Gundam is a Japanese military science-fiction media franchise. Created by Yoshiyuki Tomino and Sunrise in 1979, the franchise features giant robots, or mecha, with the name "Gundam”. They are said to be 18m/60’ tall (though 12-30m are also extant), armoured, and armed with anything from a large shoulder-mounted cannon to a pistol or sword. A shield is another option.

Model Expo is an annual 3-day exhibition of all things concerned with plastic modelling – a competition with many categories, modelling Clubs and Special Interest Groups, retailers of kits, books and tools, even a Swap n’ Sell. This year, the Model Expo Committee revived the Make & Take (M&T), aimed at introducing youngsters to the world of plastic modelling. It was positioned in the middle of the display area (not in a hidden alcove). Previous M&Ts had failed because of the need of nippers & knives, and glue & paint (which forced a halt while they dried). This year, 60 of these kits were donated for this activity.

The kit comes in a lid & tray box that contains a small sheet of stickers, an instruction sheet in colour, and 2 sprues cast in 5 colours (so no painting is required). The sprue-gates are so fine that parts push-out easily (obviating the need for cutters/nippers). It is a snap-together kit (so no glue is required), and the fit of the parts is superb with most parts only joining in one way. Once assembled, the figure is posable to a limited degree and is difficult (but not impossible – with the right tools) to dismantle completely. This also means that it is robust, to boot (a robust robot?) and resists damage during playtime. There are only a few (relatively) small parts (that V on the forehead, the red bit over its base and the eyes & eye stickers), but thanks to large precisely-fitting locating pins and brackets, all are held securely (and accurately) in-place. Why can’t this be done for wings and tailplanes??

Right from the start, I had my Wife/Assistant assemble this one so that we had an end-product to show prospective modellers (and to give us prior knowledge of the kit). Another kit was used to provide replacement parts (on the few occasions that they were required), so this model has two guns (and so looks meaner – AMS!!!).

Unusually for models, the builder MUST strictly follow the instructions. Some of the stickers must be attached during the build. My biggest beef is the rifle. It sits above the fist (so the finger ‘aint on the trigger, though I reckon a little creative trimming of the trigger guard could easily fix that) and it is moulded hollow (which a little AMS could fix that, too).

Most of you modellers will bypass this model because you have some (to LOTS of) experience in modelling. But that is NOT what (or who) this type of model is aimed-at. Bandai produce similar snap-together kits in wide range of other subjects.

I sold this M&T modelling concept to families by pointing-out that the benefits to the child/ren included manual dexterity & fine motor skills, recognition of 3D parts from a 2D image (= mental development), familiarity with & the following sequential numbers (the parts) & letters (assembly stages = a plan), no electronics (especially screens) and the Parent/offspring interaction time. Many parents were sold when I stressed that it was free. Prior to each build, I was careful to advise the parents that I was there to assist them to assist their child/ren. The M&T was not a baby-sitting service. During the builds, I was careful to NOT touch a child (I pointed with a long pencil) and referenced parts by referring to a human body (that part is this part of your arm). Over the course of the 2-day availability of the M&T, 54 children (aged 4-13, both boys and girls) accepted the challenge and successfully completed their (first?) model in under 40 minutes, with most finishing in under 30. This surprised most of the parents who expressed that the M&T was a terrific innovation.

As an added service, I took many photos with their phone/camera, of the families building their Gundam/s. The Expo photographer always asked their permission first, and advised them that the photo might be used to advertise future Model Expos, or by the donor of the kits. Most were OK with that.

George Oh

15 October 2024

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