Freedom Feder Gundam
Image by Gundamguy.blogspot.com
Maveric here :D
I want to share something not everyone talks about. Talking about "toy collection" is taboo for those who knows nothing about the hobby. Like anime, toy collection is something people would dismiss as "stuff the kids only do", and oh boy, are they misinformed. I am here to clear things up, educate you guys a bit, and how you could get in to this hobby as well.
A little bit of history, How did I get myself to the hobby?
It was back when I was just 6 years old, and it was Christmas vacation. Living in Cagayan De Oro, my mom worked in Manila and she decided to spend the remaining days of December with me at her place in Kamuning. I could remember the excitement flowing in the little me as I gaze at that little box leaning at the trunk, under the tree. Days passed by quickly and I have torn open the box. What awaited me was a Zoids Barigator kit. "OH MY GOD!!!" I screamed. Then I opened the box, seen the contents, and my mind was blown. Runners were there waiting. At the back of my mind they were telling me "build me! build me!" in chorus. And I remembered spending 7 hours straight building the kit and I had that grin on my face from days on end. The next year, during summer, my mom decided to take me with her as she found a regular job already. I bid farewell to Cagayan and spent the rest of my elementary days there in Cavite. There I was spoiled.... so much.
The kid me is gifted with energy.... so much energy that the adults find it hard to keep up with me. I would constantly jump and tumble all over different places, stop for a moment, and run suddenly afterwards. Yes sir, I'm that lunatic of a kid. My mom put up a cure for that though, and it comes with a price... And yes... you guessed it correctly, my friend. Cavite had the worst days during the rainy season. It is always guaranteed to rain at least three times a week. And the typhoons from the Pacific always has that special route to never get out from the Philippines without leaving a mark in Cavite. Water supply cut off usually and blackouts for at least two days? I'd get BORED easily. My mom bought me jumbo sized kits so that I could fiddle with them for days until they are finished. Of course, the irresponsible me dumped my finished work in a sack and parts fell off over time. When I was up for high school, I went back to CDO, leaving those Zoids kits around to be given to some children in the neighborhood.
And six years later, here I am... Back to the addiction. The maturity in the present me is fully aware how horrible I did back then, and if I were able to talk to my little self, I'd scold the hell out of that stupid kid's soul for wasting his mom's cash. This time, I'm making sure I will never commit the same mistake again. Looking for Zoids kits, luck seems to never come on my favor. As you see, Zoids kits were long discontinued, and that made my regret a lot deeper. Then I flash-back for a second and remembered the anime I used to watch back then. "Gundam... That's it! Gundam!" I looked for toys available and yes... I am in luck. Some stores here in CDO is available with them. I prefer online shopping to save some cash though. Put that aside for a moment, let me begin.
Perfect Grade RX 78 2 Painted Build
Image by GundamGuy.Blogspot.com
What is a Gundam?
Gundams are special types of mobile suits that debuted during its first anime in the 80's; Mobile Suit: Gundam. Mobile Suits are mechs, robots... whatever you want to call it, which the Gundam franchise proudly serves its viewers. What made Gundam stand out against the rest? Well unlike, Mazinger Z, Voltes V or Daimos which features mechs too, Gundam is that anime that breaks the mold and creates that gray line between science fiction and reality. Sometimes, it's too much. When I say Gundam is dark, it means GUNDAM IS GODDAMN DARK. Well established characters dying is just a usual day in Gundam. You think Shakespeare's works are brutal? Be prepared to get your mind blown. Supporting characters die? check. Massive massacre of civilians? check. Love interests of our characters die? ULTRA check. Emo characters for no reason? check. Main characters committing suicides? check, check CHECK. They slap you with, "This is the reality of war bitches!" with a little spice of exaggeration. I am not even talking about the complex stuff here; like the politics involved and the "science of war" that's just too long to rave about and they make Gundam basically what it is. This shocked the audience of Japan and oh boy! This did not appeal the masses when it first came out. The studio got broke, they did not hit the target number of episodes to be run and Gundam was to be erased from history... almost. Then a toy company came in and got their asses licensed to produce Gundam toys. This was met with a landslide support... so much it gave way to a second season for the series, expanding more the massive toy line, branding Gundam as the Star Wars of Japan... OOPS!
Runners: these wonderful things make your GunPla
Image by Fudoshin
Gunpla: on the surface
Gundam + Plastic Model = GunPla is a trademark term used by Bandai and Sunrise. Unlike your usual action figures, YOU HAVE TO BUILD THEM YOURSELF. Depending on the grade you are hitting, and the complexity of the build, your build process may differ. Build experience, parts count, parts fit, and parts number greatly influence that. Unlike other toys, you have the freedom to select which scale or size you want the model will be as long as it exists on that format. This is where the grades come in, varying from the small and cute Super Deformed size, palm fitting basic High Grade or baffling Real Grade, complex and tearjerking Master Grade, the brutal Perfect grade, and the insane Mega Sized kits. Glue? ASSEMBLY REQUIRES NO GLUE. You could just buy yourself a side cutter or nipper(not recommended though) and you could hit one of your own. Color of plastic is ugly? No problem. You could get in to painting by airbrush, spray cans or even by brush and you could get that color you want(Acrylic is preferred). The plastic of the toys are designed to bind the paint well so that you could have less problems. You may want to use primer though.
If you have the cash and you're still not sold, just check all over the internet, it's just everywhere. Do your research, watch other modelers' masterpieces, and hopefully, you see this hobby on a different light.
HG Wing Zero Custom Honoo
Image by Gundamguy.Blogspot.com
How to get in to this hobby?
Stroll around the mall. Toys R' Us and Toy Kingdom will have some on display. To save more money, there are online shops around in facebook to contact to.
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