In an age defined by constant notifications, endless scrolling, and digital fatigue, a quiet yet powerful hobby known as Gunpla, short for Gundam plastic models, is drawing Singaporeans back to the table. What may appear at first glance to be a niche pastime has evolved into a multigenerational activity rooted in patience, creativity, and community.
Photo credit: The Gundam Base Singapore Artist’s Impression
The official opening of The Gundam Base Singapore at Jewel Changi Airport on February 3, 2026 marks a significant milestone for local and regional fans. More than a retail space, Bandai Namco’s flagship concept store is designed as an immersive hub where enthusiasts can explore themed Gundam model exhibits, interactive build experiences, and exclusive merchandise.
A 1.8 metre RX-78 [Gundam BASE Color] Gundam statue welcomes visitors at the entrance, while a Photo Booth featuring a large blueprint of the fan-favourite RX-78-2 Gundam offers a dedicated space for fans to capture the moment. The store also features a dedicated workshop area specially designed for newcomers who are keen to try Gunpla building for the first time. During weekends, these model-building workshops are free to the public, with families encouraged to participate together as a bonding activity.
Located at Level 4 (#04-219), 78 Airport Boulevard, Singapore 819666, the store operates daily from 10am to 10pm, serving not only Singapore-based collectors but also Gundam fans across the region.
With its official launch, The Gundam Base Singapore reinforces a broader shift, one where Gunpla is not simply about assembling plastic parts, but about mindfulness, patience, and shared experience.
To better understand how this hobby has evolved into something deeper, we spoke to two long-time and avid Gunpla collectors, Kenny Lim and Benjamin Wong. Read on to find out more.
Interview with Kenny Lim, Long-Time and Avid Gunpla Collector
1) Many people associate mindfulness with activities like meditation or yoga. In what ways does building Gunpla give you a similar sense of calm or mental clarity?
Kenny Lim: For me, building Gunpla puts me in the same headspace people describe when they talk about mindfulness. Once I’m cutting, sanding, or snapping parts together, my attention narrows naturally. And I transcended into the “zone”. The outside noise fades, time slows down, and I’m fully present with what’s in my hands. That quiet focus is incredibly relaxing, claiming and of course mental clarity.
2) What is it about the physical, hands-on process of building Gunpla that helps you switch off from daily stress or digital fatigue?
Kenny Lim: A big part of it is the “hands on” approach. My hands are busy with very specific actions like cutting, sanding, snapping parts together. That pulls my attention from my worries and distractions and focuses on what I am doing right now. It’s the same reason people find cooking or woodworking calming — your body anchors your mind.
3) Unlike digital games or passive entertainment, Gunpla encourages builders to work step by step and enjoy small, tangible milestones. Why do you think this kind of experience is especially meaningful today?
Kenny Lim: Gunpla offers tangible rewards through a deliberate, hands-on process. You plan, prepare, and build one piece at a time, with each completed step serving as a small but meaningful milestone. By the time the model is finished, those incremental efforts accumulate into a deeply satisfying sense of completion.
In contrast, much of today’s digital experience revolves around instant gratification—quick wins, endless scrolling, constant stimulation with no real closure. Gunpla is quite the opposite. It slows you down, demands patience, and rewards sustained attention with something concrete and lasting.
4) Gunpla is often seen as a solo hobby. How did it become something you could share with friends and fellow collectors over time?
Kenny Lim: Gunpla may begin as a solitary activity, but it rarely remains that way. At first, it was just ME, the kit, the tools, and my dictated pace. That quiet, inward focus is part of its appeal. Yet the moment a build is finished, something shifts. You start seeking out like-minded individuals to share what you’ve created. Hobby shops, cafés, online forums, and social platforms become gathering points—places to connect through a shared language of plastic and patience.
Over time, group build nights, hobby shop tables, and Discord calls—where everyone stands in comfortable silence—turn solitude into companionship. Conversation becomes optional; the simple knowledge that others are building alongside you is enough. In moments like these, the idea of Gunpla as a purely solitary hobby makes little sense.
5) As long-time and avid Gunpla collectors, how has your relationship with the hobby evolved from when you first started to what it represents in your life today?
