The Stages of Gunpla Building

This is another FB Notes Article, published 2017, converted to a blog post.

Stage 1. The “Curiosity” Stage

• You watch a Gundam episode, doesn’t matter which one, you get curious enough to watch a few more. After which, your search online reveals that the anime actually extends beyond the screen, that there are actually toys and kits that are being sold related to the anime. So you go to a toy store and look for that specific MS you saw. You settle for one you like just as well, if you don’t find what you are looking for.
• You have friends, schoolmates or co-workers who are into the hobby, and they poison you with it. It’s either you hunt for it on your own, or, you get one on impulse while your friends are browsing the nearest toy store, often intentionally, to get you to buy one.
• You find one at home, hidden among boxes, probably one bought before by a family member.

Regardless, you build one, even without the right tools, often using a scissor, or even snapping parts off by hand, if not using a wire cutter, and assemble your very first kit. If you happen to have early guidance or be smart enough to look up tools online, you’ll get a side cutter for your very first tool.

For some, it ends here. For others, there are of course other stages. This may include those who frequently ask “which one should I buy first?” and “is this kit rare?” 

Just look at that CROTCH!

Stage 2. The “Building” Stage

This is where a lot of people get stuck. They buy and snap build one kit after another, satisfied with simply building kits as they are, not minding the sloppy stickers that peel off after a while, or that there are ugly *numb* marks still. Some even try top-coating their kits, apply decals, or even use markers for details.

In this stage, all the tool you’ll ever need is a good pair of side cutters, but, you’ll realize later on that you’ll need a nice hobby knife and some sand paper as well. Also, In this stage, all the tool you’ll ever need is a good pair of side cutters, but, you’ll realize later on that you’ll need a nice hobby knife and some sand paper as well. Also, red becomes both a favorite and despised color of certain builders when parts of their anatomy meet with the business edge of anything sharp, and you’ll often see people ask “has this happened you?” 

Stage 3. The “Modeling” Stage

Once one starts to delve deeper into it, one realizes the need for other tools, like brushes, knives, paints, cutters, rulers, templates, et al. First, most learn to paint, then detail by Once one starts to delve deeper into it, one realizes the need for other tools, like brushes, knives, paints, cutters, rulers, templates, et al. First, most learn to paint, then detail by scribing, then by PS plating. Some stop there, satisfied with detail and paint work, but others realize there’s more to it, and start learning how to modify parts, and even build ones from scratch. One starts to experiment on modifications and painting techniques, testing the limit of the kit one is building, in turn testing oneself as well.

Stage 4. The “Crafting” Stage

Most stay in the modeling stage, but some go beyond it by building entire things from scratch, whether it be aesthetic or mechanical. This is a stage very few struggle to reach, though some reach it quite naturally. One starts to develop his own building techniques, or adapt previous techniques and improve them. In this stage, one will always try to build the same thing differently, gauging which method is easier, quicker and would make the part lighter.

Stage 5. The “Burnout” Stage

A lot of people undergo and often stay on this stage, mostly those who are into the hobby (stage 1-2, and sometimes, stage 3), who get frustrated with their builds that they stop building altogether because they are frustrated. They sometimes return, often remaining at stage two, sometimes jumping to stage 3, but could never quite maintain the same drive as they have before they burnt out. 

What to do, what to do?

Stage 6. The “WIP” Stage

This follows right after the burnout stage (or, after the curiosity stage), when one actually starts something, calls it a WIP, then stops. This may include those who frequently ask “which one should I buy/build next?”

Stage 7. The “Hoarding” Stage

This is when one starts to showcase boxes upon boxes of unbuilt kits instead of built ones because one simply has no time. The term backlog comes to mind.

You shall be the pinnacle of my Tower of Power!

Stage 8. The “Masterpiece” Stage

When one builds a masterpiece and can’t quite outdo it with a new build.

Stage 9. The “Denial” Stage

When one has to let go of certain kits, worse, ALL kits, because one has priorities. This may also happen when a kit one wants to get (often a P-Bandai), is out of one's price range. Sour grapes are often the ones one can't reach.

Gumpra is FLEEDOM!

Stage 10. The “Prodigal Child” Stage

When one returns to the hobby, because the allure of Gunpla and mangling plastic, not to mention, new kits and models, is just too much for anyone to bear.

Stage ZERO. The “Rant/Reklamo” Stage

(Special Request) When one who hasn’t really built anything, at all, keeps ranting about P-Bandai, not having enough money for Gunpla, keeps complaining that mall store kits are overpriced, screams at Bandai for being too expensive and raiding another bootlegger, or, generally just complaining about people who do build and have enough money for Gunpla.