Builders Cup by Plamo India: India's Nationwide Scale Model Competition

A New Chapter for Indian Builders

India has never had a scale model competition on this scale before. With an estimated 5,000+ builders across the country, there has never been an official platform dedicated to showcasing the incredible work being created by India's scale modelling community to the wider public. At Plamo India, we've always done our best to change that. From our community showcases and live builds to our booths at conventions across the country, we've made it our mission to put amazing builds in front of people while introducing newcomers to a niche hobby that has captured hearts around the world. India's growing love for plastic modelling has been unprecedented, and the incredible support we've received from the community has given us the opportunity to take the next step: an official nationwide builders competition. Introducing Builders Cup by Plamo India - a new initiative created to bring together scale modelers from across India. From complete beginners and experienced builders to customisers and scratch builders, everyone deserves an opportunity to showcase what they can create. Plamo India has always used its platform to support and upbuild local artists. Builders Cup is our platform for builders. And why are we doing this? Because we love this hobby. More importantly, to the best of our knowledge, no builder from India has ever participated in the Gundam Builders World Cup (GBWC) - the pinnacle of competition for many Gunpla builders around the world. One day, India will compete on that stage too. Until then, Builders Cup is the stepping stone.

How Does Builders Cup Work?

It's simple.

• Pick Your Category | You can participate in one, two, or all three categories of the Builders Cup. Choose the category that best fits your build and your style - or challenge yourself across multiple categories.
• Build Your Entry | Build, customize, paint and create according to the rules of your chosen category. Whether you're creating a clean straight build or pushing your skills with a heavily customized creation, this is your opportunity to put your work forward.
• Submit Your Build | Once your build is complete, submit it through the official Builders Cup submission form. Submission Deadline: November 20, 2026 at 11:59 PM IST The submission form will be announced at a later date.
• Qualifiers - Online | The first round of the Builders Cup will take place entirely online. All eligible submissions will be presented to the public, who will have the opportunity to vote for their favourite builds. From the qualifiers, 10 builders from each category will advance to the Finals.
• The Finals | The finalists will bring their builds to the physical Builders Cup Finals at: Japan Habba 2027 (https://japanhabba.org/) 📅 January 9–10, 2027 The finalists will have their builds showcased at the event, giving visitors the opportunity to see the work up close.

How Does Voting Work?

The Builders Cup is about the builders and the community - so the public gets a say. Qualifiers The qualifier round will be conducted online. The community will be able to view the submitted builds and vote for their favourites. The Top 10 entries in each category will qualify for the Finals. Finals The Finals will use a hybrid voting system. Visitors attending Japan Habba will be able to see the finalist builds in person and vote for their favourite entries on-ground. At the same time, the Finals will also be open for online voting, allowing people from across India who cannot attend Japan Habba to participate. You don't have to be at the event to have your voice heard.

The Categories

The Builders Cup currently features three unique categories, each designed to celebrate a different aspect of the hobby.

CATEGORY 01 - ORIGIN SPEC

Straight Build For builders who believe the beauty is already in the kit. Origin Spec is the straight-build category. The goal is to take a kit and bring out its potential without fundamentally modifying or customizing it.

Criteria

• Bandai HG 1/144
• One kit only
• Maximum dimensions: 25 × 25 × 35 cm

Allowed

• ✓ Panel lining
• ✓ Water slides
• ✓ Decals / Stickers

Not Allowed

• ✕ Painting
• ✕ Weathering
• ✕ Additional scribing
• ✕ Kitbashing

The challenge: How good can you make a kit without changing what it is?

CATEGORY 02 - KAIZO

Custom Build For builders who aren't afraid to make a kit their own. Kaizo is where customization takes center stage. Paint it, weather it, modify it, kitbash it - this is the category for builders who want to transform their kits into something uniquely theirs.

Criteria

• At least 50% of the visible model must be painted
• Any 3D-printed parts used must be painted
• Maximum dimensions: 35 × 35 × 45 cm

Allowed

• ✓ Painting
• ✓ Weathering
• ✓ Additional scribing
• ✓ Additional detailing
• ✓ Kitbashing

Not Allowed

• ✕ Garage Kits

The challenge: Take a kit and turn it into something that could only have come from you.

CATEGORY 03 - MOE

Special Category There is only one rule: Make people say "SO CUTE!" Moe is our special category for builds that embrace the adorable side of the hobby. We're looking for character, creativity and, most importantly, cuteness.

Criteria

• Voters need to audibly proclaim "SO CUTE!"
• Any 3D-printed parts used must be painted
• Maximum dimensions: 25 × 25 × 35 cm

Allowed

• ✓ Painting
• ✓ Weathering
• ✓ Additional scribing
• ✓ Additional detailing
• ✓ Kitbashing

Not Allowed

• ✕ Garage Kits

The challenge: Make us fall in love with your build.

Submission Guidelines

Before submitting your entry, make sure you understand and follow the following rules.

Participation

• A participant may enter all three categories.
• You may submit only one entry per category.
• Each entry must comply with the rules of its respective category.

3D Printing

If you have used 3D-printed parts anywhere in your build, you must declare their use during submission. For categories where 3D-printed parts are permitted, the relevant parts must be painted as specified in the category rules.

Before & After Photos

This is mandatory. Every participant must take a photograph of their kit before any customization or modification and another photograph of the completed build. This allows us to understand the work that went into transforming the original kit.

Submission Form

Official submissions will be made through a Google Form. The submission form and detailed instructions will be released at a later date through the official Plamo India channels. Submission deadline: November 20, 2026 - 11:59 PM IST

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can participate? Anyone in India can participate. Whether you're completely new to the hobby or have been building for years, Builders Cup is open to you. Do I need to be a professional builder? Absolutely not. Builders Cup is for the entire community — from beginners to experienced builders. Can I enter more than one category? Yes! You can participate in all three categories, but you can submit only one build per category. Can I enter the same build in multiple categories? No. Each category entry must be a separate submission. Can I use a 3D printer? Yes, where permitted by the category rules. 3D-printed parts must be declared, and the applicable category rules regarding painting must be followed. Can I use a Garage Kit? No. Garage Kits are not permitted in the Kaizo or Moe categories. Can I paint my kit? That depends on the category. Painting is not allowed in Origin Spec, while painting is permitted and encouraged in Kaizo and Moe, subject to their respective rules. When is the submission deadline? November 20, 2026 at 11:59 PM IST. Late submissions will not be accepted unless otherwise announced by Plamo India. Where do I submit my build? The official submission will be through a Google Form, which will be released at a later date. When are the Finals? The Builders Cup Finals will take place at Japan Habba 2027 on January 9–10, 2027. Do I have to attend Japan Habba to participate? No. The qualifiers are conducted online. If you qualify for the Finals, your build will be showcased at Japan Habba. How are the winners decided? The Builders Cup will use public voting. The qualifiers will be voted on online, while the Finals will use a hybrid system combining on-ground voting at Japan Habba and online voting. Where can I get updates? Follow the official Plamo India Builders Cup Instagram page for announcements, submission information, deadlines, voting updates and everything you need to know about the competition.

Ready to Build?

This isn't just a competition. It's a chance to put Indian builders on the map. Thousands of builders. Hundreds of incredible builds. One nationwide showcase. The Builders Cup starts here. Build something. Share it. Let India see what you can do. 🏆 Builders Cup by Plamo India