Kenny Lim: When I first got into Gunpla, it’s usually pretty simple: this looks cool, I want to build it. The focus is on the end result—the pose, the rush of snapping the last piece in place. It’s exciting, fast, and maybe a little chaotic.
Then I started to pay more attention to the process, learning and understanding the necessity of each step, the build up and everything in between. I started to develop that sense of colour, composition and style. I settled into a routine and like clock work, I set to work on projects every day without fail.
Then it progresses every further, I am taking part in competitions, bringing the craft to even greater heights. And before I know it, I am organizing competitions to cater to all modelers of all skill levels. Giving back to the community you can say? And that’s what Gunpla does to me!
6) What does the opening of The Gundam Base Singapore mean to you as local collectors, and how do you see it supporting both newcomers and the wider Gunpla community?
Kenny Lim: The opening of The Gundam Base Singapore feels like recognition. It tells me and local collectors that this hobby matters and that our community has grown strong enough to be seen on a global stage. It’s more than just a retail space — it’s a gathering point, a place to be inspired, and a way to connect with others who share the same passion. For many of us, it’s a dream come true and we finally have a Gundam Base to call our own.
Interview with Benjamin Wong, Long-Time and Avid Gunpla Collector
1) Many people associate mindfulness with activities like meditation or yoga. In what ways does building Gunpla give you a similar sense of calm or mental clarity?
Benjamin Wong: Yes, it’s a calming hobby I’ve enjoyed for over three decades. It helps me stay centered and serves as my weekly “me time,” where I can reset and regain mental clarity.
2) What is it about the physical, hands-on process of building Gunpla that helps you switch off from daily stress or digital fatigue?
Benjamin Wong: The hands-on process itself is therapeutic. During assembly, it feels like entering a safe, peaceful space where daily stresses fade away, allowing both the mind and eyes to rest from constant digital screens.
3) Unlike digital games or passive entertainment, Gunpla encourages builders to work step by step and enjoy small, tangible milestones. Why do you think this kind of experience is especially meaningful today?
Benjamin Wong: In today’s world, many people are used to instant results, which can sometimes lead to frustration later on. Gunpla gently teaches patience, showing kids that steady effort and small steps add up, and that by staying consistent, they can complete any journey they begin.
4) Gunpla is often seen as a solo hobby. How did it become something you could share with friends and fellow collectors over time?
Benjamin Wong: It’s really amazing to be honest, I share my passion online through social media platforms like IG and Youtube and end up making friends who love the hobby too. It’s so awesome to meet like-minded people along the way.
5) As long-time and avid Gunpla collectors, how has your relationship with the hobby evolved from when you first started to what it represents in your life today?
Benjamin Wong: It all started when my mum bought me my first SD Gundam kit from Thomson Yohan as a child. Gunpla has been part of my life ever since. Winning BAKUC and GBWC made it even more special, it’s not just a hobby, it’s a lifestyle, and even my holidays revolve around it.
6) What does the opening of The Gundam Base Singapore mean to you as local collectors, and how do you see it supporting both newcomers and the wider Gunpla community?
Benjamin Wong: It’s a big big win for Singapore Gunpla fans and not just Singapore fans but everyone in the region as it’s located in Jewel! The Gundam base workshops are definitely great for family and friends and introducing newcomers to enjoy Gunpla.
With daily operating hours from 10am to 10pm and a permanent home at Jewel Changi Airport, The Gundam Base Singapore represents more than retail expansion. It signals recognition of a thriving community and reinforces Gunpla’s unique role in today’s fast-paced world.
Through its immersive environment, exclusive offerings, and free weekend workshops designed for families and newcomers, the store strengthens the idea that Gunpla is not just about models. It is about mindfulness, creativity, patience, and connection.
For collectors like Kenny Lim and Benjamin Wong that connection has lasted decades. Now, Singapore has an official space where the next generation of builders can begin their journey, one carefully assembled piece at a time.
The Gundam Base Singapore
Operating Hours: 10am to 10pm daily
Location: 78 Airport Boulevard, #04-219, Jewel Changi Airport, Singapore 819666
