Garage Kit Beginner Essentials💁‍♀️ and Winner for Super Sailor Mercury giveaway! 🎉 (Subs ESP) 

Hi guys! Hope you enjoy and find this video helpful to get on your gk adventures! *For those that want to know where to buy a kit, please check the description box as it has a lot of useful links*, including a link to my site where I have a complete guide on where and how you can buy a kit (original or recast), please give it a check and also visit my Personalized amazon list for you guys, I took the time to sit down and look for things that I would purchase if I was just starting out. Tell your friends and family to watch the video and like it, the more likes it has, the closer it is to you guys watching me paint kit by hand with no fancy toys 😂 wouldn't that be fun to watch?

Ahahaha I just realized I accidentally purchased a garage kit thinking it’s a regular anime figure so, here we go LMFAO .

I’m not super interested in actually painting GKs, but I think they’re beautiful and I love your content so I couldn’t help but watch this! One thing I want to advise to any artist who paints figures, experienced or new, is to watch and consume content from all sorts of artists. And what I mean by that is, I’m a doll artist, and I’ve learned a huge amount of stuff for my craft by watching videos by people who aren’t doll artists. Just for example, it’s largely believed by many doll artists that you can’t remove the yellow glue stains left on some old dolls. However, I recently tried a technique by OddTinkering that’s used to de-yellow plastic on old electronics cases, and it worked! What i’m saying is: seek knowledge everywhere. Find expertise in unexpected places. Watch doll customizer’s content, watch mini figure painter’s content, watch anything that might be tangentially related to your craft! Avatar The Last Airbender wasn’t kidding when it said that the greatest benders were the ones who used techniques from all the other nations.

We got tactical homing sandals now, nobody is safe

Your mother gave me the inspiration to try something new. She must be protected at all costs! LAUNCH THE CHANCLAS!

In terms of learning through making mistakes. “The master has failed more times than the beginner has even tried.” ― Stephen McCranie

Why am I watching this? I'm not even into garage kit resin figures! Oh wait. I'm still watching because Leona's humour is off the charts!! X'D

So this beginner kit video is INSANELY informative. Thank you Leona, I hope more people join the community thanks to this video. I honestly wish i had saw this prior to my first G&K kit. The biggest draw back to someone who wants to get into this hobby. It's very expensive. Getting a G&K kit even your first one looking at 45-50+$ the little parts add up really fast. On everything i needed from cutting mat, to an airbrush table, to the modeling paints that are just so wonderfully expensive to the kits themselves. I dont think i was actually prepared for the income tank on this hobby. I've probably spent a solid 1500$ on all my kits, supplies, tools, toolboxes, tables, lamps, gloves, paints, protection, glues.. etc. I did buy premium tools and materials that will last, but this was many, many, many hours of research that this video in 20 minutes would have saved me so much time and money. This is a 10/10 video, if you're getting into this hobby, make sure you watch this video multiple times and do your research on each material that you buy. For anyone getting into this hobby your biggest con isnt that it's hard, or that you cant do it. It's that getting started from scratch like i did took over a year of budgeting and spending. Your biggest Con is that your base materials you're looking at 400-600$ minimum to get started. Buying the cheapest tools and cheapest paints you can get your hands on. After you get your first figure and you actually do it. it's oh so worth it, having these materials listed on leonas video not only got me into building G&K but also taking my talent and moving over to 1/700 ship models, and warhammer miniatures. You can branch out to many other things if G&K isnt exactly your cup of tea. The biggest advice i can give to a beginner. Don't get discouraged, I very much would like to see new people getting into this hobby because i love seeing new figures released due to popularity and having new techniques show up on forums and videos. Assembling and painting is not as hard as your might think. Take your time find a tranquil spot with some music and dont rush yourself. You're creating art not trying to win a race. You can do it. Once you have something you've worked for purchased, built, painted, and showcase. It's a great feeling that you'll only understand once you do it yourself. Closing PSAs and info i've learned. - Avoid amazon if you can they will price gouge especially on miniatures, paints, and tools. Go there for organizers, and smaller tools like brass rods, alligator clips, glues and such. -Do not use Ebay. -WET SAND YOUR FIGURE, and make sure you wear a mask when cutting and sanding anything resin or epoxy, These fumes and particles are literal poison. (Resin dust smells like permanent marker) You could end up with something similar to asbestos poisoning. -Don't let anyone tell you otherwise, a 50$ single action cheap airbrush works just as good as a 200$ double action one. paint is a different story. -THIN YOUR PAINTS. Good lord. Read the paint thinner bottle for exact measurements, And use a wet pallete. 10$ wet pallete will save you 100's in paint drying out.(Miniac youtube channel has good info on this) -Leonas website can help with choosing your first kit. I would also suggest trying to build a scale model of a vehicle at least once just to dip your toes how everything works for about 15-20$. You'll learn a lot this way without shredding 50+$ on a figure. -Don't get let down when you mess up. You're going to mess up. That's art and thats what makes your thing you created yours. It's unique to you. Keep painting, keep learning. If you're here reading this we need more people like you in this world. who are interested in anything other than TV and sodie pops. couple helpful google sites for beginners Go look at leonas website for the best info on where to buy figures, I suggest Shop2000 (GK-M) and E2046. Both of these places i've bought from and give good products. MicroMark (small tools/cheap paints) K&J magnetics (any size mags for super cheap) My figure collection (database for characters to figures) You're gonna do good. I believe in you stranger.

