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Gunpla Tools: What You Need to Build Your First Kit

The Gunpla tools you need and the ones that can wait: nippers, a hobby knife, sanding sticks, tweezers, Gundam Markers, top coat and a stand.

By Gundam Models editorial teamUpdated 5 min readHow we research

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A pair of blue-handled sprue cutters resting on a Gunpla runner

To build Gunpla you need one tool: a pair of plastic model nippers to cut parts from the runner. Bandai adds that tweezers and files help. After that, a hobby knife, sanding sticks and a Gundam Marker for panel lines cover most kits. Top coat and a display stand can wait until you have finished a build.

Bandai’s own beginner guide lists exactly that starting set: a modeling nipper to trim the runner from each part, tweezers and files to help, and Gundam Markers if you want to ink and paint. Airfix’s tool list for plastic modeling, written for glued kits, starts the same way: sprue cutters, a hobby knife, tweezers and sanding sticks.

The tools, from essential to optional

Tool Why you need it When to buy
Nippers Cut parts from the runner cleanly Before your first kit
Tweezers Place stickers and small parts With your first kit
Sanding sticks or files Smooth the nub where a part was cut First or second kit
Hobby knife Shave nubs and clean small details When you want cleaner parts
Gundam Markers Panel lines and small color details When you start finishing
Top coat Even shine, protect decals When you start finishing
Display stand Mid-air and action poses When you want to display

Nippers: the one tool to get right

A pair of blue-handled sprue cutters resting on a Gunpla runner

Bandai’s notes on tools are specific: use nippers made for plastic models or single-blade nippers. Plastic model nippers have thinner blade tips than nippers made for metal, so they fit into narrow gaps on the runner, cut cleanly and do not crush the part.

Airfix gives the same advice for any plastic kit and warns against scissors, which can stress or snap the plastic. Our nippers guide compares single-blade and standard nippers.

Nippers for plastic models

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Cleaning up: knife and sanding sticks

Every part leaves a small nub where it met the runner. Wikipedia describes clipping, carving or sanding that leftover away for a clean surface. Two tools do it:

  • A hobby knife. Bandai recommends a replaceable-blade art or design knife over a snap-off cutter, because snap-off blades can break or chip under pressure. Airfix lists a hobby knife for cleaning up mold lines and sprue nubs.
  • Sanding sticks or sandpaper. Bandai suggests waterproof sandpaper between 400 and 1000 grit; the higher the number, the finer the finish. See sanding Gunpla.

Safety

Knives and files cut skin as easily as plastic. Bandai asks builders to take care not to cut their fingers and says small children should use knives and files with a parent.

Gunpla finishing tools

Once a straight build feels easy, these make the biggest difference:

  1. Gundam Markers for panel lines and details. Mr. Hobby’s range includes fine-tip, pouring inking pen and metallic sets; read the Gundam Marker guide and how to panel line.
  2. Top coat to flatten the shine and protect decals. Bandai names water-based top coat as the spray to use on its kits; see top coat for Gunpla.
  3. A stand for poses a kit cannot hold alone. Bandai’s Action Base line is made for this; see Gundam stands.

Should you buy a tool set?

Boxed Gunpla tool sets bundle nippers, a knife, files and tweezers. They are an easy gift and a quick start. The one thing to check is the nippers: a set is only as good as its cutter, so look for nippers described as made for plastic models.

Gunpla and model kit tool sets

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Tools that can wait

Airfix’s list of tools for intermediate and advanced builders covers what comes after the basics:

  • A cutting mat to protect the table and make knife blades last longer.
  • A pin vise, a small hand drill, for drilling holes.
  • Low-tack masking tape for sharp paint lines.
  • Putty or filler for gaps and seams.
  • An airbrush and compressor, which Airfix calls a big step up in both quality and complexity; see airbrush kits for models.
  • Panel line wash and weathering tools for realism.
  • Cotton swabs, toothpicks and paper towels for corrections and cleaning.

None of these is needed for a snap-built Gunpla kit. Add them when a project calls for them.

Where to buy tools

Bandai’s notes say plastic model nippers are sold at hobby shops and DIY stores, knives at hobby shops and stationers, and sandpaper at hobby, stationery, DIY and car-accessory stores. Buying tools made for plastic models, rather than general-purpose ones, matters most for nippers.

Looking after your tools

  • Use nippers on plastic only; wire and metal dull fine blades.
  • Change knife blades often. A dull blade needs more force, and that is when it slips.
  • Tap the dust out of sanding sticks so the grit keeps cutting.
  • Cap markers straight after use so the tips do not dry out.

Tools by builder

  • First kit: nippers and tweezers. That is enough.
  • Second or third kit: add sanding sticks and a fine black Gundam Marker.
  • Ready to finish kits: add a hobby knife, a can of water-based matte top coat and decal setting solution.
  • Display builder: add an Action Base for the kits you want to pose in the air.

Guides in this section

An assembled Gunpla foot unit and loose parts beside a pair of sprue cuttersNippers
A built Gundam Exia plastic model in blue, white and redGundam Markers
Plastic parts of a Real Grade Zaku II kit still attached to their runners on a wooden tableSanding sticks
A built Gundam model in a dynamic pose holding a beam rifleStands and Action Bases

Read about nippers, Gundam Markers, sanding sticks and Gundam stands. For using the tools on a first kit, follow the build guide.

Frequently asked questions

What is the one tool I need for Gunpla?

A pair of nippers. Bandai says you need a modeling nipper to trim the runner from each part, and recommends nippers made for plastic models or single-blade nippers. Entry Grade kits are the exception: their parts come off by hand.

Do I need a Gunpla tool kit?

Not to start. A boxed tool set is convenient, but you can begin with nippers, tweezers and a sanding stick and add the rest when a kit needs it. Check what a set includes; the nippers matter most.

What kind of knife is best for Gunpla?

Bandai recommends a replaceable-blade art or design knife rather than a snap-off cutter, because snap-off blades can break or chip under pressure. Cut away from your fingers, and Bandai advises children to use knives with a parent.

What grit sandpaper should I use on Gunpla?

Bandai suggests keeping a few sheets of waterproof sandpaper between 400 and 1000 grit. The higher the number, the finer the grit and the smoother the finish.

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