Putting together my first kit, and all similar beginner tip/trick Reddit threads are dead to me ๐ค So I'd love to get one going here! Any tips/tricks you have to help out??
this post was submitted on 15 Jun 2023
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Mobile Suit Gundam
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If you're going to buy anything for getting into gunpla, I think a really sharp pair of sprue cutters / nippers is the way to go. As you'll quickly find out, cutting the little tabs off of parts can leave blemishes behind that you'll want to minimize - especially if you aren't going to paint or do any other finishing.
The godhand nippers are a bit expensive, but they work really well: https://www.amazon.com/GodHand-Ultimate-Nipper-SPN-120-GH-SPN-120-dp-B09T2K1RZY/dp/B09T2K1RZY
There's also the "aluminum foil trick" to help sharpen whatever cutters you have on hand - fold some foil into a sheet of around 0.5cm thick and cut through it with the nippers. It'll refresh the edge on the nippers for a while.
I bought the Bandai "Entry Nipper" at the game store ๐ They've done the job, but something sharper would be nice! The aluminum foil trick is very good to know โ
When cutting the sprue, should I cut as close to the piece as possible, or leave a bit of a nub and use a razor blade to remove it?
Depends on the part - I generally try and leave nubs on and then go back at them again with the sharpest thing I've got to make a clean cut. The Bandai nippers should be plenty sharp for both of those steps, I wouldn't bother with a razor blade unless you really want to.