BJPM

BJPM (Block Joint Plastic Model) is an instrument of construction little known outside Japan. Despite the name, BJPM eschews the studded blocks of Lego and Mega Bloks, and features instead plastic parts with 5mm ball joints.

These ball joints make BJPM creations well-articulated while the 5mm size makes BJPM parts compatible with Microman, Zoids Blox, and other lines that make use of 5mm joints.

Unlike block construction toys, there’s work to be done with BJPM even before you get to the creation phase as it’s sold in kit form and parts need to be snipped off sprues. If there’s one criticism to be made, most BJPM creations look distinctly skeletal, but that’s unsurprising since BJPM was originally intended to form an inner framework for garage kits.

Originally created by adult doujinshi artist Mikoshiro Nagito for sale at fan events in Japan, BJPM was sold commercially when he partnered with Atelier-Sai. Both would later go their separate ways with Atelier-Sai selling a similar line called Geneblock and Mikoshiro establishing his own company and line, Gimmick & Steels. All these lines are more or less compatible due to the common 5mm ball joints used though part tolerances may be a bit iffy.

Here are some BJPM links to check out:

BJPM Hall.
Click on the links on the left sidebar to see a huge collection of BJPM creations.

BJPM image board.
Fan-submitted creations.

TransGals Predaking.
Fanmode frequently links to misodrill’s BJPM creations and this Geneblock interpretation of the Transformers combiner may be his finest.

Magnesion.
A BJPM combiner by ku6gane.

Wikipedia (Japanese).
The origins of BJPM as well as links to other compatible lines.