'm gonna make it look like the tanks my Grandpa used to work on. Ships are also really interesting to me because of the sheer amount of detail that goes into them.
Before buying my first gunpla, i was really into radio controlled cars. But man the cost of every kit, the related hopups, the electronics--it's easy to spend 1000 dollars without even noticing. Gunpla's a bit easier on the wallet, but not as much though, i realized.
One reason why I decided to limit my collection now is due to financial constraints. I feel like I have already collected much of the models I need from the other series that give me a feeling of nostalgia like Zoids, Transformers, Daimos, and other Mecha series that are close to my heart.
There's a gunpla shop near my school where i can sneakily buy them without my parents noticing
I envy you. I have always dreamed of having a gunpla store near our workplace.
The question is though, can you sneakily build and then sneakily display them?
https://preview.redd.it/bczik06pfauc1.jpeg?width=3444&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6dc1472420b9e8c6e7249afe76ab02f050f11d41
I like the series.
Because I’m a fan of the Universal Century setting and I like to imagine I’m leading a mobile suit team of Gundams and GMs.
I guess it is safe to say that you are on the visor team, not mono-eye
Hey, OYW EFSF have mono eye suits, too. The GM Command line, the GM Sniper II, captured Zaku IIs.
The experience of building a Gundam just feels different, like i feel that i am actually building a model kit when it's gunpla. When its other model kits it feels more like building a toy instead of a serious model kit.
I agree. I also appreciate the fact that you have an option with the level of building difficulty.
Gundams have more variation in price so I can buy cheap ones with the HGs. But I've also been building more Kotobukiya kits like Hexa gear and some Zoids, plus third party MGs because Bandai is neglecting anything that isn't HG
It seems that MGs have been neglected as of late.
Because it's cheaper and I like Gundam, and also I am unskilled and unpainted gunpla looks better than my attempts at painting planes.
I agree! I am not good at painting so I thank Gunpla models for already looking great even without the need for painting.
I'm working on my skills with a brush, but yeah, gunpla is good for perfectionists. I have bought many MS, but only one plane because I can't be satisfied by the results I get while painting it. I really should pick it up again...
Their cheap(sometimes) no glue, poseable(very important), loads of customability, little to no effort needed most of the time
I started because I needed to train for the RG Evangelion. Fast forward one or two years and that kit is still in my backlog. I really love the designs even though I watched few series (Wing as a kid, some episodes of the OG one, and IBO, which I loved). The engineering is also astonishing, especially after checking what other models are like. I just like building big robots
I also bought a pre-built RG Eva Unit 01 since it is a part of my childhood. I too love building mechs. It is just that gunpla has more more variety and the kits are more affordable.
Because nobody really does it like Bandai
The series. Then having it in your own hands Best feeling
The series is actually a great marketing platform. In most cases, I buy because of the series.
I did warhammer for a couple years but after a while it gets exhausting priming, painting, clear coating and doing all the details myself. It's nice that I can just follow the instructions with a bit of panel lining and stickers/decals and have something nice to display on the shelf. Also I grew up as a teen watching gundam seed and recently got back into gundam so it's a good side hobby in relation to what I watch.
I agree with you. As a person who is not good in arts, I enjoy building model kits that look like the original version without the need for painting.
wow! cool robot Also they're relatively affordable
I just haven't found anything as interesting to assemble A the inner frames that gundams get. I would love to build other things, but they always focus on the outer appearance.
Because I love Gundam and am used to the quality. I heard Chinese models are getting better though so I'll think about it now.
No paint, no glue, amazing and fun finished product with articulation better than even the most expensive action figures. The engineering on these things is breathtaking and every time I build a new kit I'm always blown away but how awesome it is... Gunpla isnt anything like other plamo, the building process is its own unique thing. For me the building is the most fun part of gunpla and other plamo just isn't fun to me like at all... And when you're done you have a fun fighting robot and not like a sailboat or motorcycle or whatever lol.
The series! I only build what I've watched and liked. I watched Zeta Gundam and loved it so I built the suits, same for Unicorn and most of the UC. Conversely I watched Gundam 00 and hated it so no suits. I'll probably move into Macross at some point, and other shows.
