Sunlight gleams off its metallic exterior. Sharp angular features allow it to move with ease. Strategically placed sensors allow it to detect any attacking enemy. It's armed with a multitude of weapons that enable it to handle any threat.

Gundam model building started in the 1980's in Japan and has gained popularity throughout the world. The first anime, on which the models are based, debuted in 1979 and spawned a fictional universe and several different anime. Each time a new series comes out, more plastic models follow.

Model building can even be found aboard the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68). Sailors utilize this hobby to relieve stress.

"When I was a kid, building Gundams helped me to focus on a project and accomplish a goal," said Damage Controlman 3rd Class Jorge Gulick, from Victorville, California. "As I got older, and on deployment, I used that focus to build Gundams, and it helped me to not focus on the stress or problems that I was encountering on deployment. It can be hard to be away from home, family and friends for six months. Building them was something I was familiar with and something that I brought from home."

Gulick said that he was introduced to building models by an older brother that was in the Army. He was seven or eight then, and he has built more than 100 models since.

Gulick said he was able to meet people on the ship who shared his interest in building. He said after he met Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Marc Cuenca, from Dededo, Guam, he was able to find more people to build models with.

Gathering to build models helps Sailors to have fun and spend their time more wisely.

"Building Gundams on deployment was something constructive to do," said Personnel Specialist 3rd Class Phisean Phan, from Pensacola, Florida. "There were a few of us that got together, like Gulick and Cuenca, and we would build, talk and joke around. I feel like I was better off doing that instead of going back to my rack and sleeping or watching a movie. Building the models helped pick me up and relieved stress."

Phan said that each model starts off as sheets of little plastic pieces that must be broken apart and assembled. He said it is cool watching the pieces shaped into a single model that has form and function.

"Building an action figure can take 30 minutes, if I just pull it out of the box and snap it together, or a lot longer if I want to be more detailed," said Gulick. "I take each piece of plastic and sand down each rough edge. I can add stickers or paint if I want a more permanent, detailed effect. It can take up to two hours to build a model if I am paying attention to detail."

Each model can pose a challenge to the person trying to construct it as they try to assemble hundreds of pieces.

"I started building Gundams about three or four years ago with my brother-in-law, before I joined the Navy," said Phan. "He bought me my first one, and it was awesome building it and spending time with him. It was difficult to build, and that made me angry sometimes, but it was fun seeing those intricate pieces come together."

The models come in a variety of sizes and have different grades of difficulty to build.

Gulick said that it starts at high grade and then goes to real grade, master grade and perfect grade. There is also super-deformed grade (SD), and SDX which is a more realistic SD grade. He said that a higher grade of model increases how maneuverable or flexible it is and also how realistic it looks. It generally increases the price too.

"When I got my first kit, it was a high grade, and I loved building something with my own hands," said Gulick. "It was cooler than just buying an action figure from a store, because I was building it. Since then I have constructed real or master grade because they are more realistic and allow me to customize them more."

Whether it is relieving stress, or helping to avoid destructive habits, hobbies like building Gundams can help Sailors through difficult times and maintain focus on the mission.

Nimitz is conducting a docking planned incremental availability at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility where the ship is receiving scheduled maintenance and upgrades.


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