I pretended to take a 20 min bathroom break at work so I could watch this ._. Love your channel

I started this wonderful hobby just over a month ago, I learned everything I know thanks to your videos and I was able to get excellent results right away by successfully completing even 2 kits 😂. When I started the second kit, I decided to film and upload the video to YT, to see how I would improve over time and to get suggestions from other people. I spent hours and hours editing the video, and here I realized how much you use to program, record and edit your videos, and all this is just for us. I can tell you with certainty that everything you do really takes a lot. You are really good and nice, even if I understand little English, I can always understand everything perfectly and learn new things. So ... Thanks for everything.

The intro is too funny 😂😂

This video inspired me to get started!! I'm an artist in a different field, and I totally struggle with impostor syndrome and wanting to be perfect the first time. The cameo from your mum is something I really needed to hear. Thank you so much to you both, and thank you for being so kind and sharing your knowledge!

Mama gracing us with her presence was the highlight of this video. It was the highlight of my day. Sometimes you just just need a mom telling you to keep trying.

Time to call 10k people to like this video... *Wooshes of to get A LOT of friends...*

I loved watching this video! But the aftermath of the Chancla still hurts inside me. D; Thank you so much for your hard work, Leona! Keep up the hard work!!

I finally bought my first kit, and now I'm anxiously awaiting for it to ship! Perfect timing with the video.

This video was so helpful! I wish you had posted it before I made my first kit xDD I had very basic things. Used a knife to cut off any imperfections, super glue to glue the pieces together, some old acrylics I had laying around at home and a normal paint brush. I made 2B from Nier Automata and it turned out soooo good. Exactly like I wanted it! I was so happy. My only mistake was that i accidentally broke off the little peg that was suppose to attach the swords blade to the handle... so... I had to make my own peg from a toothpick.

You're so inspiring and funny, Leona💜 I learned so much from your videos. Can't wait to see Usagi and Mamoru GK got painted 👀

Krylon also makes a UV resistant Archival varnish. protects color over time.

Thank you so so much for making this video!! I just bought my first garage kits this week and had NO CLUE where or how to start. Your instructions and advice are very easy to understand and make me confident and excited that I'll be able to make some beautiful figures!!

Oh my god! Was that your momma?! I love her! More videos with advice from your momma, please! Also, this is a great video! I have 3 GK's and I'm so scared to start on them, lol. I've built like 1,000 plastic models, but GK/resin seems so intimidating. But this video makes me feel like I can give it a go!

tysm for this video. i've always wanted a figure of my favorite character, but she is from and older series, so her pre-painted/assembled figures are rare and range from $150-$300 on reseller sites. a few months back, i got rly lucky and found a full kit for her figure on mercari that was only $15, but i haven't even started to assemble it bc the task seemed so daunting. this vid is definitely pushing me to research a bit further and finally build her. i can't thank you enough

thanks so much for this! I'm an artist but GKs are so different and look so intimidating! I'd still really love to try tho, your videos are a huge inspiration

Perfect timing! I got my rotary tool in last week, have an airbrush kit coming in soon and shortly I'll have my first model to work on. You inspire me so much and I love watching you work

Was very nice meeting your mom, she's such a lovely lady.

I'm here because my wallet kept screaming at me for spending so much on figures. So I started looking at kits to try painting on my own. Hearing you and your mom is that encouragement I was looking for when considering this hobby.

This video is amazing, if I ever actually start building garage kits I’ll totally come back to this. I’m usually a more traditional crafts person, crochet, cross-stitch and regular drawing and painting. Though your videos make me want to branch out even more.