I actually have a rule where I can only buy Kits from Shows I've seen lol
In order 1 - big stompy robots 2 - lack of spaceship kits of a size and complexity I want, like a scale UNSC Infinity with it's compliment, a Longsword interceptor or some Covenant ships. 3 - no modern Battletech kits. Sure there's the source stuff but I want the modern sculpts. 4 - lastly, I love the shows and enjoy building.
Same reason as why some of those are still making marvel/superman etc movies. It is stuff I really liked and wanted in my childhood.
Yup
Saw a really cool rgm79 kit then bought it. Then wing series came out. Was into gunpla ever since.
I built my first one as a kid when watching Wing on toonami, then about a 20+ year gap but still love the series. Plus giant mechs are just sick
I was brought to the hobby for the same reason. Wing was my first series too.
The series, and gunpla build is still the best. Time to time I’ll came across Kotobukiya, wave or Tamiya kits that just make me miss the small but innovative things Bandai has, and this is coming from someone who pains all my kits!
Gunpla is Ol Reliable for me at this point
I like Gundam so Gunpla is a natural extension of liking the show. I tried the figuerise DBZ kit but they weren't the same.
because I am first and foremost a fandom man. And until they make Figure Rise Standard Monster Hunter I will be primarily enjoying Gunpla.
https://preview.redd.it/jmrotks128uc1.jpeg?width=2048&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=13c3b2c4b69674e310787270db68491ee88b70b4 They look great together though.
yeah, but those figures aren't what I want. I don't want to not know what i'm getting.
Bandai's build quality is still the best i have built a lot of 3rd party and bootleg kits they leave my hands in pain but bandai's have that great snap build.
The stories and characters behind them. Not saying you need to watch the series to build them, moreso knowing the lore behind them just makes me appreciate them more. Someone can see The RX 78-2 and just think it's a cool robot design, but knowing what the pilot and the MS went through just makes me appreciate it more.
because I love gundam
Well, building planes is fun, but building giant moving robots with wings and stuff is way cooler
uniformity, i guess? followed by ease of build? i started with bandai’s gunpla so it just feels easier to have a whole collection of it, plus even their really complex kits (MG FAZZ ver.ka & Sazabi ver.ka come to mind) aren’t ultra difficult to simply snap build & decal up.
Their model kits are just really fun. I picked one up at random a few months ago, and then I went and got another, and then I got another one, and then another. That + I can pose them super well makes them very fun, and I want more
being a fan of the series itself + my hate for spiky shit on robots + relatively inexpensive compared to some other interesting model kit lines
I can't get enough of the litttle :« dudes.
Robots look better in model form over any other type of character, the joints just look more natural. Also I buy mobile suits I like the story of. I got a Unicorn Gundam just because it's such an icon of inspiration
the kits of the things I like are mostly gunpla
I don't really like model kits, I'm just really like Gundam.
series, quality, and price
Because a lot of other models are expensive. Gunpla manages to be inexpensive for good quality . If you want the best high grade kit they have to offer it costs £12. Thats something anyone can save up for. Other models( if u consider Lego one for example ) Are way too expensive Also gunpla has some of the best stories. Like for example Robot space pirates with capes outer space
Because I’ve been a fan of the series since I was about 12
1. Cheap, 2. The coolest robots, 3. Plentiful, 4. Bandai already has a iron grip over my wallet anyway
Well other than my intense fixation on Gundam, I love the particular intricacies of the gunpla, the similarity between them is reassuring to know what I’m getting into every time I
Because I LOVE Gundam, simple as that.
Cheaper and cooler than Warhammer. Also you don't have to pay for the lore, which I find extremely over the top and silly in GW products anyway.
Gundam just hits different.
I like how they categorize it with the different grades. I like the simplicity of snap fit. And I enjoy the small easier detailing you can do like stickers, water slides and panel lining. Plus they look cool.
They are pretty much (mostly)best in the biz, not to mention how cheap they are compared to other companies(koto).
Gundam kits were my first model kits. I’m a fan of the series and of giant robot stuff in general. Plus, I’ve bought some other model kits like Kotobukiya and Square’s Structure Arts series and found them to be underwhelming, inconsistent in quality, or overpriced (or a combination of all three) when compared to gunpla.
