Of all the things we do on Gunpla 101, the thing we get the most flack about is how we pose our models. Posing Gunpla is a difficult but important art that can make the difference between your Gunpla looking like a model or just a toy. In order to share some pointers, we turned to our friend, award-winning Gunpla builder Nanochi. Here’s her advice on striking the perfect pose.
Posing is one of the most important things you can do for your Gundam kit. Unlike figures, Gunpla are designed to pull off poses that they regularly perform in the show. I’m going to give some quick tips on how to pull off poses that will make each of your Gunpla stand out.
Mimic the box art
The best way to start posing your Gunpla is to try and mimic some of the poses on the box itself. the best one being the front of the box art. Think about it: the cool box art is probably part of why you chose to get this particular Gundam in the first place, so it’s definitely worth recreating.
While some models prove this to be rather difficult in terms of limitations (looking at you, Strike Freedom!), most of the time your model is designed to be able to pose just like it looks on the box. This is especially helpful if you don’t consider yourself creative and you’re looking for a cool pose in a hurry.
Pose multiple kits together
Sometimes when you want to really make a statement, just having one Gunpla isn’t enough. So why not team up a pair for greater impact?
For example, every Gundam can always pair with his ultimate rival, a Zaku, because when isn’t a Zaku trying to fight a Gundam? But put some thought into it—a Gunpla congo line isn’t the ticket here (unless that’s your thing). Create a combat situation by having each model put their accessories to work. You could have that Zaku swing his axe at RX-78, have Mr. Gundam aim a beam sword at his head, and generally try to really go for suspenseful life-or-death situations. If you’re lost for ideas, try re-watching the anime your Gunpla is from, so you can recreate some canon battle scenes.
Use an action base
To truly unlock the posing capabilities of your Gunpla, you can go for a action base stand to lift them up into the air and to pull off many more poses. With an action base you can simulate some movements that are impossible to pull off on the ground, like dive kicks for Build Burning Gundam, a hurtling mid-air launch for Gundam Unicorn like during its Neo Zeong battle, or even the legendary Char kick. Do a little anime research on how to mimic the suit’s signature aerial moves, and go crazy!
I recommend getting the Action Base 1 for your Master Grade kits and Action Base 2 for your High Grade and Real Grade kits since both are design for those scales. Please do not get an Action Base 3 for anything. In my experience, they don’t hold any grade of model well.
Have you created a pose you’re really proud of? We’d love to see it in the comments.
Photo credits: Dongheon Shin, Raymond Chen, Quan Nguyen.
19 Comments.
I’m still building the kit, but I couldn’t resist to pose him while assembling it 🙂 Lots of painting/decalling to do!
And… I don’t know how to turn the pic in disqus…
it’s ok! Thanks for sharing =)
Trying to mimic the box art is my go-to posing technique. I also try to remember that Gundam don’t slouch. Good posture makes for good pictures.
Sometimes, you need think like MacGyver in order to accomplish something. Case and point? How to attach a Real Grade Gunpla into a Build Custom GP Base stand. Earlier today, I decided to make use of the GP Base info card I modified via Photoshop Elements and put it inside the GP base stand similar to the one shown on the Gundam Build Fighters anime. One thing I did not expect was the fact that the Build Custom GP Base stand was intended for 1/144 HG Gunplas only and not RGs. By practice, I never throw away any unused part from my previous Gunpla kits just in case I may use it in any of my future Gunpla projects. Luckily, I found one simple solution using a part from a PC tree (the same parts tree containing parts used to interconnect joints). I only had to remove the side pegs of the part for an easy and quick coupling between the Gunpla’s lower torso and the GP Base connecting peg. The revelation was basically a Eureka! moment as far I’m concerned since I was able to successfully attach my RG RX-78GP01Fb Gundam Zephyranthes Full Burnern into the Build Custom GP Base.
Very interesting how you did that, can you show us a close up of how its connected to the bottom of the model itself? Great posing by the way.
Attach the 6mm Crotch stopper (Action Base 2 part#14) into the Gunpla. Remove the side pegs of PC-F (the PC parts tree is the one containing the parts used to interconnect the Gunpla’s joints) and attach it to the GP base connecting peg. The crotch stopper should fit perfectly to the GP base connector.
Here’s my fully assembled HGUC 1/144 RGM-79C Powered GM from the Mobile Suit Gundam 0083 Stardust Memory OVA in an assault mode stance..
Here’s the same 1/144 RGM-79C Powered GM along with its more advanced brother mobile suit unit, the 1/144 HGUC RGM-79N GM Custom in different poses..
I had my 1/144 Build Burning Gundam mimic the Super Inazuma Kick pose from the GunBuster anime (shown in episode 5) since Build Burning Gundam invokes the power of flames instead of Lightning, this move is renamed “Super Blazing Kick”. This is completely different from the Build Burning Gundam’s execution of the “Seiso Geri” (Holy Spear Kick) as seen in the BFT anime. The position of the arms shown in this image is similar to GunBuster’s..
Another signature move seen in the “Street Fighter” game series is also mimicked by my Build Burning Gundam: Ryu/Ken’s “Shoryuken” (Rising Dragon Punch)..
My is a RG Astray Red Frame. I try to make it hold the saber by the hand but the hand doesn’t have enough grip to hold and lift it. That limit a lot of pose that I want to do, any tips or advices. Thanks
@tankagamine:disqus I have to say it looks pretty incredible the way it is! Not every Gunpla is designed for every post, and you worked it well.
For rg, and even HG some kits are very limited due to their size and parts for posability. Now the fact you got your RG to take this pose is increadibly as even the MG has a hard time maintaining this pose.
I have the same kit, you might have missed this kit (at least the one I have) has multiple hands on the risers, one set is a HG style grip set that don’t articulate like the ones shown above.
ASW-G-08 Gundam Barbatos (First Form) standing by at the CGS compound, waiting for impending attacks from the Gjallarhorn Martian Branch.
Posed my Gunpla on top corner of a roll-off garbage bin at the parking lot of a Honolulu Shipyard yesterday afternoon while my family were having a July 4th barbecue cookout at the shipyard docks hours before the fireworks began.
Big nod on the pose multiple kits together part. Really brings out the interactive appeal of a model kit. Takes you back to emotions brought out during action moments of the shows. Gunpla kits are more than just plastic toys, they are able to evoke feeling and spark interest. Here’s my RG RX 78-2 and HGUC Char’s Zaku II The Origin ver. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/a9f2ac6923e21657f3cdf1663cebfa852fad0835694d432f49020189dda7df30.jpg
Update..
Here’s the evolution of the improvements I’ve done with my two year old 1/144 HGBF BM-011B Build Burning Gundam flame effects after applying the hot glue layering technique on the clear flame effect parts that came with the kit. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/ac64391d4996568a11f8b5889e37c3e89715302402dab15060f6a0a3007bbc12.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/e1f6bfaf88bb3a26f0710c81013c65768e57bc8a7ae129b7fe6443310e4b0366.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/ed93342e75a98d18f5cec9310aa76462c1950499acc44b009f9dad8fc0b32dc5.jpg
im not much confident with this action pose of my SF daban model , cause i broke the main base of it ~_~ .. and here for my infinite justice .. sorry for blurry pics .. dont have good cam
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/90bb6bd907cbc13444a38a4dd1830d7e27c8dc4919edb2b834b91793a2abc647.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/d2af248241d54e100873d051e96cc06886f1d9d8971f5ce64c6c0c32853dbce7.jpg