Gundam Tools

Who can build gunpla without tools? Here are some tools for the complete newbie:

• Cutting Pliers
• Screw Driver
• Tweezers
• Parts Separator
• Panel line marker

For the aspiring novice modellers:

• Sandpaper
• Plastic Cement
• Design Knife
• Paint Brush/ Marker /Spray Can / Airbrush
• Top Coat (gloss / matte)

Cutting Pliers

This is definitely the most basic supply. The pliers you should get are the type that has its cutting edge sitted exactly at the side, minimizing the length of the remaining sprue on the parts. The right way is to cut the part from the tray with a small amount of sprue left in between, followed by a second cut to remove the remaining sprue. This helps to reduce stress between the sprue and the part, so the sprue marks will not be that obvious.

Screw Driver

Many people would often get the Master Grade kits for their first modelling attempt. These kits often require screwing. Usually, you would only find screws in Master Grade and Perfect Grade kits.

Tweezers

These are used to grab really small parts and stickers.

Parts Separator

This is a small wedge that helps you dismantle parts should you make a mistake. I got mine together with the Bandai tool kit set.

Panel Line Marker

A usually black marker that allows you to fill up the many grooves on the surface of the kit called panel lines in order to complete a more detailed look. The difference is great.

Sandpaper

These are used to remove the leftover flesh on the plastic and to remove the excess plastic cement on parts. You can also use this to remove the shiny layer of the plastic and use it in conjunction with top coat to create a painted effect. You might find sandpaper useful when you have to modify some parts that are way too big to fit together. You might also use it to sand down nip marks.

Plastic Cement

Use this to fill up seamlines, followed by sanding. Be careful when you use it; any mistake you might have made during construction cannot be corrected afterwards

Design Knife

Use this to shave off excess sprue and flesh marks, as well as to create panel lines. Be careful when you use this as it’s really sharp.

Painting

Many kits do not have parts that all come in the correct colours, including Master Grades. For tiny paint jobs, you can use any ordinary permanent marker, gundam marker or hand paint it with a brush and a bottle of paint. If you would like to coat the entire kit in paint, I would suggest getting a spray can or airbrush (if you are really serious about building gunpla for years to come and have lots of spare cash!) They are able to give a more consistent colour over a large surface and trust me, the effect looks really good! I recommend getting NG SEED kits to practice painting as they are rather cheap, so you won’t mind messing them up so much ^ ^”

Top Coat

Not enough light reflecting off your kit or way too much light reflecting off it? Use top coat! Top coat is a special transparent paint. There are three primary types of top coat available: Gloss, Semi-gloss and Flat/Matte. Gloss will make your kit look really glossy, while semi-gloss is doesn’t reallly make a difference. Flat/matte top coat will make your kit much less shiny. Top coat also acts as a sealant for decals and paint. If you want to make your kit look painted, I suggest you sand the surface of the armour with 1-2K grit sandpaper, then use top coat. Make sure you remove dust off the surface of your kit before you spray it! When you spray your kit, make sure you place the can 20-30 cm away from the kit and do it in a well-ventilated area as the paint is toxic.

What do I use?

For me, I generally use cutting pliers, the screw driver, top coat, panel line markers together with permanent and gundam markers. I do not paint my kit as paint is rather expensive and I do not have any convenient way to do spraying. I do not think handbrushing suits me as I am not confident of achieving a consistent paint job.