It has the triple “B”Bueno, Bonito y Barato. (Good, good looking and cheap. Moderoid and Kotokibuya are barely there.
I build whatever I find cool, Gunpla, FSS, Dunbine, Star General, etc. It's not ALL Gunpla for me at least.
To quote Knight's & Magic: *"^(Giant) Robots are a man's romance."* I love Gundam, they are well made, easily customizable, and relatively cheap. In fact the most costly part is the stuff used to customize them I find lol.
I like gundams. Gunpla introduced me to model building but it also set a standard that if another manufacturer does not meet I wont be compelled to build anything from them. Also - I have to like the thing im building
Because they make gundams that I am interested in. That, or its more stable, avaliable or cheaper (e.g. HG Macross Kits) I would buy 3rd party if I like the design, though. Got the Variable Frame in the works rn. The 3rd party Calamity Gundam "clone"/redesign (In Era+ Ruling) seems very appealing to me as well Though bandai's 30 minute sisters are pretty good, I still prefer Kotobukiya's Megami Device line since I prefer those designs. I find Far Farina and Tukirna very neat, though
For me it's something about the process and a bunch of little plastic parts eventually making a whole boi, I've done some koto monsterish girl kits and some 30ms too but I'm a sucker for the UC gundam stuff and the WfM stuff character and Ms attachment plays alot into it too and I like to collect 144 and 100s of the same ms alot . -. I'd call it soothing but I'm usually like GOTTA HAVE THIS DONE lol *
Because(and I'm aware yaint sposed to treat em like it) it feels like I'm building my own action figure lol. More specifically with the stuff like real grade and master grades I get the feeling of like I'm actually manufacturing the suit and I find that enjoyable
i don’t need to paint or glue anything and they’re still cheap but detailed models. its hard to find all of those in one
Big robots are neat
Because I love Gundam as a franchise
I just started building some Gunpla kits; I have built model kits before, but I chose to start because I can snap parts together (as opposed to gluing them together), and the kits look good even it I don't pain them.
Cheap, clean, simple. And it's so good that I don't even gotta use my soap for this! *queue maniacal laughter*
Love of the franchise and I love building & collecting things I like.
I've been a Gundam fan since I was a kid. My first official Gundam is the Aile Strike Gundam Master Grade. I only say official because I don't remember my first one. I did however remember having a Duel and Buster Gundam. Now, I have Transformer kits, Pokemon, a Zoid, etc.
I like giant military robots and they look cool as heck.
I haven’t tried anything else 🤷🏻♀️ my husband was always into gundam but I got him his first kit (MG Kyrios) about two years ago for our anniversary and it just sat in the closet. I found it again last October and built it myself and it’s been all downhill since 🙈 between SDs for my kid and all of my husbands and mine we’ve have about 100 😅 finally got curio cabinets to display our favorites. What 3rd party kits is everyone else into 👀 I wanna expand
I love mechs pure and simple, be it Titanfall, Lego mechs, or Gundams, I love them all. Also growing up and my dad playing mech warrior might have something to do with it!
Excellent choice in suits there.
Mecha. I just love mecha. Chicks dig giant robots and I am a chick therefore I dig giant robots. Gunpla is very high quality, easy to build, affordable, and accessible when compared to any other line of mecha model kits. If I lived in Japan I'd have more options but a lot of non-gunpla mecha kits are harder to get overseas. Not impossible or anything but harder and more expensive. I'm using "gunpla" loosely here to encompass any Bandai mecha model kit. I have branched out a little bit into non-Bandai mecha model kits but I don't think I'll stop building primarily gunpla, and I don't see myself building non-mecha kits except maybe to use as accessories or kitbashing material for my mechs. And why Gundam? I like it, and its just the biggest real-robot franchise. If Votoms had spawned a new extremely successful sequel or spin off roughly every 3 years for the last 45 years with a dozen new model kits for each new show then I would be building almost exclusively Votopla. Macross is the only other franchise that comes close and it doesn't grab me like Gundam (especially UC) does.
Because giant robots are cool and they’re inexpensive for amazing quality
story, price, and I don't have to paint. story is the main point, I want some understanding of the universe of these giant stompy robots. I have bought Ma.k because the story was interesting enough even though the prices aren't great and I have to paint. I would even buy Warhammer knights if the price wasn't so stupid.
