Model Kit Tips and Tricks

These instructions are to help newer builders improve with straight builds of bandai kits in this case gunpla and other character based model kits to avoid excessive nub marks or uneven surfaces as well as some simple joint tightening techniques

-Diagram of runner for reference above

For a straight build of the usual Bandai kit the tools required are few and variable but the main tools are as follows:

1. A nipper
2. A craft/exacto knife
3. Files/sand paper
4. Plastic cement/glue

And a tooth-pick if you are tightening joints

To begin the build the box must be emptied of everything inside and for any model kit box the top sleeve of the box is the side with the art and should be lifted off, then you will see plastic bags containing the runners and once you remove those the instructions will be at the bottom and should be removed as well

After removing each plastic bag you should open them up, I'd recommend using the craft knife to cut along the top on the flat side of the bag, any stickers should also be removed

Once all the runners are removed as well as the instructions and any stickers or decals in the packaging you can organise the runners, bandai kit runners have a letter and number organisation system usually based on colour for example white runners may be labelled A and if there are two they'd be A1 and A2, you can organize the runners how you want to fit the work space you have, but if you have the space I recommend placing them in order of letter then number but if you don't have much space I suggest placing the runners of the same letter one on top of the other

You should decide how you're going to build the model before cutting out the parts the choices are:

1. Cutting out the parts as you go through the instructions
2. Cutting out the parts for a particular limb or section of the build then building it and repeating this process
3. Cutting out all the parts before beginning building

1. Some pieces will have functional parts that resemble gates on the runner and you should be careful not to cut these off as they are important for the structure and solidity of the final model the instructions will always show the symbol shown in the fourth image above to make you aware so be sure to check for it before cutting a piece if you're not sure
2. Unless you have a very high quality nipper like the god hand you should cut the gate further away from the piece leaving excess gate on the piece
3. When you have cut the part from the runner with the excess gate on the part you can either cut it down bit by bit with your craft knife or sand it down slowly with your files or sandpaper

Note: If you choose to sand down the gate be sure that when you're sanding with whatever you use to sand it, you make sure that your tool is parallel to the surface, if it isn't you will have an uneven and not level surface where the nub will ruin the look of the part and surrounding model in the final build (a picture demonstrating this above)

The assembly of the model itself is in the included instructions so this will be general notes to keep in mind

1. A model kits plastic is thinner and more delicate than most figures or prebuilt models so be careful not to apply too much pressure or bend the pieces
2. Sometimes there will be a specific order of assembly so if pieces aren't properly fitting together make sure to double check you followed the instructions correctly and be careful if you have to disassemble parts of the model as the plastic is prone to marking if you are to rough with your nails or tools

If a joint is loose there are two methods you can use to fix it

1. If you use super glue it can be placed on the joint after you have disassembled it and the loose joint is revealed, using a tooth-pick spread the glue all around the functional part of the loose joint then let dry and reassemble the model
2. If you want to use plastic cement you can only do this for certain joints that are fully enclosed such as the one in the picture above first like the previous method disassemble until the loose joint is revealed then spread plastic cement around it reassemble then move the joint back and forth slowly making sure to cover its full range and to consistently move the joint till the cement dries remember this only works for joints that are full enclosed so you use the super glue methods for the rest like ball joints