Garage Kits 101 - GK History, Essential Supplies & More!

Garage kits (ガレージキット, GKs) are a niche hobby which is growing increasingly popular due to social media and an interest in figure collecting. Garage kits are model figures which typically require preparation and painting prior to assembly. GKs are produced worldwide, but this video will focus primarily on GKs of Japanese origin.

Garage Kits 101 is a lecture-style presentation which covers the basics of the garage kit hobby including GK history, how to purchase authentic garage kits, and building tools and steps. This was originally a panel presentation delivered at the U.S. anime convention Katsucon 2023. The video was expanded to ~40 min. to include details about GK history and supplies. This video is designed for those with no experience in the hobby – therefore, it does not include advanced techniques (e.g., clear resin/skin painting, photography tips, etc.) Have fun and be safe!

This video is presented by Plum Workshop , a veteran artist with over a decade of experience building GKs and creating resources for the English-speaking figure community: https://www.plumworkshop.com/

Time Stamps:

• 00:00 – Introduction and Background
• 02:56 – What is a Garage Kit?
• 04:57 – Garage Kit (GK) History and Figure Festivals
• 11:56 – How to Purchase Authentic GKs
• 15:42 – Beware of and Avoid Recasts (Bootlegs)!
• 18:09 – Building Introduction & Safety
• 21:24 – Essential Supplies
• 29:58 – Basic Preparation Steps
• 37:21 – Wrap-up & Conclusion

Helpful Links to Learn More About Garage Kits:

• Plum Workshop guides cover several GK topics (mail-order, proxying/forwarding, how to build garage kits): https://www.plumworkshop.com/guides
• Toshki’s guides include identifying the differences between original kits and recasts (a.k.a. bootlegs) and how to purchase from Treasure Festival online: https://toshki.xyz/
• Kalmia’s Workshop guides cover GK building basics and paint swatches: https://kalmiasworkshop.com/resources/
• Sukima Sangyo Youtube videos showcase building popular garage kits from start to finish:    / @sukimasangyo  
• Aslan (formerly Masked Modeller) Youtube videos offer a glimpse into a professional builder’s tips and tricks:    / Канал  

Music used throughout was provided by Pixabay; individual songs are available upon request.