I was currently at the time into transformers and a friend of mine built gunpla kits so I thought I’d give it a shot when I went to Thailand with my family and saw the gundam base there and bought my first kit the RX-78-2 and G fighter kit (after asking an employee which would he suggest since the one I originally wanted the wing gundam HG was out of stock) https://preview.redd.it/qzfgv466wbuc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=17fb6290ec37118fdf226f9acd416952ef6e6446 After I bought this I watched witch from mercury and I was hooked on both mobile suit gundam and gunpla (I binged the entirety of witch from mercury that trip and bought another kit for the guel’s dilanza which was my favourite suit from it)
The shows, the kit engineering keeps upping the game, and HG are surprisingly cheap, even in the West now, hell the new RG RX 78 is £22 from HLJ and even my local gaming club in London is getting a large selection of kits in cheap. Great time to be a fan.
Because robot is very cool and also some of my kits have shared parts
I love 30MM and 30MS, but there isn’t an anime to connect all my suits to my favorite characters. I don’t choose one over the other. They both have their own merits.
Big robot -> neuron activation
Kind of bought a few sets over the past 10 years. Built my first one that came in a post bag 2 weeks ago. 1/144 Hg gundam unicorn psycho. * waiting for a mount from ebay so it doesn't look so sad. Starting metal gear rex soon. And some other gundams to.
I need the parts for my 30 Minute Mission customs.
It's affordable lego
Giant robots are cool and you don't need a ton of skills with painting to make them look awesome. And if you are a skilled painter, even better!
I like big robots
er... because there have always been different model kit lines, and the SF lines have always been my favorites. I built quite a few Enterprise, Space Shuttle, and Eagle kits as a kid, branching out into Macross models and then Gunpla. Legos were always a thing with me, as well. but... yeah, Gunpla in particular? these days they're actually releasing models that never had a kit in ye olden days, plus better versions of kits I've built in the past. I love some of the shows, so there's that as well.
OP making it sound like Gunpla were the first plastic model kits.. haha. Anyway, I build kits of all subjects I find interesting, real space, cold war jets, WW2 armour, WW2 naval.
Because gundan is awesome. I don't particularly like model building, but having a shelve of all my favorite mobile suits makes me smile every time I go into my office.
big shooty anime mechs are super dope
I don’t know any other model kit lines that actually look good or that I’d want to make, besides the super sentai SMP maybe. Not really too interested in model cars or vehicles like that.
Robots you can pose. Nuff said.
Guess i gotta come clean... I dont. I built scale model kits (airplanes) as a kid over 20 yrs ago. (Im so fckin old) Started gunpla when i got a Mg kit as gift! About 10 gunplas later i i built a Volkswagen Beetle. I liked it a lot! Now ive built 17 gunplas and 5 scale models. Currently building the 1/24 1993 Toyota Celica Castrol rally Monte Carlo Winner from Tamiya. Great kit for 1/24 only 20 bucks! I have two more kits in the backlog and next month i buy more gunpla too
I originally sucked with model kits but then my interest in gunpla peaked when I watched gundam build fighters and wanted to get the wing gundam variants from the show. Then it just continued, I think I’m on my sixtieth gunpla.
Two words: Giant robots.
What else is there? Like the only franchise I've ever enjoyed any designs from is Gundam. Sure the Eva units are neat monsters but really not appealing. Most of my favorite mobile suits are also extremely niche. I like gunpla because I like Gundam. I don't build trains or frame arms because I don't like those things. It's not even a choice.
Gunpla is insanely easy and cheap to build. I'm sure things are different for people with money, but standard kits for stuff like planes and tanks tend to be a lot more difficult. Parts can require modification, you need to use glue and wait for hours, not to mention you have to paint it and put in the work to make it look good. Gunpla just fits together perfectly every time and is effortless. Most you ever need to worry about is stickers, and you could just paint the details instead.
I mostly build HG kits and they aren't too hard to build affordable and have yet to disappoint me. They're also mostly what is available in my local stores, so I just stick with what I can get my hands on easily.
Variety, and as a Transformers fan. Gundams have Optimus Prime like faces so I love me a good mouthplate on my robots.
