Benjamin Wong: The Singapore Toy Collector Who Built Gundam Success and a Community

From a Box of Parts to a Winning Gundam

Benjamin Wong turned a box of plastic model parts into a competition winner in 2012, taking first place at the Gunpla Builders World Cup (GBWC) Singapore with his Project Vernicten Gundam Banshee RX-0-RGZ. The build combined parts from different kits with a carefully constructed display scene, bringing technical skill and an imaginative design together in one model.

Three years earlier, Wong had won the 2009 Gundam 00 Challenge with Regnant Claw, a customised model displayed at Gundam Fiesta Singapore. Those two competition victories helped establish his standing in Singapore's toy collecting scene and the international Gundam model building community.

By August 21, 2025, Wong's hobby had grown well beyond competition entries. His activities included collecting rare figures, travelling in search of toys, making videos and helping younger enthusiasts find people who shared their interests. Collaborations with Ikea Singapore and MyRepublic had also become part of a pursuit that helped pay for itself.

Wong's story connects several sides of collecting that can otherwise seem separate: the childhood wish to own a favourite toy, the patience needed to build a detailed model, the excitement of discovering something rare and the friendships formed through a shared interest. For him, the value of a collection lies in the experiences and people attached to it as much as in the objects themselves.

The Childhood Shelves That Stayed With Him

Wong's interest began in the toy aisles of department stores such as the now defunct Yaohan. Shelves filled with Transformers, He-Man, Mask and Dinoriders figures caught his attention, although he could rarely afford the toys he wanted.

Those childhood visits left a lasting impression. The toys represented things he hoped to own, and the difficulty of obtaining them deepened his appreciation. Collecting later became a way to return to memories associated with childhood innocence and hope.

Wong's attachment to toys is therefore about more than finding rare products. A figure can recall a period of his life, a character he admired or the feeling of standing before a shop display. His adult collection connects those early wishes with the freedom to pursue them now.

That emotional connection also helps explain why the size of his collection is not his main measure of success. Finding a meaningful item, learning about it and sharing the discovery can matter more than simply adding another object to a shelf.

Why Building Became a Creative Outlet

Wong began engaging more deeply with toys during his Polytechnic years, when he discovered Gundam model kits, commonly called Gunpla. Unlike a finished action figure, a model kit starts as separate pieces that the builder assembles into a complete object.

Gunpla can also involve painting and custom modifications. A builder can change the appearance of a model, add details or combine components to create something different from the standard kit. For Wong, that process provided a way to express ideas through intricate construction and imaginative designs.

Modern Gundam kits have developed more advanced engineering and a wider range of customisation options. Those changes give builders more possibilities, while the appeal for Wong remains rooted in the work itself: turning a box of plastic parts into a distinctive piece ready for display.

He finds the process both meditative and empowering. The finished model offers a visible result, but the satisfaction also comes from making decisions, solving construction problems and seeing a personal idea take shape. Building gave him a place to develop an ability he could take pride in.

Two Competition Wins That Built Confidence

Wong's Regnant Claw won the Gundam 00 Challenge in 2009. The model featured substantial upgrades, professional paintwork and custom decals, the decorative markings applied to a model's surface. The work brought a standard kit close to master grade quality and earned it a place at Gundam Fiesta Singapore.

His 2012 GBWC Singapore winner went further. Project Vernicten Gundam Banshee RX-0-RGZ brought parts from different kits together in a highly customised design. Its diorama, a constructed scene used to present the model, added an artistic setting to the technical work.

Judges praised the complexity of the entry and the way Wong blended two mechas, or fictional robots, into a single cohesive centrepiece. One competition judge described the qualities that made the entry stand out:

Benjamin's entry stood out for its advanced modeling skills and creativity. The attention to detail and the unique concept made it a clear winner among many ambitious entries.

Wong's early competition milestones trace a progression from a customised individual model to a more elaborate combination of model and setting:

• 2009: Regnant Claw won the Gundam 00 Challenge and was displayed at Gundam Fiesta Singapore.
• 2012: Project Vernicten Gundam Banshee RX-0-RGZ took first place at GBWC Singapore.
• During the COVID-19 pandemic: Wong took a social media video course and began sharing his hobby online.
• By August 21, 2025: His collecting and content creation included brand collaborations, community support and connections with artists and fans abroad.

The awards mattered personally as well as competitively. Wong had not thought of himself as particularly athletic or academically outstanding at school. Model building gave him a way to excel, gain recognition and build confidence through a skill he had developed himself.

The Search Matters More Than the Size

Wong's collection has expanded over the years, but the search remains one of its strongest attractions. He visits hobby shops in Singapore and travels to Thailand, Japan and Hong Kong to look for rare and sought after items.

