TRIP REPORT: The Gundam Base, Chicago – Still for the Friends

The Gundam Base, Chicago
TRIP REPORT: Still for the Friends

Time to look at a lot of plastic and one of the bigger Japanese franchises, mixed with politics, high stakes, personal dramas and of course, giant human-piloted mechas. Welcome to the many timelines of Mobile Suit Gundam at The Gundam Base, Chicago. 

• Still for the friends
• But first. A trip to Liverpool, North West England.  But why?
• To the… daytime Heathrow run?
• Lounging around with Cathay Pacific and American Airlines
• AA87 London Heathrow to Chicago O’Hare (Main Cabin Extra)
• Into the USA, A Scammer Taxi driver and the Crowne Plaza O’Hare
• The Hyatt Regency O’Hare
• Airplane Art Extra from the Hyatt Regency O’Hare
• Exploring a craft at the Museum of Contemporary Photography
• The Gundam Base, Chicago
• Random Chicago Eats
• Off the Camera Roll – Views and Images of a Windy City
• An Early Return to O’Hare and the American Airlines Flagship Lounge
• AA882 to Chicago O’Hare to Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Airport (Exit Row)
• A Quick Atlanta Transit
• BA226 to Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Airport to London Heathrow Terminal 3 (World Traveller/Economy Class)
• Snatching Defeat from the Jaws of Victory and The Journey Home
• It’s Still for Friends

The Gundam Base, Chicago

Price: How much Gunpla can you take with you?

Over the past year or so, I’ve been starting to explore the Mobile Suit Gundam franchise and some of the stories that have been told (my entry point was Mobile Suit Gundam 00, and I’ve worked through Wing, Seed, Seed Destiny and even some of the older ones as they turn up on YouTube).

Now, I’m not too hot on the Gunpla (the plastic models you can build) or the trading card game (please – I’m too invested in the Pokémon franchise), but Chicago is home to a Gundam Base – perfect for all your Gunpla and Cards… and maybe the odd plushie.

Now that could be dangerous.

The Gundam Base is technically in Chicago. It’s at the Fashion Outlets of Chicago in Rosemont (near the Hyatt Regency O’Hare/DoubleTree Rosemont/Crowne Plaza O’Hare/Aloft/Lowes, etc.).

If you’re coming by the CTA Blue Line (either from O’Hare or from downtown), it’s an easy ride – get off at Rosemont Station and use the 811 Rosemont Circular, which offers a free shuttle to the Fashion Outlets of Chicago Mall. Alternatively, Uber and Lyft work if you want a private ride to the mall. Or you could walk from Rosemont Station if you want to indulge your masochistic side and moan about the lack of sidewalk infrastructure.

Just be prepared for a bit of a hike when trying to get to it. Whilst it is on the ground floor, it is on the opposite side of where you came in.

You’ll know when you find the store, as it is guarded by two large-scale Gundam models – an RX-78-2 (White Base Unit 02) and the XXXG-00W0 Wing Gundam Zero from Endless Waltz.

The RX-78-2 in white.

XXXG-00W0 Wing Gundam Zero EW

From here on in, it’s time to explore.

The majority of the store is given over to Gunpla models from the franchise’s shows. But to get you started, there’s a highlight display of the lead Gundams from their shows, including links to watch the shows from.

A wall of shows…

From my introduction – 00

How many US got into Gundam on Toonami – Wing

Daddy issues Gundam – Seed. 

And up to date with Hathaway.

Just switch on YouTube subtitles – it’ll make life easier for you (unless you have a Crunchyroll subscription so you can watch the English dubs).

There are different grades of models, depending on the complexity, scale and how much you want to spend… or how much you want to get your feet wet.

Precision is wonderful. But don’t start at Perfect Grade as your first kit. 

The majority of the store is dedicated to the models, which are boxed for you to build, but they also have a display model of every one they have. I had fun guessing and identifying Gundams I knew, and ones I wanted to explore.

Gunpla kits by their nature are plastic kits, normally pre-coloured, so you just have to get some snips, tweezers, a sanding block and start assembling.  The shop also had a lot of special editions, which you can only pick up at a Gundam Base.

And yes, there were plushes.

Plushie Harro, RX78-2 or a Zaku II?

The Gundam base also had a build area for your freshly purchased Gundams (with access to the tools you need, mostly snippers and sanding equipment) and an area for the card game.

Yes, I’ve tried to get into the card game… And failed mostly. My bank balance has thanked me (and no, I’m not into the Pokémon Card scene… well, not the physical ones).

I enjoyed exploring and was close to picking up a Gunpla kit or two – except my luggage was looking a little more loaded than normal. Thus, I passed.

I suspect a trip to Japan might be better… or to my local Japanese hobbies and toy shop.

Next:

Random Food Adventures.

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