Thinking critically about craft hobbies and the subjectivity of what is "best"

Recently, I have gotten into the hobby of assembling, detailing, and painting plastic model kits, specifically Gunpla (the term combining "Gundam" and "Plastic"). As my first craft hobby, I've done lots of research about what the community considers the "best" in terms of habits, techniques, and tool/paint brands.

The Reddit community r/Gunpla has been invaluable in assembling a compilation of collective knowledge for me to put to use. Eventually, I put together and detailed my first Gundam kit, the High-Grade RX-79 Ez8.

Hurray!!! Excellent!!! There's one problem, though. This hobby is expensive. While High-Grade kits usually cost $15-$25 (which is a pretty good price), the paints used to detail these kits are an expense in and of itself, costing around $10-$15 per spray can. Sure, you could go for an airbrush, costing you about $200~ and potentially saving you more money on buying paint in the future, but good airbrushing takes skill and time to achieve the finish you want. A far easier and more accessible alternative is through spray cans.

However, the downside is that hobby spray cans usually pile up fast; they only carry 100ml of paint, making 1 can last only 1 kit. This becomes an issue when painting multiple parts with different colors, not including the use of primer, topcoat, decals, and panel liner. On average, you're dropping $50~ just to customize one High-Grade kit.

Naturally, I went looking for cheaper alternatives for an already cheap alternative with the larger community. As it stands, r/Gunpla is avidly against using industrial spray paints (Krylon, Bonsy, Rust-Oleum) as a substitute for hobby spray paints (Tamiya, Mr. Hobby), even if the former is significantly cheaper. Common reasons include:

The paint used in industrial-grade paints damages plastic

Industrial spray cans cause paint pooling

There is little to no spray control in those types of spray cans

Here is one example of many Reddit posts where the question of using industrial spray paints is answered with these points.

As a beginner, hearing so many repeat the same issues made me completely averse to the idea of industrial paints. Alas, was my wallet fated to suffer the cost of only buying hobby-grade spray paints?! After even more research, I found one reliable Gunpla blogger who wrote an entire post on why and how these sentiments about industrial-grade paints are actually inaccurate.

According to blogger Matanglawin on his personal blog, X marks the Gundam Spot, the finish using these types of paints is comparable even to airbrushing quality if you know how to properly use them. As a critique of the larger collective opinion on industrial paints, Matanglawin provides instructions on how these paints should be used (from his direct experience), noting that most of the issues stated before are from using these types of paints as you would hobby paints.

Plain and simple, hobby paints and industrial paints have different properties that require different techniques to get good results. Matanglawin asserts the need to spray farther and lighter as making all the difference.

To my surprise, I had found a blogger who addressed the echo chamber and elitism regarding paint brands. Many hobbyists can often repeat an opinion without ever trying the types of paint themselves. It was an essential reminder that subjectivity plays a huge part in deciding what is considered "best" in a craft hobby. So yes, indeed, my wallet may live to see another paycheck.

The next time I need the larger community for information, I'll keep in mind that even the most popular information requires a level of critical thinking. Matanglawin's blog is also a treasure trove of Gunpla hobby tips for beginner hobbyists. I, for one, will be taking my time reading through his opinions to help expand my own knowledge.

In reflection, this discovery was a clear reminder of a common phrase that makes this hobby so appealing to me in the first place: "Gunpla is freedom."

百ロボット斬

So, these are figures that released last year, all throughout 2023. I was just waiting to be able to justify shipping 20-30USD figures, by DHL... That kept going, until it was already too big of a shipment, and too expensive to justify at all! lol!

Long story longer, I was waiting for HLJ to have a lower shipping option, during the holiday season, but I kind of ended up paying more, than if I had shipped way earlier! I also missed out on getting Cloud Bring Arts, because they never seem to send me in-stock notifications. *sigh* That was frustrating as all heck, and now I am left empty handed, and I'll probably have to get him from SE's USA shop, which charges an eye off the face for s/h. T___T;;;

