Gunpla Lounge

Once again, The Sleeves Oregon Gunpla Community will be at Kumoricon to host the Gunpla Lounge; the spot for Gundam, Mecha, and Model Kit enthusiasts!

What is "Gunpla"?

Gunpla [ガンプラ, Ganpura] (short for Gundam Plastic) is a term used to describe Bandai's line of Plamo [プラモ, Puramo] (short for Plastic Model) kits based on the "Mobile Suit Gundam" franchise. Building Gunpla has been a staple hobby in Japan since the 1980s and has found its way into the hearts of builders all around the world! It's not uncommon to walk into a Japanese department store and find an entire floor devoted just to Gundam models. Anime fans in America have been building them for years, and more recently they've become more prevalent and easier to obtain.

One very compelling aspect of Gundam models is not only building them, but painting and even customizing them as well! These models can be simply admired by the builder or taken to model competitions to be compared with their peers. Bandai even holds an annual international contest, the Gunpla Builders World Cup, in at least 16 countries. One wouldn't have to look far to find all sorts of amazing customizations on Instagram or even TikTok!

What is the "Gunpla Lounge"?

The Gunpla Lounge is a place to hang out and build Gundam models, but other sci-fi and anime models are welcome as well! Beginners and experts alike are encouraged to stop by and talk shop about models, compare techniques, or just sit down and build while we chit-chat. There will be all sorts of events and fun things to try out, see below for details. We'll also have tools you can use, award-winning Gunpla professionals you can consult for tips, and possibly some witty mecha banter available all weekend. Bring a model from your backlog or one you picked up from a vendor and relax at our Gunpla Lounge!

Gunpla Lounge features and activities

For Kumoricon 2025, The Gunpla Lounge will host all sorts of activities and events throughout the weekend, including:

Open Building Space - All Weekend

Bring in a model from home, or one purchased from the Kumori market, borrow some of our tools, and have a relaxing build sesh! You can also hang out with friends, new and old, and chit-chat with fellow builders.

Mini Photo Booth - All Weekend

Take photos of your models, or even your new purchased anime statues with our mini photobooth! With excellent lighting, different background inserts, and even props; you can take some truly excellent photos for posting online or for your own collection.

Gunpla Repair Bay - All Weekend

Do you have a broken or messed up Gundam model at home that you're not sure how to fix? Bring it to our Gunpla Repair Bay and our experienced experts will try their best to fix it up for you. Please understand that we can't fix everything but we will certainly try, and that it's possible the model may be further damaged in the process.

Plastic Model Build & Take - $10-$15 - Check your schedule

We will be hosting two different types of build and take events; the Short & Sweet course, and the Full Armor course. As the name implies, the the Short & Sweet course will feature models that are simpler to build and/or have a lower overall parts count, great for kids or folks who don't want to spend a lot of time building. The Full Armor course will largely feature models that take a bit more time and/or are a bit more complex, for those who want a more impressive model or want to really immerse themselves in trying the hobby. Both events are great for beginners, however, and we will have tools to borrow, experts hanging around to help, and even some fun bits and bobs for customizing your models when they're done! Models are yours to keep, and you can even stop by our mini photo booth to snap some pics of your newly built model.

Most models will be $10 while a select few will be $15 to cover material costs. Model supply and varieties are in limited quantities.

Tutorials - Check your schedule

Learn some new tips and tricks with us, as we'll be doing hands on tutorials both for dry-brush weathing (making parts look like paint has chipped off) as well as application of water slide decals. There'll be lots of spare parts to practice on, so don't miss out on learning some simple, but very effective, techniques to enhance your builds.

TCG Learn-to-play - Check your schedule

Come try out the new Gundam Trading Card Game with hands-on play sessions! This game is easy to learn, quick, and very fun. Let us know what other TCG's you've played, and we can try to help "translate" mechanics and terminology to better help your learn. Check the convention schedule for dates & times.

Gundam Model Showcase - Check your schedule

Bring your best model(s) and compete for prizes, or come by and check out these masterpieces and vote for people's choice! Models will be graded for paint job, overall creativity, and technical mastery, as well as people's choice awards voted for by any attendee who wants to participate.

Gunpla is an artform, and as such, shouldn't be bound too heavily by rules or expectations. After all, Gunpla is freedom! These giant anime robots already don't bend to the laws of physics or tactical logic, so why should your entry? Express yourself with your piece. Is yours a gritty, realistic machine for war? Maybe it's painted up like a shiny new car? Is yours wearing a cloak? Break out the bedazzler if you want—as long as the model looks good, we don't mind what look you're going for.

Rules:

1. The model must be an official Bandai Gundam model. No knockoffs or other anime models here, folks! Kitbashing with multiple models is perfectly welcome and even encouraged, as well as dioramas, but overall, it should be a Bandai Gundam model we're looking at. As long as your model is from the Gundam universe and is an official Bandai model kit, you're good to go!
2. Your entry cannot be offensive or inappropriate! Your model must conform with the code of conduct for the convention. Costumes, props, or items of clothing which are vulgar, obscene, graphic, or sexually themed are not permitted. If you are unsure if your piece would violate this policy, please ask.

There will be 3 categories for judging, based partially on scale as well as content:

Standard Gundam Models: High Grade, Master Grade, Real Grade, Perfect Grade, and more! Gundam models regardless of scale or grade belong to this category.

SD ("Super Deformed"), Mascot, and Non-Mecha: A category all to themselves, here is the place for Haropla, SD Gundams of all Flavors, Petit'gguys and their friends, as well as the humanoid Figure-Rise Standard models from the Gundam Universe such as Super Fumina, Suletta Mercury, and so on.

Diorama: Gundams displayed in a diorama will be judged in their own category. These will generally be models with elaborate bases, sometimes depicting a scene. Any number of models are OK to include in this category. As long as it's deemed a diorama, it's fair game for judging as such.

Questions? Please email gunpla@kumoricon.org.

About The Sleeves Oregon Gunpla Community

The Sleeves is a group of Gundam fans from all over Oregon and surrounding areas, and has been serving the local community for over 10 years. They host several events every month at local hobby shops and card shops, as well as online events, competitions and more. Their motto is "Keep Gunpla Weird", a very Portlandy take on the mantra that "Gunpla is Freedom". The Sleeves are the most influential Gunpla club on the West Coast, having inspired several other clubs, helping established clubs become more successful, and even having a hand in official IPMS and GWBC sanctioned events. The Sleeves have been contributing to Kumoricon's programming for several years now, and this year is no different. Interested in joining their club? Visit them at the Gunpla Lounge to learn more.