Let’s Customize Gunpla With Temporary Tattoos!

Can you use temporary tattoos on Gunpla? You might be surprised to learn that yes, temporary tattoos make a quick and effective customization alternative for Gundam model building. Just like traditional waterslide decals, they’re a water-activated decal mechanism. Since skin is very different from plastic, you’ll want to adjust your usual temporary tattoo step-by-step. Let Gunpla 101 contributor Lincoln show you his process. 

As Gundam Build Fighters character Meijin Kawaguchi once said, “Gunpla is freedom.” What you can do with your Gunpla build is limitless, and I would argue that the joy of art and Gunpla comes from discovering new solutions and techniques.

For example, I love the look of scribed and engraved Gunpla, but I worry about ruining my builds with permanent marks. But after I did a bit of spring cleaning at my house and discovered some old convention loot, I came up with an experiment I just had to try: what if I used temporary tattoos to customize my kits instead?

Why temporary tattoos? 

A couple of the temporary tattoos I found immediately made me think of itasha: flashy cars that have eye-catching vinyl wraps of characters. It made me curious to know if a temporary tattoo could produce a similar effect on Gunpla parts as decals, waterslides, scribing, or other permanent alterations.

These tattoos take about 30 seconds to apply and are easy to get rid of if you make a mistake. Just apply some rubbing alcohol and scrub the tattoo. But if it worked, I could have a wider range of patterns and designs for customizing my kits. That means potential for unique modes of expression for a very low time/money investment.

To save you, dear reader, some time and trouble, I decided to document my findings. I figured for my first time experimenting with this, I’d follow the instructions listed on the back of the temporary tattoo. That didn’t work, but then I figured out what did.

Read along to see how I did it and how you can learn from my mistakes.

Trial and Error

For my initial experiment, I followed the directions. That was a mistake.

According to the tattoo’s instructions, I was advised to clean the area, cut the tattoo into an appropriate size, remove the plastic film, place the tattoo firmly on the desired area, apply a wet paper towel to the back of the tattoo for 30 seconds, peel it off, then apply running water for the best result. This picture is the result of me following directions:

I was initially discouraged, then I figured out that utilizing temporary tattoos on Gunpla was viable. The top section of the brand was artistically legible with impressive line thickness and the ability to bend over the shield’s curves. Plus, this process took a whopping 30 seconds to apply. I just needed to figure out how I messed up.

By eyeballing the effects, I immediately noted that the tattoo experienced little difficulty and came out nicely on flat surfaces. That made sense because temporary tattoos are frequently applied onto the back of the wrist or the forearm. This could also explain what I did wrong.

Since the Federation insignia on the shield was not flat, applying pressure on a wet towel forced the tattoo to rub against the model and distort the design. While that was my fault, it did allow me to see how I could modify the instructions to better fit the model. So after using rubbing alcohol to remove the tattoo, I tried again.

For my second experiment, I used the following steps:

1. I cleaned the part, making sure it was free of debris and oils that could mess up how the tattoo sticks.
2. I cut the tattoo down to size (you can use either a carpenter knife or scissors) so it would fit on the part.
3. When the part was dry (this is important!), I removed the film from the tattoo, and lightly bent it into the angles of the Federation’s insignia on the shield. This is the most important step.
4. I submerged the part in water. (You can use a sink or even a bowl of water.)
5. I waited for the paper to float up. Because both the tattoo ink and Gunpla part are heavier than paper, the paper naturally floated up once the ink detached.
6. Finally, I let it dry for about an hour.

Once the ink dries, you’ll be able to run your finger across the ink without distorting the picture. This time, the tattoo came out much more cleanly!

Payoff

For the amount and time invested, I think utilizing temporary tattoos to customize your Gunpla can lead to some amazing results. The real lesson here? Customizing your Gunpla does not need to be expensive, or even difficult! Regardless of the result, some mistakes may lead to some happy discoveries or a new opportunity to personalize your Gunpla. So be bold and have your fair share of good and bad ideas to try expressing yourself. Happy building!

The moment Lincoln saw the RX-78-2 in motion, he was already trying to find a way to buy the model kit. Despite being a lifelong builder, he has recently started exploring the world of Gunpla customization and is eager to learn more.