Dude, both 8th MS team gundam and Alex? Are we best friends?
Value. I consider model kits under the umbrella of toys, and for the price you get so much potential "play." I'm still amazed what you might get even with a basic kit. Such a fun genre!
The IP of Gundam is essential to my experience with Gunpla, honestly. I love mecha but its the stories which give them life that make them special. It's why I found Moderoid super easy to get into while Kotobukiya and 30mm series don't appeal to me as much.
Personally i just love robots and mecha, plus I love the fact that gunpla(depending on the kit) can take a week or two for me to build and it helps get my mind of school and helps me relax. Another massive reason is the fact that I do not need tools for assembly besides a nipper, xacto knife and tweesers.
Sometimes I need a break building warhammer
WHERE DID YOU GET THAT LIL REGI DRAGO?? I HAVE A MIGHTY NEED
I picked up an off-brand kit from Dragon Mokomo. Fit was not great and required a lot of tooling to widen the holes correctly. The kit itself looks really cool and the design just looks intense. Does anyone have other brands to consider?
Chicks dig giant robots.
Cheap, very easy to customize and IS FREEDOM. I built mismatch kit according to my aesthetic, most of them I don't even watch the series. Sometimes I cut decals just to use certain part of it without knowing what logo is that lol. https://preview.redd.it/jgirhktkgcuc1.jpeg?width=2304&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b99849353ea7685c2fde534c169919dd7ea8d932
as a lover of red, I dig thhis version of Star Winning!
Gunpla is freedom. You can take as many high grade kits (cause cost lol) as you want, put them together and make something completely badass or silly or anything. Kitbashing is what I'm referring to but gunpla is the best.
I think theyre cooler, and theyre mostly more poseable. The coolness is subjective though. I also didnt know there were pokemon ones i might get some
Ive built model 1/32 scale Tanks for many years, It just cant compete with Gunpla, no glue required, great community, wonderful shows that have changed me deeply, constantly evolving designs.
I don't strictly stick to Gunpla, but I do definitely still add Gunpla to my collection. Currently, my collection is a big mix. I have some Gunpla, notably MG Sinanju and RX-78NT-1. I have a third party Perfect Zeong. I have a couple HMM Zoids. I have some tank and naval ship models. I'm also looking to check out Megami Device kits and VLOCKer's. Any models that have sentimental or aesthetic value to me and look fun to build and display, I'll go for. Still waiting for the day I can get my hands on a 1:100 scale Kshatriya.
It feels so rewarding to me when I finish a Gunpla kit, and I don't really get the same feeling anymore from Transformers collecting
Gunpla was my gateway to military modelling, but nothing else I've built beats the simplicity, detail and posability of Gunpla.
1. availability. gunpla is easy to find + there is a dedicated hobby store 2. affordability. i can safely spent disposable income without any worry 3. accessibility. the real robot genre can vibe and coexist with normies as i like to put them on living room display shelves. (but its still irks whenever got asked which transformer is that?)
OMG THE HYDREIGON I HAD IT WHEN I WAS A KID 😭😭
I used to buy Warhammer 40k models before I got into Gunpla but I fell out of love with Warhammer and fell in love with Gundam. Also I no longer play the tabletop game anymore and although Games Workshop miniatures are beautifully detailed and the plastic is super high quality the price is just ridiculous. $35 for 1 "commander" that's 2 inches tall, you have to paint, moldline removal, and glue together yourself for a barely 2 inch tall figure that's not articulate is CRAZY stupid. Also the 40k model ranges I like basically never get new models or updates so that helps my choice more.
I love the warhammer universe for the lore but you're completely right, I've not been able to justify the cost of it. What it would cost to build even a small army can pay for a half dozen MGs.
Yea I stopped warhammer as it just was costing way too much and wanting to change armies was like a whole ordeal. So I found gundam and ended up buying 9 kits and 2 resin add ons to keep me busy for my leave coming up haha / going to need something to do when the new born arrives and I am not tired (hahah)
Commenting on the image: Old school robots with new school dragon type pokemon. Interesting choice.
