Bandai Action Base 5. The compact stand for your 1/144 shelf.
The Action Base 5 is the small one. A 2.8 cm by 2 cm hex pedestal with a short pillar that lifts a 1/144 Gunpla just off the surface for a low, planted action pose. No tall arching arm. No big footprint. Just the lift you need to break the kit out of a flat parade stance and have it look like it's actually doing something.
If your shelf is filling up with HGs and RGs and you don't want each one swallowing a 12 cm by 12 cm base, this is the stand that fits between them.
Build difficulty
Snap together in under a minute. No tools needed. No glue. No paint. The base, the short pillar, the joint, and the gripper come on two small runners and click into place. A first-time builder will work this out without an instruction sheet.
Technical highlights
The base is a hexagonal puck with rows of openings across the top. The included pillar is short, 7 cm tall, designed for low-stance display rather than airborne or flight poses. A short ball-jointed arm connects to a pair of grippers that clip into a standard 1/144 hip-mount or hand-mount. Multiple openings on the base mean you can offset the pillar left, right, forward, or back to angle the kit how you want it.
What makes this stand worth a spot
-
Compact footprint: 2.8 cm by 2 cm, about half the table space of the universal Action Base 1.
-
Built for 1/144 scale: proportioned for HG, RG, EG, and SD kits, not over-engineered for big builds it doesn't need to hold.
-
Short pillar for grounded poses: 7 cm gives the kit a small lift without making it look airborne when it shouldn't be.
-
Multiple pillar positions: use the rows of openings to angle the pose toward camera or away from neighbours on the shelf.
-
Snap-fit assembly: two runners, click together, done in under a minute.
-
Two colour options: clear if you want the stand to disappear under the kit, black if you want it to visibly anchor the build.
What's in the box
- 1x hexagonal base, 2.8 cm by 2 cm
- 1x short pillar, 7 cm length
- Ball-joint articulation parts
- Support and gripper parts for 1/144 hip and hand mounts
- Two moulded part runners
- Instruction sheet
Compatible kits
Designed for 1/144 scale Bandai Gunpla. That covers:
- High Grade kits (HG, HGUC, HGAC, HGBD, HGCE, HGIBO, HGTWFM) at 1/144 scale.
- Real Grade (RG) 1/144 kits.
- Entry Grade (EG) 1/144 kits.
- SD and SDEX kits that use the standard 1/144 hip-mount.
- 30 Minutes Mission (30MM) and 30 Minutes Sisters (30MS) kits that use the standard 3 mm back-mount.
The short 7 cm pillar is built for low, grounded action poses. It is not strong enough or tall enough for heavier Master Grade or Perfect Grade builds. For 1/100 MGs, the Action Base 4 is built to handle that weight. For PGs, the Action Base 1 with the heavier-duty pillar is the safer choice.
Build your display collection
If you're building out a stand collection across your shelf, every base linked here is in stock at Mecha Express today:
-
Bandai Action Base 1. The universal stand. Bigger base, taller adjustable arm, fits 1/144 and 1/100 kits. The default first stand most builders pick up.
-
Bandai Action Base 2. Same 1/144 scale focus as the Action Base 5, with a longer adjustable arm for taller flight and airborne poses.
-
Bandai Action Base 6. The 30 Minutes Mission stand. Also works for smaller 1/144 builds where you want a clean square base.
-
Bandai Action Base 7 Clear. The newest base. Clear plastic, dual articulated arms, suits HGs and small MGs.
-
Bandai Action Base 8 Clear. Multi-axis design for dynamic poses with heavier kits.
Build specifications
-
Manufacturer: Bandai
-
Series: Action Base
-
Scale compatibility: 1/144
-
Base dimensions: 2.8 cm x 2 cm
-
Pillar length: 7 cm
-
Packaged weight: 80 g
-
Assembly: Snap-fit
-
Paint required: No
-
Glue required: No
-
Recommended age: 8 years and over
-
Country of manufacture: Japan
-
Original release: 16 December 2017
Perfect for
- Builders with a 1/144 collection that's outgrowing the shelf.
- HG and RG owners who want a low, grounded action pose rather than a flight stand.
- Diorama builders running multiple kits and short on base space per kit.
- First-time stand buyers who don't need the bigger Action Base 1's universal arm.
- Anyone who wants a clean clear base that disappears under the kit, or a matte black base that anchors it visually.
Fast Australian shipping
Orders placed before 2 pm AEST on a weekday ship the same day from Brisbane. Free shipping on orders over $199 within Australia. Subsidised shipping to New Zealand. Letter-rate shipping available for small light items from $3.
What to watch for
This is a small base built for low poses, not a flight stand. If you want to lift a 1/144 HG into a mid-air pose, the Action Base 2's longer arm is the better tool. The Action Base 5 holds the kit a few centimetres above the surface, which is ideal for grounded action stances and standing display, less suited to dramatic airborne shots.
The compact 2.8 cm by 2 cm footprint is a strength on a packed shelf and a weakness if the kit is heavy or back-loaded with weapons. A standard HG sits balanced. An RG with a large weapon pack or shield can tip if the kit isn't sitting flat over the pillar mount. Position the pillar toward the rear of the base if you're working with a back-heavy kit.
Build notes
Plastic nippers help to remove the parts cleanly from the runners. You can twist parts off by hand, but you'll see small marks. A pair of cheap nippers gives you a cleaner finish in under a minute.
Build time: under 60 seconds.
Recommended age: 8 years and over.
Gundam kits shown in promotional photography sold separately. Action Base 5 sold as the stand and accessory parts only.
Last updated: 9 June 2026 (AEST)
