Cheapest Path Getting into Gundam Plastic Modeling

A Beginner Shopping Guide

I believe there tons of tons of excellent tutorials on the internet about using basic tools.

However, from a newcomer point of view (a really stupid one like the one I used to be; who spend tons of money experimenting with 'likely' tools) might be confuse with the list of tools they are suppose to get. Those who are running on low budget (e.g. students) might be reluctant to start just because they do not want to (or could not) invest.

This is heavily base on my personal experience and might not be applicable to your situation, so use this information on your own risk. Also refer to my "Tools of the Trade" page if you are not familiar with the tool name mentioned here. These are bare necessity tools and you might want to get some optional items for your project so please refer to the "Tools of the Trade" page.

1st Step: Cheapest Path Getting into Gundam Plastic Modeling

Basic Tools

  • Nail Clipper / Wire Cutter (RM1.00 - RM10.00)
  • Hobby Knife / Craft Knife (I am using OLFA craft knife with 20 spare blades. RM18.00 last for 4 years)
  • Gundam Real Touch Marker Set #02 (plus additional color that you might need. about RM60.00++)

Optional Tools

  • Mr. Top Coat Flat (Spray Can to kill off plastic shine)
  • Artist Oil (1 set or at least with black, titanium white and burnt umber)
  • Zippo Lighter Fuel

Remarks:
This setup is recommended for Master Grade kit only that require no glue and no paint. I started off my modeling hobby with a nail clipper and Tamiya Cement. After a few flops, I concluded this is the basic tools require to start off. Initial investment cost, I believe, is only at RM230.00 or below (price includes a cheapo RM99.00 MG kit. Look for kits on sales).

Not painting is not cool?

Complete crap! Making an unpainted kit beautiful demand more courage and skill than painting a beautiful kit. At the point of writing this, those Gundam Masters in Japan are hot with doing MG kit without a single lick of paint (just using Gundam Marker for weathering)

Samples of my unpainted models:

Click on thumbnail images for the article.

2nd Step: Getting Started to Painting

Basic Building with Sanding and Puttying

  • Plastic Cement
  • Tamiya Basic Gray Putty (mix with Mr. Thinner. This won't melt plastic)
  • Jeweler File Set (alternatively use disposable sanding stick from ladies accessories, about RM7.00 per set)
  • Wet Sanding Paper (grit no. 600, 1000, 1500) (RM0.80 - RM1.50 per sheet)
  • Bostik Blu Tack

Basic Painting

  • Brush ( size 0, 2, 4, 8. sable or camel hair. do not but the cheap plastic or nylon brush )
  • Mr. Leveling Thinner / Mr. Thinner
  • Mr. Retarder Mild
  • Mr. Color Lacquer Paint (Start of with primary color and slowly purchase colors that you need)

Remarks:
This setup is recommended to Master Grade kit or lower that require some form of painting, sanding and puttying (e.g. HG, HGUC)

Samples of my hand-painted models:


Click on thumbnail images for the article.

3rd Step: Getting Serious to Painting

Required Tools

  • Air Brush (Double Action, Gravity Feed)
  • Air Brush Stand and Thinner jar
  • Air Compressor (At least comes with pressure control and moisture trap)
  • Lacquer Thinner (I am using ICI Automotive 2K Color Lacquer Thinner at about RM45.00 per 4L tin)
  • Masking Tape

Samples of my airbrushed models:


Click on thumbnail images for the article.

4th Step: Getting into Resin Kit

Basic Building with Sanding and Puttying

  • Tamiya Epoxy Putty (Quick Type)
  • 2-part Epoxy Adhesive (preferably clear type with 5 minutes bond)
  • Instant Bond Superglue (a.k.a. Elephant Glue in Malaysia)
  • 1/16 inch Brass Rod
  • Driller with 1/16 inch drill bit
  • Sanding Sponge (Sand curve surface. Alternatively DIY by using a hard sponge with stick-on sand paper.)
  • Nail Polish Remover (Mix with Tamiya Basic Gray Putty. Cheaper than Mr. Thinner. Melt plastic but not resin)

Basic Painting

  • Mr. Resin Primer Surfacer
  • Mr. Surfacer 500
  • Mr. Base White 1000
  • Mr. Masking Sol Neo

Remarks:
In my humble opinion, resin is the ultimate challenge here comparing to Gundam plastic. Good luck in finding the correct skin tones on your first attempt. ^_^

I also believe working with resin is also an essential skill for building resin conversion kit.

Samples of my resin models:


Click on thumbnail images for the article.

Side Note: Why do you recommend Mr. Color Lacquer Paint and not Acrylic?

If you are painting Gundam, I will strongly suggest Mr. Color lacquer paint. Also note that I am not putting acrylic in the list owing to the following reasons.

  1. Acrylic is the weakest paint after Enamel and Lacquer. Any other paint on it will eat into it. Top Coat spray-can (lacquer base) will eat into your beautiful paint job.
     
  2. Acrylic has the weakest hold to plastic and not suitable for Gundam kit that moves a lot. However, anyone who hand brush resin figures, tanks and planes can opt to use acrylic.
     
  3. Those professional Japanese modelers who had done modeling for decades will not promote Mr. Color as the "Official" Gundam paint without solid reasons.

Tamiya acrylic is good for airbrushing but freaking bad at hand brushing. Although the name implied Aqueous (a.k.a. water base), you will never get a good work mixing it with water as water dry slow at an inconsistent rate. You still have to mix with Tamiya Thinner (alcohol-base thinner) to paint slightly better.

I tried hand brushing with Mr. Color mixed with Mr. Leveling thinner. Those who do not have Mr. Leveling thinner can use Mr. Thinner with a few drop of Mr. Retarder Mild into your paint mixture. Minor brushstroke will magically level itself while drying. (I almost laugh out loud when I see this for the first time! No more Acrylic nightmare!) This combination is the best that I have tried so far and recommended in "DENGEKI HOBBY PERFECT PAINTING GUIDE".

Choosing paint brand and type is a long term decision. Once you get use to one type of paint, it is normally hard to switch to another. You basically have to re-learn it on the mix ratio, paint properties, brush stroke and etc.

Remember, your Gundam deserves a better paint.

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Document Date : 11.08.2006


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