Here’s a page to help newer Gundam/Mecha model builders get oriented and find out about kits, where to buy them, how to build them, and find people like themselves…

There’s a lot of information out there, so here’s a gateway for getting started.

Places to learn about mecha model kits:

Dalong Gunpla Kit Review-
Has reviews of Gundam, Macross Frontier, Armored Core, ZOIDS, SRW and a lot more from Bandai and Kotobukiya. Reviews show built kits (he builds them simply with a minimal amount of paint), as well as level of detail and mobility (poseability) and in the information portion, box contents and scans of instruction manuals.
http://dalong.net/

Hobby Search-
This is a Japanese online hobby shop but they generally have extensive photos of the built kits from box/catalog photos, box contents and instruction manuals. They have military models as well.
http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/gundam/

Places to Buy Models:

Online Japanese Shops

Hobbylink Japan:
http://www.hlj.com/

Rainbow Ten:
http://www.rainbowten.co.jp/english/

Hobby Search:
http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/gundam/

Online US Shops:

Gundam Store and More
http://www.gundamstoreandmore.com/

HobbyWave
http://www.hobbywave.com/

Local Southern California Shops that carry Gundam/Mecha kits:

Brookhurst Hobbies
http://brookhursthobbies.com/

Ultimate Hobbies
http://www.ultimatehobbies.com/istar.asp?tfile=homepage.template

Tony’s Hobbies
http://thobbies.com/

Hobby People
http://www.hobbypeople.net/

Frank & Sons Collectible Show (open Saturdays and Wednesdays only, and only a couple booths sell kits, but their prices are very good)
http://www.frankandsonshow.net/

Anime Expo – It’s only once a year and you have to register and pay to get in, but the Exhibitor Hall has some very good deals on everything anime related and there’s a model contest and several model building workshops.
http://www.anime-expo.org/

DECALS
Most Gundam/Mecha kits do not come with waterslide decals that most other modelers are used to (if they do have markings, they are typically peel-and-stick stickers and rub-on dry transfers). Bandai makes waterslide decals for some of their kits that you can buy separately on the listed websites, but Samuel Decal is a respected decal vendor from Hong Kong with a very large variety of designs. He can also print your own designs for you.
http://samueldecal.com/

Gundam/Mecha model Community Forums:

GameraBaenre’s Model Building Community Forum:
http://gamerabaenre.com/forums/index.php

Fichtenfoo Model Building Community Forum (FFF):
http://fichtenfoo.com/forum/

Hobby Fanatics Model Building Community Forum:
http://www.hobbyfanatics.com/

Useful Tutorials and Forum Help Sections:

Fichtenfoo’s “How to Build Master Grade Gundams”:
http://fichtenfoo.net/blog/how-to-build-master-grade-gundams/

GameraBaenre’s Tutorials:
http://gamerabaenre.com/?page_id=1202

GB Forum Techniques and Technologies section:
http://gamerabaenre.com/forums/viewforum.php?f=9

FFF Model Help section:
http://fichtenfoo.net/forum/index.php?board=5.0

Funakatown’s Tips and Advice:
http://funakatown.com/?page_id=252

WIPs
You can always look at WIP (Work In Progress Reports) for ideas, techniques and inspirations. The forums above all have WIP sections and here are some good ones from a few prominent mecha model builders:

Fichtenfoo’s
http://fichtenfoo.net/blog/category/modeling/in-progress/

GameraBaenre’s:
http://gamerabaenre.com/?page_id=1176

Eday’s:
An excellent super-detailer-
http://www.ver-ed.com/VerEd-KAI.html

EBASENET:
Three talented modelers, some of their excellent kits have WIP reports.
http://www.ebasenet.com/index.htm

Funaka’s:
I’m a fanatical documenter of my work so you can see every thought I’ve ever had…
http://funakatown.com/?page_id=11