Gundam model kits sit at this interesting intersection of hobbies. Part construction project, part art piece, part collection display. The hobby even has its own name, Gunpla, which is short for Gundam plastic model.
What makes it different from other model kits is the engineering. These kits snap together with no glue and no paint required for a finished look. Parts are moulded in colour and the joints articulate right out of the box.
Why Gundam Kits Took Off
Gunpla has been a mainstream hobby in Japan since the 1980s but the rest of the world only really caught up recently. A combination of streaming, lockdowns and social media turned a niche hobby into something you can find in stores across New Zealand.
The Anime Connection
The Witch from Mercury series in 2022 introduced a new generation to Mobile Suits. The Gundam franchise spans over forty years of shows. Jump in anywhere and build the Mobile Suit you think looks coolest — that is honestly how most people pick their first kit.
The Lockdown Effect
COVID lockdowns put people at home looking for hands on hobbies and Gunpla delivered exactly what they needed. Build time, display value and the satisfaction of completing something physical. The hobby stuck around after restrictions lifted.
Who Builds Gunpla
Teenagers building their first High Grade kits, adults returning to a hobby they tried years ago, competitive builders entering custom painted kits into competitions. The entry cost stays low — a basic HG kit costs about the same as two movie tickets.
Understanding Gundam Grades
Gundam kits come in graded tiers that tell you the complexity, part count and final size.
1/144 Scale · 100–200 Parts · 2–4 Hours
The starting point for most builders. About 12–15cm tall. Modern HG kits have impressive articulation for the price with joints that bend naturally and weapons that slot into hands securely.
Start here by picking a Mobile Suit design you like from the Gundam collection. The build process is forgiving enough for first timers.
★ Best for beginners1/144 Scale · 250–300 Parts · 4–6 Hours
Packs Master Grade level detail into the 1/144 scale with an inner frame you build first and armour panels layered on top. Small parts require patience. The payoff is a hyper detailed model in a compact footprint.
★ After 2–3 HG builds1/100 Scale · Weekend Project
Steps up to 1/100 scale with larger parts, more detail and inner frames with mechanical gimmicks. A centrepiece display piece. Build one after you have a few HGs under your belt and understand the construction flow.
★ Intermediate builders1/60 Scale · 1000+ Parts · Weeks
The deep end. 1/60 scale, hundreds of parts sometimes exceeding a thousand, motorised gimmicks on select kits and LED units for eye and thruster lighting. Several hundred dollars and weeks to build properly.
★ Advanced builders onlyTools You Actually Need
Gunpla marketing will sell you a full toolkit but you only need three things for your first build.
Nippers
Side cutters designed for plastic models. Do not use scissors and do not twist parts off the runner by hand. A clean cut at the gate leaves less cleanup work. Entry level nippers cost under twenty dollars.
Hobby Knife
For cleaning nub marks after cutting parts from the runner. A few light passes with the blade flat against the plastic removes raised spots where the gate attached. A slow build with clean nubs looks better than a fast build every time.
Panel Lining Pen ★ Optional
The one optional tool that makes the biggest visual difference. Fills recessed panel lines with dark ink and the detail pops instantly. A Gundam marker in grey or black costs a few dollars. Run the tip along panel grooves, wipe excess with a cotton bud.
Buy nippers first. Twisting parts off the runner by hand is the most common beginner mistake and it leaves white stress marks on the plastic that are hard to fix.
Building Your First Kit
Clear a table with good lighting, open the box and find the instruction manual. Everything else flows from there.
Follow the Manual
The runners are labelled A through whatever the kit requires and each part has a number. The manual shows you which runner and part number to cut for each step. Follow the sequence and don't jump ahead. The process is meditative and two hours pass without you noticing.
Cut, Clean, Fit
Cut the part from the runner, clean the nub with your hobby knife, fit it into place and repeat. Take your time on nub removal — this is the difference between a model that looks clean and one with obvious scars.
Assemble the Sections
Snap completed sections together as the manual directs. Arms connect to torso, legs attach at the hips, head sits on top. The backpack slides into the rear port.
Pose and Display
Once everything is assembled, stand the finished Mobile Suit on its feet and pose the joints. Your first Gunpla is done. It will not be your last.
Where to Find Gundam Kits in NZ
OCARE NZ carries Gundam kits across multiple grades. The Gundam collection stocks current releases as they arrive in New Zealand.
Building Gunpla rewards patience because a first kit leads to a second and a shelf that starts with one Mobile Suit fills up faster than you expect. That is just how the hobby works.
Ready to build your first Mobile Suit? Browse the full Gundam range at OCARE NZ.
Shop Gundam Kits at OCARE NZ
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