Okay, listen. I have no intention of ever buying, selling, making, painting or building garage kits, working with resin, basically everything your channel is about. However, I LOVE your personality and I love watching you work and that's what keeps me coming back. Hope you're doing well and staying creative!

I am thankful for finding your channel. I had bought a garage kit years ago (Deedlit from Lodoss War) and got intimidated by how much work needed to go into it and shelved it. I can confirm how difficult it was to find information back in the day. You give me hope one of these days I can assemble it.

Rediscovered my love for GK thanks to you and time off work on furlough. Where I've built myself a Chestburster 1:1 scale. Sadly a lot of my kits are in bits in storage - but I believe in the power of restoration! Plus, by watching your good self, I have discovered where I went wrong when I first started and how I can improve my work (she says hopefully) next project is repairing my 1:1 scale facehugger, then I can put these two horrible critters together. Thank you for the inspiration x

I've only made 2 Garage resin kits one recast from e2046 and one original from mandrake and both are fixed posed mecha kits I'm trying to get another one from yahoo Japan auctions that has articulation. I have Improved my plastic modelling skills over the 12 years I've been into this hobby and I'm learning to paint properly.

I'm going to customize a figure's base I recently bought and found this sooo useful. It's not customization as much as full on sculpting new pieces, a textured floor, and maybe a base for a little separate pet figure it came with. I'm so excited but realized I'd never painted plastic so It's daunting. I really appreciate all the tips! Your work is amazing.

leona you can use etch primer ,it bonds with the resin /metal and it does not build up ! I use max mayer auto paint brand . I moslty paint 54mm figures and it works great.

I used to do basic repainting on dolls, and even though some of the same skills can be applied, I was still really scared to try it (especially with how expensive some GKs can get lol) wonfes had my by the ear this season with one of their kits, so I’ve decided to finally take the plunge and give it a try 😂 hoping for the best, worth thing that’ll happen is that I’d need to try again

Thank you for the gift maestra, this video is exactly what I needed as I just bought my very first kit from E2046, hoping to get it soon

I wanna make these, but it felt super intimidating. But realizing how much work the "finished product" actually makes the customer put in gives me a little bit of hope. Thanks to your videos I started sculpting again. Maybe one day I will actual make a garage kit. Maybe lol

I've got a fantastic recommendation for pinning your figures!!! OK. So I'm no expert figure painter. I've actually never painted one. I come from military scale models, and I'm just mediocre at best, but I'm good at something. Welding. When I saw you use the galv wire for pinning stuff I kindof cringed, but I also thought of something. Go look up stainless steel tig welding rod. You can get it in more diameters than you would ever need and it' very reasonably priced. Get yourself a set of mini bolt cutters cause the 1/8" stuff is really hard on cheap cutters unless you want to use a cutoff wheel or something.

The flip-flop trowing made me have flashbacks lmao! But I loved the video, cause I always wanted to make garage kits, but never knew how to start! I'm definitely not in the right moment to try (financial reasons lol) but when I can, I'll definitely try!

This channel definitely inspired me to try out GK painting. I've been looking for a creative outlet and I'm so happy I find Leona and her channel of all the beautiful kits she's done. I just bought my first sailor moon kit and I'm SUPER excited to start this project in December. I'm currently wracking up all the materials needed and so far I have everything that I need except for the supplies for pinning. Once this semester is over, all my time is going to be dedicated to this project. I just can't wait to start. Thank you for making this video because it helps so much considering there's no videos or channels explaining the essentials. You're a lifesaver!

So I got here by searching for garage kits, But like actual garage kits, but i'm not mad. Saw sailor merc and was like "Woah woah. Hold on a sec" Maybe i'll try resin things now🤷‍♀️ you are gorgeous and hilarious!

11:39 "Cualquier kit que tenga 25 piezas o menos" Yo viendo mi Garage Kit de Kos-mos de escala 1/4 de 206 piezas.... Oh, diablos! xD

This was some helpful information. I'm looking to build a few resin Gundam kits, mainly a third party 1/100 Kshatriya and a Sazabi conversion kit, so I figured I'd get some cheaper resin kits to practice with first. Seems there's a lot of overlap with what you need for gunpla. This is some good info to help get me started. Plus I've had a Guts kit that I bought thinking it was a figure that's been sitting around for about a year and a half that I need to build anyway.

