I got into building Gunpla after watching Gundam and following some Gunpla YouTubers. My favorite Gundam show is Iron-Blooded Orphans (IBO for short). I love it for the message it carries and the brutal honesty of its story. It’s a dark anime about child soldiers, and it really stuck with me.

My very first kit was the Barbatos Lupus Rex, followed by the Kimarus Vidar. Since then, I’ve built over ten kits—and I even have a backlog (though nothing compared to my friend’s backlog of over 40 kits!). For me, Gunpla is a creative outlet. I build, paint, and even add LEDs whenever I can.

My First Painted Kit⌗

The first kit I painted was the Landman Rodi, which is basically the Rodi with an add-on kit to turn it into the Landman version. Before painting it, I spent a few days learning how to paint and practicing techniques to get a decent finish. I used a lot of scrap plastic spoons as practice pieces (and still do). That practice gave me confidence before painting my kit for real.

Adding LEDs⌗

Adding LEDs to my builds is a more recent hobby. I started with two SD kits, then moved on to a High Grade where I installed LEDs but haven’t fully wired them together yet. Instead of using batteries, I install DC barrel jacks so I can power the kits directly. This way, I don’t have to constantly change batteries, and I can turn the lights off when I go to bed.

I tried wireless LEDs once, and while they work well for Master Grades, I prefer running small wired LEDs through my kits. It gives me more control and reliability.

Other Builds⌗

Not all of my builds are about LEDs or paint. For example, I once built a bug-themed kit without any LEDs or fancy paint. Even though it was simpler, it was still a fun project. Parts have started falling off over time, so I’d like to rebuild it one day. At the end of the day, I’m a Gunpla builder first—not a car modeler or anything else. Gunpla gives me both the challenge and the creativity I enjoy.