How Brunei’s model enthusiasts craft their own universes
In an age where whimsy and maturity can coexist harmoniously, the pursuit of peace can sometimes take on the most eclectic forms.
None do so more than the hobby of miniature modelling or model building, a craft that not only tugs at the strings of childhood nostalgia but also shines a spotlight on the past times of an analogue era.
While still niche in our Sultanate, the community around it is mighty, encompassing a wide range of interests – from creating tiny parking lots or cozy cafe scenes to putting together plastic model kits of big robots or building and painting small fantasy or sci-fi armies. It’s a surprisingly vast world for such a small hobby.
Ridhwan Kamarulzaman, an enthusiast whose preference in the miniature modelling world revolves around buildable toys based on popular media, said that model building is not only an enjoyable activity but it also helps him unwind.
Now in his thirties, he shared how his history with collecting models and model building has spanned over two decades.
It began with the High Grade (HG) Gundam Wing, a line of model kits based on the Mobile Suits from the anime series, and LEGO Bionicle, a line of buildable kits that were popular in the early 2000s.
Although he experienced a brief hiatus from the hobby, he returned to it in 2022 primarily as a means of relaxation and to take his mind off work. “It greatly helped me unwind, with nothing in front of me but the toys’ plastics and my tools highly satisfying for me to be able to put together a toy or model that I’m a fan of.” He has dedicated a shelf to house all these models, displayed aesthetically with sections depicting popular figures from multiple media franchises such as Pokemon, Digimon, and even Megaman.
There’s also a section that displays a LEGO zen garden.
He added that with a music playlist on hand, model building feels like being in your own bubble – a temporary escape from reality where you can literally craft your own world, characters, and paint them in your own unique way.
“It’s a uniquely satisfying experience to connect the parts and add on my own personal touches to the model, like inking lines, maybe some painting or even custom models that I would put together with extra parts on hand.
“I carry on this hobby as a personal reward and a way to take a break from everything else. I enjoy connecting parts in my own world,” added the Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) officer.
This sentiment is shared by Yapp Giem Eing, better known as GE, another enthusiast who operates a local miniature hobby shop called Kitsu Models in Kiulap.
Recalling his first foray into miniatures, GE remembered being gifted a Gundam Plastic (Gunpla) model by his late father when he was about nine or 10 years old.
“The model was very articulate, and it was amazing. I remember sitting on the floor, cutting the parts using nail clippers. I would build the model and feel so happy with it; it was incredibly satisfying and therapeutic.”
But just a few years later, GE was introduced to Warhammer, a tabletop wargame where players build and paint miniature armies representing fictional factions, using rulebooks and dice to engage in strategic battles on tabletops.
Now, Warhammer constitutes a significant portion of the product lineup of his shop, which was established in late 2019, alongside buildable music boxes and dioramas. The latter items, he said, cater more to individuals who use the hobby for relaxation.
“I still have my old (Warhammer) collection displayed at the shop, they were badly painted but I loved them, because back in the day, you kind of had to figure out yourself how to build or paint the models.”
Though his shop specialises mainly in these two genres of miniatures due to their significant demand in the Sultanate, GE shared that the miniature models and model-building community in Brunei is vast.
This includes very niche subgenres of the hobby, such as military model kit enthusiasts.
Commenting on the demographics of his customers, he said that they are either youths who are interested in starting the hobby or veterans of the passion, meaning individuals 30 years old and up.
For GE in particular, however, his love for the hobby, especially Warhammer, lies in the painting aspect, noting the almost trance-like state it induces, where hours would pass by without him realising.
“Imagine doing something you like and zoning out. You can play any music or an audiobook. By the time you’re done, three hours have gone by. It’s a way to zen out.”
With his shop, GE hopes to share this feeling with others, aiming to instil not only the peaceful aspect but also the childlike wonder that this hobby brought to him when he was gifted his first model.
At the moment, however, he is content providing a space through his shop for enthusiasts to gather and share the things they love, in hopes of happily helping a new generation to nurture their inner child.
