The 10-day Gundam pop-up back in August of last year may have wrapped, but thankfully, you won’t have to hop on a plane to Japan to shop for coveted limited-edition model kits. Singapore’s first-ever Gundam flagship store, The Gundam Base, has just opened at Jewel Changi Airport, and it’s going to be a permanent space for collectors and fans to geek out over their fave characters.
From rare and exclusive models to a free Gundam-building workshop that doubles as a wholesome family activity, here’s what you can expect when you swing by the new store.
Image credit: Bandai Namco
Gundam is a long-running Japanese sci-fi franchise that kicked off in 1979 with the anime Mobile Suit Gundam. What started as a single series has since grown into a Marvel Comics-like universe with TV shows, movies, and games.
And if you’ve ever seen people poring over plastic model kits, that’s probably Gunpla. These are build-it-yourself replicas of the franchise’s iconic robots, AKA mobile suits, as well as the spacecraft that appear across the series.
The Gundam Base Satellite store in Kyoto, Japan.
Image credit: Richárd Ujszászi via Google Maps
It’s an official merch store for all things Gundam. You’ll find shelves of model kits and country-exclusive items you won’t find anywhere else at the stores.
Currently, there are 19 outlets around the world, including in places like Thailand, China, and Korea, with the newest among them being the Singapore store.
Much like the fanfare that erupted because of the recent opening of Jewel Changi Airport’s Mugiwara Store, the hype surrounding Singapore’s The Gundam Base is definitely warranted. Right from the get-go, you’ll be greeted by an impressive 1.8m-tall RX-78 statue standing guard in front of the store, presented in a coat of its iconic Gundam BASE Color.
As you head into the store, models take up every corner of the store, literally. We stopped by a towering display of assembled models on the left; this particular cabinet houses models from each era of Gundam history. You might recognise ones from the classic Gundam SEED series, while more diehard fans can ogle at mechas from the various animated films released over the years.
We were then introduced to 2 displays showcasing the different grades of Gunpla model kits. For the uninitiated, there are 5 main grades, namely Super Deformed, High Grade, Master Grade, Real Grade, and Perfect Grade.
| Grade | Description |
| Super Deformed (SD) | – Cheapest & easiest models to build – Have the least level of articulation – Good for children to build on their own |
| High Grade (HG) | – Most popular grade among those looking to get into the hobby – Generally quite affordable – 1/144 scale, ~12.5-15cm tall |
| Master Grade (MG) | – Popular with hobbyists & adult audiences – Have more parts than HG models, & have inner frames & moving parts, adding to their complexity – 1/100 scale, ~18-22cm tall |
| Real Grade (RG) | – Have the most detailed models & colour separation condensed into smaller 1/144 frames when compared to MG models – Have fragile frames that need to be handled delicately – Have the smallest parts out of all the grades so building them might be difficult for newbies |
| Perfect Grade (PG) | – Biggest & most expensive type of model there is – Have the most parts out of any grade – 1/60 scale, ~30cm tall |
The Gundam Base Singapore also stocks exclusive model kits that can be hard to find outside of other Gundam Bases. For instance, they have Fukuoka-exclusive kits such as the RGZ-91 Re-GZ (Char’s Counterattack Ver.) ($86) and the RGM-86R GM III (Axis Shock Image Color) ($27). Currently, the store does not stock any Singapore-exclusive kits, but that may change in the near future.
Another model that caught our eye with its gilded coat was the Hyaku Shiki Ver 2.0 (Mechanical Core Plating) ($216), which was limited to 1 piece per customer. The Gundam Base Limited Burning Gundam Hyper Mode ($203) was equally as striking; consider copping these golden-hued kits for extra huat this CNY.
At the back of the store, you can find a cosy workshop area. There are benches and tables here to sit on where you can while the hours away working on your newly-bought kits.
For an extra layer of serenity, have a seat at the table facing Jewel Changi Airport’s Rain Vortex. Although it’s a bit obscured by plants, the fountain’s therapeutic pitter-patter is a relaxing soundtrack to build your Gunpla models to. Don’t forget to snap a pic at the massive blueprint photo op located on the right of the workshop area.
But if you’d like to dip your toes into the hobby before committing to buying a model kit, The Gundam Store Singapore also conducts free workshops on weekends where you can try your hand at putting together a simple Gunpla build. You don’t need any prior knowledge or extra tools either; we took around 45 minutes to complete ours, so we’re sure even little ones will have a rewarding time here.
However, we’ve gotten word that these workshops aren’t available right now, so keep an eye on their Instagram page for the latest updates.
Whether you’re an aspiring Gunpla collector or a seasoned builder, you’ll have a field day at the new The Gundam Base Singapore store. Its shelves are lined with intricate model kits that you can spend the whole day working on, and with Valentine’s coming up, perhaps you’ve already found the perfect date idea for the big day.
Address: 78 Airport Boulevard, #04-219, Jewel Changi Airport, Singapore 819666
Opening hours: 10am-10pm, Daily
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Photography by Khoo Yong Hao.
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