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Eco-friendly bamboo craft puzzle
"Gundam" from "Bamboo Art wa-gu-mi"
And "Char's Zaku II" is now on sale at PREMIUM BANDAI! The "Gundam", which can be completed using a craft puzzle that requires no tools or glue, is about 27cm tall, while the "Char's Zaku II" is a big size, about 26.5cm tall.
Made from bamboo, "Bamboo Art wa-gu-mi" has a unique texture and presence that sets it apart from plastic models and action figures, and this is what makes it so appealing.
This time, we spoke to Mr. U, a planning manager at Plex, who is in charge of development, about the features and attention to detail behind this eco-friendly 3D puzzle, "Bamboo Art wa-gu-mi."
--Please tell us about the "Bamboo Art wa-gu-mi RX-78-2 Gundam" and "Bamboo Art wa-gu-mi MS-06S Char's Zaku II."
Plex U: First of all, I hope to share with you the surprise of the bamboo Gundam. It is a fairly large 3D puzzle, and when you assemble it, you will have a Gundam or Zaku that is about 27cm tall. I think you will be able to get a feel for its volume if you display it on your desk or bookshelf.
▲The Gundam is approximately 27cm tall and the Char's Zaku II is approximately 26.5cm tall, making these large 3D puzzles.
--It's a three-dimensional puzzle,
How long will it take to complete?
Plex U: Gundam is 421 pieces,
"Char's Zaku II" has 358 pieces and is expected to take about 5 to 7 hours to assemble. Before assembly, it is a flat plate, but the parts cut with a precision laser cutter can be easily removed by hand. It can be made without tools or glue, so even if it is a gift, anyone can easily assemble it. In addition, it is made of 2mm thick bamboo plywood, so it is also characterized by its high strength after assembly.
▲A 3D puzzle where you remove the parts from the bamboo board and assemble them. No pliers or glue are required, so it's easy to assemble.
You can enjoy watching the process of a 2mm thick bamboo board becoming three-dimensional.
-Why did you think of making "Gundam" and "Zaku" out of bamboo?
Plex U: Already released
It's an evolution of the paper-made "Paper Art si-gu-mi." I wanted to try making a new 3D puzzle using bamboo, an eco-friendly material, that would be perfect for a chic and calming interior. The paper-made "si-gu-mi PRO RX-78-2 Gundam" is also a fun craft puzzle, but at about 15cm, it's smaller than the bamboo-made "Bamboo Art wa-gu-mi."
This time, we were able to make "Bamboo Art wa-gu-mi" larger, measuring approximately 27cm, because bamboo is stronger than paper and can withstand the weight even in its large size.
However, on the other hand, since "Paper Art si-gu-mi" is made of paper and is lightweight, you can use the base to recreate poses floating in the air, and each material has its own advantages.
▲The paper version of the "si-gu-mi PRO RX-78-2 Gundam" is also on sale now! The bold pose of the paper version is very appealing.
"si-gu-mi PRO" also has a lineup of other models such as "ν Gundam" and "Mass-Produced Zaku."
--In addition to its durability, bamboo also has other unique
Does it have any characteristics?
Plex U: It's eco-friendly after all. Bamboo grows faster than ordinary trees and is grown with almost no chemical fertilizers or pesticides, making it an environmentally friendly material. It also has a unique pattern that is characteristic of bamboo. It has a Japanese taste and a calming feel, so I think it would fit in very well even if displayed in a Japanese-style room. Also, because it makes use of the pattern of the bamboo itself, even though they are the same "Gundam", each one has its own unique three-dimensional character.
-- MS-like details
Impressive.
Plex UWhen cutting with a laser,
The cut surface will burn, but when assembled, the burnt color is designed to be visible as part of the design, such as the mold and details. I also wanted the details to be cool as a three-dimensional product, so I looked at materials from previous three-dimensional products and even a life-sized "Gundam" and did a lot of research. I consulted with the development company to design the best shape that is unique to "bamboo."
Regarding posing
What do you think?
Plex U: First I create a 3D model, and then I adjust the pose to some extent at that stage.
I try to stick to as much of the know-how I have gained from creating three-dimensional objects up until now, such as pointing the elbows back so that the arms come forward and create a powerful pose, or opening the shoulders to emphasize the chest.
▲Both Gundam and Zaku are recreated in powerful standing poses.
The attention to detail that only a fixed model can provide, such as the way the elbows are bent, the legs are spread, and the ground is in place, is what makes it so appealing.
