Hey, I’m Ben, the builder behind GunplaForJoy.
This whole thing started because of my son.
He went home with his Kamen Rider. I went home with a Gun Cannon — my very first Gundam.
I sat down, opened the box, and started clipping parts. By the time it was finished I knew this hobby had me. Something about the process — the focus it requires, the satisfaction of watching a kit come together piece by piece — felt genuinely rewarding in a way I wasn’t expecting.
That was a few years ago. The backlog has grown considerably since.
Why This Hobby Means What It Does
I carry a lot of responsibility in my life. A lot of noise, a lot of expectations, a lot of moving parts that aren’t always in my control.
I also live with an anxiety disorder and wrestle with perfectionism — something I’m honest about because I think a lot of people in this hobby do too, even if they don’t always say it out loud.
Gunpla has become one of the places where I get to set the tone. I decide the pace. I decide the direction. Nobody has any expectations of me except the ones I set for myself. There’s something deeply calming about sitting down at the workbench, picking up a part, and just building.
It has helped me work through anxiety in ways I didn’t anticipate. The perfectionism is still very much a work in progress — anyone who has watched me agonize over a panel line can confirm that — but the hobby has given me a healthier place to channel it.
I truly find joy in building these kits. And that joy gets a little bigger with every one I complete.
That’s where the name came from.
How I Build
I’m not a purist. Stock paint schemes are fine, but what really excites me is taking a kit somewhere unexpected — a custom concept, a color palette that means something, a technique I’ve never tried before.
Every build has at least one thing I’ve never done before. That’s not an accident.
My builds typically involve:
- Airbrushing — full kit custom paint from primer to final coat
- Panel lining — bringing out detail and depth in every build
- Scribing — re-scribing existing lines and adding new ones for color separation
- Learning — always at least one new technique per build
I’m a few years in and still very much figuring it out. That’s kind of the point.
About This Site
I started GunplaForJoy because I wanted to document my builds properly — not just the finished photos, but the whole story. The concept, the process, the mistakes, the moments where something finally clicked.
I’m also part of Gunpla Colorado, a local build community that has pushed me to challenge myself in ways I wouldn’t have on my own.
Here’s what you’ll find here:
- Build Showcase — finished kits, full photo sets, the final result
- Build Log — the full story behind each build, from box to completion
- Articles — techniques, tips, and things I’ve picked up along the way
If you’re just starting out — or thinking about it — you belong here too. This hobby has room for everyone, at every skill level. You just have to enjoy the build.
Find me on Instagram @gunplaforjoy