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MistedJaguar posted an update in the group
Q/A & Help Group 9 years, 2 months ago If you’ll pardon an almost-total noob, I’m interested in getting started but I have a couple of questions to that end. First, I’m in a fairly rural part of the USA, so no hobby or toy shops that carry Mobil Suit kits are within any kind of reasonable distance, so I’m pretty much left to buying online. Is it better to buy from say HLJ and pay the international shipping, or am I stuck with Amazon/Ebay, or better yet, is there a sensible group to buy from in the US online? I’ve done some looking but the Amazon/Ebay combo seem to have the best prices I’ve found so far.
Second, I built and played with the Wing and EW kits as a kid when they were everywhere, and more recently I’ve built Star Trek model ships. I was thinking of starting with a 1/100 MG, but is there any place in particular to start? I’m not entirely new to it, but I want to start taking it more seriously than pulling (yes literally pulling on them to get parts out when i was building those Wing kits as a kid -yikes!- ) them out and slapping something and playing with them till they’re broken/lost, etc.
I’d appreciate any help on either of these questions, and I’m looking forward to the hobby! I’ve been catching up on all the shows and movies I’ve missed all these years in the meantime getting into and excited about the franchise.
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Q/A & Help Group
Ah,welcome!
I started a mere 7 months ago, but since I’ve gone from out-of-the-box builds to owning my first airbrush set and having a dedicated modeling area. So be warned, you may go further down the rabbit hole then you expected.
I’m in Queensland, Australia, and there is no such thing as gundam in a brick and morter store. So everything comes from HLJ. I have found the occasional kit but it’s usually a ripoff done by another company and of inferior quality. I have looked on line and noticed that you lucky Americans get an ok price through amazon, but it tends to be on a kit by kit basis. If I was you, I would use amazon for special releases and bandai exclusives that aren’t normally sold by HLJ, and save my pennies and do bulk orders through HLJ to reduce shipping costs for standard kits.
Oh and I started with MGs, great kits. Not really as complex as they look. In saying that I’ve just discovered the joy of HG kits ( they can be prepared, painted and assembled within in couple of days once you have a rhythm going). MGs will always require a bit of planning once you start painting and detailing your kits
Thanks very much, I’ll take a look at the shipping costs and decide where to get myself started. I won’t be painting or recoloring unless it’s by hand since I don’t have a place to spray anything, but I’m definitely going to start assembling properly, panel lining, and maybe some damage effects (starting on cheaper kits until I know what I’m doing).
I really appreciate the advice!
Another company you could use ( Syd from hobby link tv uses it too) for bandai online exclusives is “gentei kits”, guy is based in japan (looks flash but it seems to be all done by one guy XD) so the prices aren’t so bad with only a slight mark up from bandai directly, but do look into the shipping prices as its an odd set up…
I just know from there its 100% official, many of the kits I missed out from them have an even bigger mark up on ebay and such ($60 all up for a hg unicorn phenex from amazon, coulda got from gentei kits for about $50 with ems shipping roughly…) but buying in lots differs when shipping is factored.
There is also GG infinite, US based but they mark them up pretty high to factor the exclusives heading to them and back to you ($150 all up for a MG banshee novel version hurts, would of hurt more if I got my nu gundam ver ka expansion set from them as that was $50 PLUS shipping, where’s gentei kits was $50 after ems shipping).
Also avoid hong kong/china based sellers for kits, the prices are…too good, plus when its the land of knock off brands like TT hong li and danban its a big worry, although iplamo is seemingly legit the prices aren’t fixed and go up on rarity, much like tatsu hobby (I think its american based that one)
For my take some hg kits can be as complex as an mg, I just get whatever looks awesome that isn’t in mg form personally (unless its from the gundam wing endless walts, Im getting the old 90’s HG fighting action wing zero custom and I got 2 of the mg’s of it already XD).
Let me know if my wall of text there is confusing LOL good luck with finding the kits you’d like!
Thanks, I checked out Gentei and GG Infinite and found a couple good deals on the Rebawoo, I’m thinking that and a couple HGUC MP Bawoos from HLJ to make up a little squadron/strike force to start with, start with trying out some panel lining and handpainting, should be a nice re-start for me and I’m looking forward to it.