--The Gundam comes with a beam rifle and Gundam shield, while the Zaku comes with a Zaku machine gun and heat hawk; their weapons are all faithfully recreated.
Plex U: It looks cooler to have one (laughs).
This is one of the distinctive features of a mobile suit, so I wanted to recreate it faithfully.
--Please tell us about your development efforts.
Plex U：I am very particular about how it looks when it is completed. However, if I were to just make the silhouette, I could reduce the number of parts and plates and make it more inexpensively, but once development starts, I get obsessed with even the smallest details.
"Bamboo Art wa-gu-mi" also works on characters other than "Gundam," but with "Bamboo Art wa-gu-mi Godzilla (2023)" we paid particular attention to the details of the skin and the three-dimensionality of the muscles... (laughs).
-- "Bamboo Art wa-gu-mi"
Are there any unique development challenges?
Plex U:In fact, developing a 3D puzzle takes a very long time.
First, we create 3D data as a three-dimensional object, but after deciding on the pose, we then consider how to break it down and how to make it easier to assemble. By adding and subtracting, we convert it into 3D data for the puzzle. "Gundam" is four A4-sized plates, and we have to lay out the parts within this fixed area.
This is where designers have a lot of trouble.
--Was there anything that was difficult to recreate from a design standpoint?
Plex U: As expected, I struggled with the Gundam's head and face until the very end. Since bamboo boards are basically flat, if you try to create small curved areas, you have to stack parts. When you do that, the edges of the parts tend to have burnt marks due to the laser processing, so they tend to look black when viewed from the front.
Since the head of Gundam is designed to be white, we used flat bamboo boards for the antennae and mask, and posed it with its neck slightly turned so that the white parts of the bamboo would be visible.
▲The silhouette of "Gundam" that makes use of the bamboo pattern is also a highlight.
The joints between the parts can also be enjoyed as part of the design.
--Apart from the face, the curved surfaces of each part have also been reproduced.
Plex U: The curved parts of Gundam, such as its calves, are created using many very small parts.
Gundam has many relatively straight parts, but Zaku has many curved surfaces. The Zaku's calves are slit and wrapped around the parts to recreate the large curved surfaces.
The slit processing of these parts is a technology that can only be achieved with an ultra-precise laser cutter.
--The radius of the curve, or the curvature, is large or small?
Is it difficult to recreate?
Plex U: It's much more difficult to make something bigger. I don't think I'll be able to make a beautiful sphere like "Haro" (laughs).
While omitting details such as the cylindrical shape of the Zaku's power pipes, we have tried to recreate it as much as possible.
▲By wrapping the slitted plate around the body, the curved surface of the Zaku's calf is recreated.
One of the charms of "Bamboo Art wa-gu-mi" is that although the parts are flat boards, they can be transformed into various shapes when assembled.
- Trial and error in development
Is there a lot of it?
Plex U: While designing in 3D, we check the part configuration and strength and make fine adjustments.
We actually make prototypes using a laser cutter and test the fit of each part one by one.
- With what degree of accuracy?
Are they cutting it out?
Plex U：It's in 1/100mm units.
The fact that it can be assembled without the need for adhesive is due to the high precision of laser processing.
--What is the number on the "Zaku" plate?
Is it a part number?
Plex U:There are many very small parts, so each part is numbered.
The instruction manual is also numbered for easy comparison. I think anyone can complete it easily.
-- "Bamboo Art wa-gu-mi"
Is there any unique way to enjoy it?
Plex U: It's fun to make them, but I also want people to enjoy them as interior decoration.
Although we cannot achieve the same level of accuracy as plastic models or figures, or include movable parts, we hope that you will enjoy the texture and presence of the bamboo.
I'm sure it will easily blend into your life if you display it in your living room or entrance hall.
"Bamboo Art wa-gu-mi" is achromatic interior design. It may be a hobby that you can enjoy by making and displaying it, just like a sailing ship model.
▲It has the texture of bamboo, so it can be displayed in a Japanese-style room, entrance hall, or reception room.
It will blend in seamlessly. It is also recommended as an accent piece for your room.
--Even though it's a craft hobby, it seems to be more geared towards adults.
Plex U: Due to the nature of the works and products, I get the impression that most of the purchases are from people over 50 years old. I think the products have a calm feel, so in that sense the age group may be on the higher side. I'm sure you'll enjoy the aging of the colors over time. I hope you'll enjoy them as a hobby and interior decoration for adults.
--thank you very much.
© Sotsu, Sunrise