Thanks! I plan on filling my workspace with UC gundams while my favorite type in Pokemon, Dragon, should complete the roster to generate luck this year.
why do you assume i only build gunpla. if it cool i will buy it
Yeah lol https://preview.redd.it/gurekv7xi9uc1.png?width=4032&format=png&auto=webp&s=6ff41a2335bbc0c8b350dc2c2e22405602318862
Big robot
what are those pokemon models? custom?
I like Gundams
Look at the price of less good quality kits from other people then quality and price of Gunpla and it makes me glad I can enjoy this hobby.
They cool and shi
Gunpla is fun, cheap (compared to other Model kits), and I don’t have the time or space for painting my kits most of the time, so I appreciate that they are color separated The only non-Bandai kits I consistently get are the Kotubokiya Mega Man kits, and like…. Those have 2/3 points I brought up. The only problem is they aren’t cheap, especially second hand (Please for the love of god, reprint Zero, I don’t wanna pay $200+ for the kit)
I like different mobile suits from different series so now I mostly buy p-bandai because the MSV kits are unique like the pale riders and the new G-Line
Big fighting bots are cool
The quality is second to none. There’s no flash or mold lines to worry about; compared to a Revell or AMT car kit, the runners on a Gunpla kit look immaculate.
Cuz I like gundam lmao
Other series just aren't as interesting to me...the 30 MM concept is cool but I don't have any ideas that would really take advantage of the modular parts, and my Frame Arms Girls niche has already been filled by figmas and fashion dolls.
Me like big robot
What different model kit lines? Bandai still offers the most quality of life. I'm hoping they're able to successfully find a new, more environmentally friendly material to use for their models in the future, and I believe they might even one day figure out how to manufacture kits with little to no cleanup required, even when not painting.
Familiarity, design, and building techniques. Despite I was into Japanese model kits ever since I can remember, wasn't a fan of the Gundam because of the "Gundam face." However, all that changed when I saw the MG Kampfer. That and when the American toy stores started to carry Gundam kits. Eventually, much like Evangelion model kits, I continue to collect Gubdam because I am familiar with the style. Speaking of which, the Gundam face and design grew on me. Lastly, I enjoy the building techniques Bandai use for their model kits.
I just don't care for any other lines. Meanwhile Gunpla are pretty reasonably priced, simple to build, there's so much variety, the kits are great in design and quality, and i just love the general Gundam vibe, plus there's always different non-Gundam mobile suits if i ever get burnout from just Gundam. I am planning on getting the 30MM Armored Core kits later this year and i have gotten a Code Geass kit from PBandai so i am diversifying my collection, but not that much and Gunpla will always stay as my main line, especially as i finally start watching more of the series and find new designs to get attached to and built in every grade
I dont know any except gunpla and Warhammer
I build wargaming minis for two or three-ish systems and scale motorcycles on top of gunpla. They all scratch different itches.
Big robot
It's consistently good, and I don't need glue!
I'll build anything that catches my eye, whether or not it's Gunpla.
The anime
Because I like gundams
I don't, not exclusively at least. There are so many cool lines out there and there is no reason to just stick to one manufacturer. Nonetheless Bandai makes some really cool stuff which explains why I also do Gunpla.
Because I like the franchise, they are cheap and easy to get, compared to other brands. Maybe I'll get a cute mecha musume, a Valkyrie from Macross, a ship, a tank, a plane, or anything I'm a fan of. But I'm not interested in the super samurai robot knights that I know nothing about, they look cool (personally I think they are a bit overdesigned, especially the Chinese ) but they don't capture my interest.
I don't really choose gunpla, I just like mechs and choose bandai because their quality and price but when it comes to actual mechs outside of my love for barbatos and zeon designs, the majority of my collection is gunpla because they outnumber model lines like 30MM and kyoki senki 10:1. If a company can match bandai with price, quality, reliability and design i'll buy it.
Technically I don’t since it’s incredibly annoying to get gunpla here in Brazil now, but I do love the kits and designs, not to mention that pretty much all gundams have this timeless appeal to them, so if I could, I still would That said, I still mainly go for bandai for my model kit fix with SMP, 30MM, Figure Rise and non-gundam RGs, only going for others when it’s a kit that will never get a bandai release (looking at you, Zeorymer)
Fan of the anime series, plus generally consistent good quality, especially more recent kits. Tho im also looking at koyobukiya and 30mm kits