Hey there Leona, it's wonderful to see you..lol.. i'm cracking open some kits i purchased so long ago i can't even remember (somewhere between 5-10yrs).. i bought them back then because your vids were relaxing to watch and your skills were just mind blowing to me, 😃 but we only ever saw your hands, & i always wondered what you looked like, so happy to finally put a face to the voice.. 😊 sadly i never could get my head around air brushing (still can't) but damn it, i'm gonna have another go..lol look forward to goin' back over all your old vids, and everything else i've missed since i abandoned all hope years ago.. appreciate that lil pep talk..lol👍👌

Haha, I've never done GKs, but I'm surprised to learn I actually own a lot of the stuff used. Nice to know =D

Thank you! I just got into GK figure as my new hobby and I am ecstatic to work on my first figure. Your tips and advices is what I need and it is extremely helpful. Very informative video. Thank you again!

Mean Green is also a great degreaser. Mostly in the U.S. but can be found at home reno places.

omg the throwing shoes through he portholes had me laughing!

I'm not planning on making any garage kits but since I'm planning on making OC figures out of clay, this may help. Thanks dude

I always save your videos for when I can give it my undivided attention. I wouldn't want to miss any of your wittiness and talent! You. Are. Hilarious!

Just found this video after absolutely hating the paint job I did on a garage kit I just got. With a lot a cleaning I think I can do this again :)

I hope you paint some of the GK's you showed in the video. I would not mind seeing a small project from you along with the big ones you do. Love your videos, can't wait till the next one.

8:52. While I know you don't recommend the glossy one to avoid a cheap-looking figure, I wonder if the effect would look better if it was applied to just the skin, like an oil look. This tutorial video is really helpful. In the past, I've used Tamiya acrylic to paint one of my model kits and was very frustrated at it. This was before I knew about paint retarders and drying time. Fortunately, I have a whole bunch of paints that I got for canvas paintings and a retarder medium. I'll likely work on a 3D printed figure (easier to create but will need extra work to hide the texture)

Ow wow, you said 411... you must be at least half as old as I am. Thanks for this video btw. Super helpful. Much appreciated.

Alabado sea el algoritmo de RU-vid que me guío hasta tu canal :v/ Amo tu trabajo y eres super divertida X3 No estaba segura de si hablabas español pero puesto que tu mamá si entonces asumo que tú también :3 Además que preparaste un muy buen tutorial? guía quizás? Bueno, muchas gracias por compartir tu conocimiento y por tu duro trabajo :'3 ❤️

The portal chanclas was more than enough to make me a subscriber.

Gotta say i bougth my first garage kit because of you, i was so curious about the process that i want to try it out, as a figure collector i see sometimes some rare kits that would love to paint. Never got the guts to start and now im starting! just waiting for the kit to arrive! This video was so useful!

Back in the day we had White Dwarf magazine, so most of my knowledge about painting and modelling stems from there. I digress, that's for the video!

Me encanta tu trabajo, y tiene mucha razón la señora, la paciencia, la perseverancia y el echar a perder, es la clave de poder hacerlo al 100%

Wow - this video has 18% likes - that's extremely high for any youtube video !!! I love GKs (phew, finally admitted this 😅) but I have none and never tried to paint a model. That is, up to a year or so ago when I bought a resin 3D printer. The first model I tried was a cartoon style rabbit super hero. It was easy to print but then I dropped the model because I was to afraid to properly hold the model while priming it. The second one I dropped during the first few brush strokes, again too careful because I was afraid I'd break the model. The third one was my first failure (ehh... learning session) and the fourth one is still waiting for me to finish it. What I discovered during all this is that painting, for me, is relaxing and stress relieving so I am now glued to my screen for you to teach me all the tricks I need to fail again. Meanwhile I'm on the hunt for a nice GK - or two - to prep and paint

Es uno de los videos más COMPLETOS QUE VI. Muy feliz. El humor ,todo. La música. BRAVO Leona-Sama!!!

The chancla throws in the beginning 😆

I use your vids to help with other resin crafts. They’re a big help. THANK YOU

Just discovered your channel while looking for Claymore figures. Noticing one they referred to as a ‘garage kit’ it caught my interest, eventually ending up here. This is a whole new side to my hobbies. While I’m not an avid figure collector I do love to craft, been building and painting gunpla kits for a while. This video was concise and entertaining, you present it all so well. +1 sub!

Thank you for being here , I needed this guide ! I am trying to build a soft vinyl kit for ah my goddess and it’s model 8 . I am willing to spend good money on basics to be able to create art !

This vid comes at a perfect time. i pre-ordered my first GK and it'll be here next month. I have no idea what i'm doing lol. i wanted the kit to change into another character so i basically just wanted the body.

