Sometimes the Hobby Isn't About the Paint
There are times when miniature painting is all about learning a new technique, pushing yourself outside your comfort zone, or finally tackling that model you've been putting off. Then there are times when the hobby is simply about slowing down and enjoying the process.
That was exactly what building Guel's Dilanza HG turned into.
A Different Kind of Hobby Session
Although this isn't my first Gunpla kit, I am still relatively new to the hobby, and it is the first one I've built since starting Painting Your Way. Most of my recent hobby time has been spent painting miniatures, so it felt nice to switch gears and spend an evening simply building something.
The kit itself was a straightforward build. There weren't any particularly difficult sections or frustrating moments, and honestly, that's exactly what I was after. After concentrating so much on painting techniques, colour choices, and smooth blends, it was refreshing to just clip the parts from the sprues, snap everything together, and watch the model slowly take shape.
Sometimes the simplest projects end up being the most relaxing.
Sharing the Hobby
One of the things I enjoy most about building Gunpla is that it isn't just something I do on my own.
My partner also enjoys building Gunpla, so whenever we both have some free time, we'll sit down together and work on our own kits. It's become one of those hobbies we can share without needing to compete or even really talk all that much. Sometimes we chat about what we're building, sometimes we don't, but it's a great way to spend an afternoon together.
When I wrote Painting Your Way Why I’m Here, one of the things I hoped this blog would do was help me share more of my hobby journey with other people. Building Gunpla with my partner feels like a natural extension of that idea. We each work on our own kits, chat about what we're building, and simply enjoy spending time creating together. Those quiet afternoons are becoming just as memorable as finishing a painted miniature.
I think hobbies become even more enjoyable when they're something you can share with someone else, and Gunpla has definitely become one of those hobbies for us.
A Repaint From the Beginning
Straight out of the box, Guel's Dilanza looks fantastic. Bandai continues to amaze me with how well these kits fit together and how much colour separation they achieve without needing any paint.
Even so, I couldn't help feeling that the colours looked a little flat.
Rather than leaving the kit as it was, I decided to prime the entire model with the intention of repainting it. I want to add a little more depth, richer shadows, and generally make it feel more like one of my own projects rather than a straight build.
It probably isn't necessary, but then again, very little in this hobby is. Sometimes it's simply about painting something because you want to.
An Early Setback
Not every project goes perfectly.
After priming the model, it sat on my desk for a few days. Somewhere along the way, I must have bumped it because I noticed the crest on the head had snapped clean off.
To be honest, I wasn't particularly surprised. The attachment point is incredibly delicate, and it always felt like it would only take one accidental knock.
Thankfully, it's a clean break and should be a straightforward repair before I start painting.
It's a good reminder that accidents happen, and more often than not they're easier to fix than they first appear.
Looking Ahead
Finished Build
I'm excited to start painting this one.
It may not end up being my most technically impressive project, and that's perfectly okay. This build reminded me that hobbies don't always need to be about improving or chasing the next challenge. Sometimes they can simply be about slowing down, enjoying the process, and spending time doing something you genuinely enjoy. I've touched on this before in Progress Doesn't Always Look Like Progress, but I think it's worth repeating: not every hobby session has to be productive. Sometimes simply enjoying the time at the desk is progress in itself.
In a hobby that's often focused on the finished result, it's nice to remember that the journey can be just as rewarding.
And if I get to spend that journey building alongside my partner, that's even better.
On to the next.
And remember: always Paint Your Way
Continue Reading
If you've enjoyed following this little journey, you might also like these posts:
Small Steps, Finished Models - Is 20 minutes enough time to progress the hobby?
Progress Doesn't Always Look Like Progress – where this experiment with shorter painting sessions began.
How Miniature Painting Changed the Way I Think About Progress - Miniature painting has taught me that progress isn't measured by perfect results; it's built through consistency.
