Marlon Navarro, 34, an engineer, shows off his Gunpla model. He says the model kits bring back memories of his childhood. All photos: Victor Besa / The National
An OZ-06MS LEO build by Marlon Navarro
The Otaku Middle East Gunpla Group meet and build once or twice a month
The Gundam Zeta Armada by Jonnie Teodora was recently bought for Dh2,500 by a collector who was in complete awe of the clean details and unique colouring techniques used in the model
Paulie Alcazar touches up his SD Genbusou Lu Bu Tallgeese model
Hotelier Paulie Alcazar, 42, says he was drawn to Gunpla because anyone can enjoy building regardless of skill level, age or gender
Mhy Mhy Alcazar, 42, with her custom Super Fumina Gundam Build Fighters
Rinoah Alcazar, 15, and brother Cloud, 5, with their models
The Harvester built by James Quinsaat recently won fifth place at the Original Mecha contest as a special award
More of James Quinsaat's works
Gunpla model kits depicting the vehicles and characters of the fictional Gundam multiverse
A Gunpla enthusiast shops for new kits at the Otaku ME showroom in Times Square Centre, Dubai
The Otaku ME Gunpla Group at one of their meetings
Gunpla builders' tool kits have different types of clippers, drill bits and tweezers, and a variety of airbrushes, paint brushes and glues
The Alcazar family at their home
Rommel Cruz, 51, an electrician, started building in the 1990s
Jonnie Teodoro, 37, an aeronautical engineer, is a Gunpla modeller in his free time
James Quinsaat, an architect, has won many awards for his models
