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I Built an MG Gunpla Using Dollar Store Tools

Model Build Lab

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Can dollar store tools actually build a Gunpla I’d be proud to display?

I decided to find out by building the MG RX-78-2 Ver.Ka while replacing as many of my normal hobby tools as possible with things I could find at the dollar store.

I wasn’t trying to prove that hobby tools are a scam. I wanted to know something more useful:

Which tools are actually worth paying for?

Some cheap tools surprised me. Some took more time and effort. And there were definitely a few things where I came away thinking… yeah, sometimes you just need to buy the hobby stuff.

#Gunpla #Gundam #ModelKits #GunplaBuild #MGGundam #RX782 #GunplaTools #ModelBuilding

20 Comments

@ModelBuildLab Creator 2 months ago Pinned

What tools should I try out next?

@cnhnx 2 months ago

You can even go further with cheap tools than just straight build. One regular contributor to Hobby Japan magazine named Seira Mauso used 100 yen store for their tools and supplies but their custom and painted works ended up being very professional looking.

@JoelAAdler 2 months ago

Daiso blows American dollar stores out of the water lol

@ryanprice4836 2 months ago

My first Gunpla I used Toe Nail Clippers to cut them out of the runners. Worked surprisingly well especially for the smaller parts

@domervs 6 hours ago

When my lil cousin was building his first kit, he used a kitchen knife and his teeth instead of actual tools

@ratbaby3107 3 weeks ago

I assembled several high grades with double blades nippers I took from my job and dollar store acrylic nail sanding and polishing sticks. And it worked pretty well, all told.

@VeteranOfMinegarde 2 months ago

I still remember building my first MG as a child using a nail clipper

@definitelynotHunterBautista 2 months ago

Daiso is my go to for my Gunpla tools and accessories so I can save some moneys for Gunpla 😎

@davidkeith3920 2 months ago (edited)

I was screaming at you to use the metal files the entire time you were struggling with that hobby knife. Use them to take those big nubs away, then graduate to sandpaper.

@ctmbottomtext9116 2 months ago

At least you got tools

My first gunpla was a rx78 and I assembled it with no tools

Only got proper tools after the 4 kit

@TheSpongyMallard 2 months ago (edited)

I got a cheap and basic tool set off of Amazon for only $10. Only the polishing sponge is pretty worn out, but it's still usable. The nippers alone probably only cost 2-3 dollars. Ok, wow, those nippers are somehow worse than my no-name cheap Chinese dual bladed nippers. I still use them for the first cut, large gates or clear parts.

@unreliablekid4172 2 months ago

All you really need are two things. A cuticle nipper and a cuticle pusher for a type of hobby knife or removing Nub marks with the flat sharp edge.

@hassanrao470 2 months ago (edited)

0:55 I feel called out

@gellog0530 10 days ago

my first model was the hg gself atmosphere pack and i used a rusty wire cutter and boxcutter my dad gave me to build it

@0900l8 2 months ago

A model knife would be totally enough

@metaforth 2 months ago

This doesn't even really sound like a challenge

@AdvancedKrizalid 2 months ago

The nippers I have been using for 2 years now cost me 4 dollars and it's doing a perfect job , built like 20 models with it without any problems.

There is such a thing as overpriced tools.