You are amazing! I always loved this hobby but really, to find information about it like 10 years ago was super hard so I let it go. Now that I found your channel and all this awesome info about gk, I think I might actually try to get into it again! So thank you, you are awesome👏💖

Omg I love you! The first and only kit I painted I had no idea what I was doing. The local hobby shop had no idea how to help me. I ended up with a mix of nail polish and random paint! It turned out okay hahaha! It is nice to see how to actually do it! I am so happy I found you!

So many....tools.... Ok I will do this slowly I just ordered a GK figure that may have a lot of detail....and there are so many tools I need so for my first kit..I take it slowly ....would be difficult if I go broke by buying all tools at once🤣 but this helped a lot

Well, that settles it! I just (pre) ordered my first three GKs!! Here's to hoping they're passable and not totally butchered. I'll probably start getting supplies as they start coming in!

I just started my first own GK and this is the holy grail of information. I'm blaming you for how well it's going 😊😂

This video is super helpful. I have ordered my first GK and super excited to get it and work on it. While I wait I can save up for the other supplies I don't have yet.

Omg the chancla portal made me HOWEL 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

Ay, comento por segunda vez por que me llegó mucho el mensaje. Aunque ya compré mis primeros Kits. xD me ha dado algo de angustia cagarla. Gracias por apoyar a todos los que queremos iniciar el hobby. FELICITACIONES al ganador de Sailor Mercury. Pd. Me encantó el poder de la chancla transdimensional

You have inspired me to start! I am going to save to buy supplies first. And decide on my first kit to save for as well. 🥰

Do you thin your paints if you hand brush? What do you recommend? What’s the pastels for? I’d love to see the entire process using these beginner supplies!

i would love to see a vanilla project ! i think it would really cement if i want to start this hobby or if i think it will be too expensive for me

Looks like I will be hyperfixating on garage kits for the rest of the night. I only just got started in building and painting miniatures for games like warhammer 40k but now I want to do this

My boyfriend got me a seshossmaru figure : , he spend about 800 dollars, had no idea it was a garage kit. That gonna be the first gk i will attempt this January, my only guide is leona.

Omg I'm in love with your whole personality and editing style, thank you so much for this vid!!!

Ok I took notes so I absolutly need : A ginger cat... 😺

Lesson number 1 of this video -> LA PRACTICA HACE AL MAESTRO !

Just got my first garage kits and imagine my delight that I have all the supplies I need 🥹

Thank you so much for the awesome video Leona! I started following you and just love watching your GK figure videos, it has been really helpful and informative. I decided to try it out and I bought some Sailor Moon ones. I'm looking forward to building/painting them but I'm really glad I found your channel because you have given me a lot of helpful info before I get started! Also thanks for posting the links to the products/ equipment you use! :)

Thank you Resin Queen!🙌 your vid is great and very resourceful! I can't wait to start painting gks!

Just got a dark magician girl GK and I’m so excited! This video is so helpful! 💕

I have slowly been buying everything I'll need for my first gk. The figure I chose is at 28 pieces, but I think I'll be okay. Even better that the colors are mostly black.

I love watching you paint kits , hope youve been well !

Great video. Thankyou so much!

Hi Leona, are you aware of Hasegawa's Eggplane Girls garage kit series? It's called "12 Egg Girls Collection" and these are 1:12 scale resin figures. They are pretty inexpensive for first timers who are afraid of messing up, they're cute, and they contain eye decals.

Thanks so much for this video. I feel a bit more confident trying a gk now!

This is the best video. Easy to understand and encouraging. Thank you.

Thanks for the help to beginers you are so Koro-sensei of the garage kits (anime assassination classroom)

I am so excited! I have been binging all of your videos and in need of more!

I'm really interested in getting a garage kit for Himeno (from the anime Prétear) and Chieri ( from the anime AKB0048), as they never got other figures manufactured (that I know of at least). This video was super informative!

I usually use mr super clear as sealant but my friend who paints bjd's and bjd accessories made out of resin says msc strips off resin as if it's a must - she swears on Citadel for sealant thus. I am yet to try out painting resin kit so I can't say, but for Europeans this might be a helpful advice (as far as I know, Citadel is about same price range as msc)

i love the flying shoe bits lol..

Congrats to the winner! Resin Queen, thank you for all the information! Stay safe 💖

Your editing is amazing and you’re so funny, oh my goodness 🥺

I wanna use the techniques used here on a Megami Device kit.