From far left, to bottom front row: BanDai BLEACH SOLID AND SOULS Byakuya Kuchiki Prize Figure; BanDai Entry Grade Uchiha Sasuke (Naruto Shippuden) Model Kit x2; BanDai Naruto Memorable Saga Sasuke Uchiha Prize Figure; below BanDai NARUTO VIBRATION STARS UCHIHA SASUKE II Prize Figure; BanDai NARUTO Shippuden EFFECTREME UCHIHA ITACHI Prize Figure x2; Naruto Shippuden Uchiha Sasuke Figure (TV Anime 20th Anniversary Costume) Prize Figure x2; BanDai NARUTO Shippuden PANEL SPECTACLE Sasuke Uchiha Prize Figure x2; BanDai Naruto Shippuden Vibration Stars Sasuke Uchiha Version A Prize Figure; below BanDai Naruto Shippuden Vibration Stars Sasuke Uchiha III Prize Figure. Front Row: Square Enix NieR:Automata Ver1.1a: Clear File B; World Box AT203 1:6 Action Figure Female Body (Pale); FuRyu A Certain Magical Index III: Special Figure -Accelerator- Prize Figure; Medicom UDF Sanrio Characters Series 1 Kiki Non-Scale Figure; Square Enix FINAL FANTASY X Plush TIDUS Mini Plush; SO-TA Attack on Titan 3D Maneuver Gear ver.1.5: 1Box (4pcs); BanDai Bikkura Tamago Naruto Shippuden Koronto Up Mascot (Random 1P) x6 ;Good Smile Company Huggy Good Smile Kagamine Len Ver. Non-Scale Figure; MIC Puripura Fairy Pico Vol.1 & Vol.3; Imomodoll PVC Doll Head DaDa; BanDai Bikkura Tamago Sanrio Characters Kamatkyun x4 (1 pictured). BanDai Bikkura Tamago Sanrio Characters Funyumaru x2, not in top picture.

Most of these are Sasuke prize figures, the ones I don't have doubles on here, I already received in previous shipments. Or, I have still to ship. DX I am super happy with all these, and very excited to build the Sasuke model kit, despite it being entry grade. It looks very nice! I also got a few bath-bombs, because one has a Sasuke, and the others are so adorable, Sanrio characters I couldn't pass by! I did get a full set of the Naruto bath-bomb charters, but I had to get six, and got two of Sakura and Naruto! I wish I had gotten two Sasuke instead. I am also happy that World Box's body is a decent match for my Very Cool Miss Spetsnaz head sculpt. I hope the photos of that, don't send this to the dark side... like it matters. lol!

And then they kissed

(Suits are live lance heaven and deathscythe)

Merry Christmas everyone #christmas #christmastime #xmas #santaclaus #modelkit #scaleaircraft #aircraftmodel #135PaintedFigures #diorama #wwiidiorama #135paintedminiatures #modelkits #plasticmodelkit #plasticfigure #scalemodelsworld #scalefigure #scaleminiatures #135figures #PaintedMiniatures #mimiature #militarymodels #resinfigure #resinminiature #ProBuiltModel https://www.instagram.com/p/CmlXLB3yWPQ/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Tamiya - 1/24 Nissan Skyline GT-R R32 (Infiniti G) Sports Car Scaleriders.com #modelkits #modelkit #wheels #rims #aoshimakits #plasticmodelkit #scaleriders #hobby #modelkits #modelcarculture #plasticmodels #scalemodels #modelcars #modelcar #jdm #124scale #124scalemodel #124motoring #tamiyamodels #tamiya #r32gtr (at Los Angeles, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/CqQwinevyON/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

i love to arbitrarily sort

Jyuden kun Ver. Gourai.

A fun build and a great addition to My Gourai set.

In today's tower(#102), The Rare MG Zeong has landed. MG Rezel, Turn A, Kyrios, and a few more. HG Kshatriya and Farsia splash down as well as RG Full Armor and Hi-Nu Gundam. Get them while they last.

Hello fans of historical modeling! See what beautiful WW2 miniatures we painted for you! We are waiting for your other historical models that we will paint for you!

Krusader Liger: My Original #Zoids Design from 2008. Made this in highschool when I wanted to be a designer for the Zoids franchise. 😊 クルセイダーライガー：2008年の私の #ゾイド デザイン。ゾイドフランチャイズのデザイナーになりたいと思った高校でこれを作りました。

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[10-18-2022] I FINALLY finished this 1/100 MG RX-78-2 Ver.3.0 (Gundam Base Clear Color) last night. I've been letting this dude sit on my desk for weeks (maybe months) when all I had to finish was an arm, the head, and the weapons. I've come to realize that I'm not the biggest fan of clear kits because the plastic is incredibly brittle. I snapped 2 parts in the legs almost immediately. If I had built the regular version, I'm sure I might've enjoyed the build a lot more but I wanted to do the clear one for my 50th MG. That aside, not too bad. I recently picked up the 2.0 (which is more anime accurate) but I think I'm gonna take a break from the RX-78-2 for a bit. Can't decide if I wanna go with another UC kit next (maybe Zeon) or move into another universe. We'll see what I'm feeling.... #MG #MasterGrade #RX78 #RX782 #RX782Gundam #ClearColor #GundamBase #GundamBaseLimited #LimitedEdition #SpecialEdition #UniversalCentury #OneYearWar #Gunpla #Plamo #ModelKits #GunplaBuilder #GunplaCollector #Hobby #Otaku #OtaCool #Weeb #WeebShit #Mecha #ThisIsWhyImBroke https://www.instagram.com/p/Cj4fVTdudeO/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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