Reddit mentions of Gundam marker GM01 & GM02 & GM03 (Black, Gray, Brown), 3 pens per Pack (japan import)

First off, Welcome to /r/Gunpla and the plastic crack hobby


A few simple things that I think can help make a kit pop for cheap are

1.) Panel lining- basically just drawing in those recessed grooves that are all over. It gives depth and brings out details. The ones i use are like this. Brown for reddish colors, grey for light, and black for darker plastic. Usually $2-4 per marker depending on how you buy em

2.) Nub removal- there are tons of resources for how to do this "properly" and everyone finds their own way. The general consensus is first cut about halfway between the runner (the rounded pipe like stuff that all the parts come in) and the gate (where the runner narrows down and connect to the piece you are actually using).
Then using an exacto knife cut that remaining little bit off and buff the rest with high grit sandpaper 500 or higher works well. Its ok to be a little bit sloppy here because...

3.) Top coat- This stuff will coat the model and make all those sand marks go away. It also makes the model look less "plasticy" and more like the "real" thing. There are primarily 3 types: Matte/flat which is not shiny at all like a military vehicle would be, gloss which is very shiny like a sports car, and satin which is somewhere in between. I prefer matte lke this. Just pop the arms and legs off and spray.


From there you can get into the deeper stuff if you are so inclined such as painting, modding and scratch building. There are plenty of great resources here such as the sidebar guide or falldog's guide which is how I learned.

Sorry for the long post but,

Happy Building!

https://www.usagundamstore.com/collections/decals

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Gundam-marker-Black-Brown-japan/dp/B00QBMF7Q8

https://youtu.be/Ikk7ybBiP1I

I will always cherish this tutorial, he describes the difference between markers and how to use them at 3:46 (keep in mind the cotton bud works on the fine markers too)