A limited edition McDonald's Japan Evangelion figure is one example of the kind of elusive piece that makes a toy hunt rewarding. The satisfaction comes from tracking an item down, rather than simply owning a larger number of toys.

His prized possessions include rare Dragonball and Transformer figures, alongside distinctive Gundam builds that show his technical and artistic abilities. Each carries a story about the character or franchise it represents, as well as the effort, journey and people involved in acquiring or creating it.

Wong sees discovery and connection as central to collecting. A trip to a shop or a search abroad can become part of an item's meaning. That approach gives the collection a personal history, with individual pieces serving as reminders of experiences rather than entries in a tally.

How Videos Opened New Doors

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Wong took a social media video course and began presenting his interests online. His direct, approachable style quickly attracted followers on Instagram and YouTube.

His videos include unboxings, reviews of unusual collectibles and explanations of the history and artistry behind different figures. That range allows him to share both the excitement of seeing a new item and the details that make it interesting to a collector.

The audience brought opportunities beyond his own channels. Wong worked with Ikea Singapore and MyRepublic and received invitations to movie premieres and exclusive events. When Japanese illustrator Yuko Shimizu reshared his review of her Godzilla book, his work reached more artists and fans around the world.

His YouTube channel and social media collaborations also help fund his collecting. The hobby supplies subjects for videos, while the resulting content and partnerships support further collecting. Wong has built a pursuit that helps sustain itself financially, although the friendships, recognition and sense of purpose remain just as valuable to him.

A Community With Room for More People

Wong's online presence has become a meeting point for collectors of different ages. Alongside entertainment, he offers mentorship and helps younger enthusiasts find friends with similar interests. That support can give someone the confidence to enjoy a hobby openly and feel that they belong.

Wong, a collector and model builder who now shares his interests through social media, describes the connection between childhood memories and present day friendships this way:

Collecting is a way to reconnect with the innocence and hope of childhood, but it's also about building relationships and sharing joy.

Singapore's collecting community has also become more diverse. Men who grew up in the 1980s remain part of the scene, while more women and younger enthusiasts are joining it. Their participation is changing older assumptions about who collects toys.

Admitting to the hobby once risked attracting strange looks. Wong now finds a more accepting environment, where collecting can bring respect and companionship. His own role extends beyond showing what he owns to helping others navigate the hobby and pursue their interests with confidence.

Social media has made information and resources easier to reach. Newcomers can learn about figures, discover other collectors and participate in discussions without already belonging to an established group. For Wong, that wider access creates more opportunities to connect people who might otherwise enjoy the same hobby alone.

Better Figures, Higher Prices and the Problem of Reselling

Toy collecting is increasingly accepted as a form of personal expression and, for some people, an investment. Manufacturers in Japan, the United States and China are producing more sophisticated figures for adult buyers who want quality and authenticity.

That interest has encouraged changes in design, materials and marketing. Limited edition releases, collaborations with artists and initiatives driven by fans are helping shape a more varied market. The growing range gives collectors more ways to pursue particular characters, styles and interests.

Wong is troubled, however, by scalpers: buyers who acquire rare items primarily to resell them at inflated prices. When scarce toys are bought for resale, enthusiasts seeking them for their own collections can face higher costs and greater difficulty finding them.

He believes that practice weakens the enjoyment and community spirit of collecting. Wong and other collectors support fairer distribution and greater transparency from manufacturers and retailers, so people have a better chance of obtaining coveted items at reasonable prices.

The commercial opportunities and the pressures exist together. Brand partnerships and online content help Wong support his hobby, while rising prices and the growing trade in rare items can make collecting harder. His priorities remain discovery, creativity and sharing the experience with others.

Wong's journey brings those priorities into focus. Childhood visits to Yaohan led to model building during his Polytechnic years, competition recognition and eventually a wider public role. The collection is the visible result, but the skills, confidence and relationships built around it explain why the hobby has become such a lasting part of his life.

Key Points

• Benjamin Wong's childhood interest in toys grew into Gundam model building, collecting and an active role in Singapore's hobby community.
• He won the 2009 Gundam 00 Challenge with Regnant Claw and took first place at GBWC Singapore in 2012 with Project Vernicten Gundam Banshee RX-0-RGZ.
• His toy searches take him to shops in Singapore and destinations including Thailand, Japan and Hong Kong.
• A video course during the COVID-19 pandemic helped him begin sharing his hobby on Instagram and YouTube.
• Collaborations with Ikea Singapore and MyRepublic, alongside his online content, help fund his collecting.
• Wong mentors younger enthusiasts and supports a community that increasingly includes women and younger collectors.
• He opposes scalping and supports fairer access to rare toys, while placing discovery, creativity and friendship at the centre of collecting.