Picking the rightGundammodel kit can be a challenge for some people, especially with how many hundreds of models there are out there. With kits representing different mobile suits from across a ton of anime, games, manga, novelizations, and more, not to mention any number of different levels of difficulties, jumping right it might be a bit intimidating.
Gundam model kits are also known as Gunpla Kits, a shortening of the phrase Gundam Plastic Model, which just breaks down the fact that these are plastic model kits of your favorite Gundam mobile units. If you’re curious about where to start or just need all the various grades of model kits laid out for you, we’ve got all the details you need about the Gundam model kits.
SD (Super-Deformed)
These model kits are incredibly unique even among other model kits. They are much smaller than other kits, generally only standing a few inches in height. The most obvious thing about these kits is that their dimensions are not proportional and have a more ‘chibi’ look as opposed to the hard science fiction mecha appearance of the anime.
These kits are cute and fun to assemble since they’re generally much easier to build than other grades. An SD kit is great for beginners as there are fewer pieces than other grades and don’t require as many tools to assemble. They’re also much cheaper than most of the other kits and don’t take long to assemble, making them a great gift for younger Gundam fans or a fantastic way to pass the time without any major time commitment.
Entry Grade
Entry Grade kits are another amazing place to start if you’re just getting into Gunpla kits. These models are explicitly designed for newcomers to the scene, with simplified designs and processes to make sure they’re not to difficult to assemble. Kits in the Entry Grade classification are made with a limited color palette, which helps keep them looking nice without outside tools or painting needed.
Perhaps the nicest thing for newcomers to the hobby is that the pieces all twist off easily from the sprues, the plastic sheets that the pieces are all assembled with and hold the pieces together. While more advanced kits will require the use of a file, sandpaper, paint and more, these are super easy to just break off and snap together. Entry Grade kits are fairly inexpensive, which is nice if you’re just getting into the hobby or want to try it out without a huge commitment. These kits are not to scale like other grades, but are around the same size as a High Grade.
There are fewer kits in this line so you might be a little limited to which mobile suits you’ll want to build.
High Grade
The most common type of Gundam kit are the High Grades. These kits are the basic level and have the most Gundams to pick from, including everything from Gundams to more general mobile suits, to even ships and stations. Kits of the High Grade variety are at 1/144 scale, meaning that you would shrink a regular Gundam down to just a few inches, it would be exactly the same dimensions, just smaller. There are some kits that are done to a different scale, but generally speaking, High Grade kits all follow this sizing.
The nice thing about these kits is that they have a fairly wide range of movement thanks to all the joints and other points of articulation. These kits are a relatively inexpensive as well, with plenty of accessories and extras you can pick up that’ll fit them too. Since these kits also are fairly interchangeable, letting you mix and match accessories from wildly different kits.
If you’re looking to cut your teeth on a solid looking model kit, High Grades make a fantastic starting point. The only thing you might need is to check into what tools you might need like sanding paper or glass files to help make your kit look the nicest it can.
Real Grade
One of the more interesting kits for Gunpla fans are the Real Grade line of modes. These kits are a mix between the size and ease of High Grade, while bridging the gap to Master Grade and Perfect Grade Kits. The big thing to keep in mind with these kits is that they use the inner frame designs of the Master Grade and above kits. This basically means that the kit has a ‘skeleton’ inside of it, as opposed to High Grade kits which are more like interlocking plastic pieces.
This line of model kits were introduced back in 2010 for the 30th Anniversery of Gundam, and have since gone on to establish themselves as a great pick if you’re looking to step up your building skills a bit. These kits tend to have more decals than a High Grade, while also coming with more realistic details. Real Grade kits are not exclusively at 1/144 scale size, though many of them do follow the sizing or at least are around the same size.
Master Grade
One of the more difficult lines of Gundam model kits, the Master Grade is one of the most rewarding sizes to build. Kits from this line are larger than High Grade or Real Grade, coming in at 1/100 scale size.
Not only are they larger than other Gundam kits, but they feature a higher level of detail, articulation, and poseability than other kits. Most Master Grade kits have a inner skeleton frame, giving them some heft and a lot more life than other kits.
Master Grade kits are a fair bit more expensive than other kits, but it makes sense given the higher number of pieces, greater detail, and more complex designs. Once you have a few High Grade kits built, you’ll come to appreciate the more difficult builds that the Master Grade kits have to offer.
Perfect Grade
Generally speaking, the biggest Gundam kits can be found in the Perfect Grade specification. These kits sit at a huge 1/60 scale size, offering some of the largest kits on the market. Kits from this grade are among the most difficult and detailed you can find, with the larger size giving plenty of room for the kits to show off the finer details of the build. The details of these kits are so high that many of them even include individual finger movement, as opposed to the more fixed hands that other grades require you to swap out for different poses.
Perfect Grade kits are designed to be the top of the line and give you all sorts of ways to upgrade them. There’s room in these kits to include LED lighting systems, bringing the kits to life with the glow, though most of the time you need to pick these lights up separately. Since there’s so much more to assemble with these kits, they tend to take much longer than even a Master Grade, making them better for experienced builders.
Other Grades
While most Gunpla kits fall into the above grades, there have been plenty that are outside the usual classifications. Some of these kits are very similar to other grades but have specific differences that make them unique enough so they don’t fit in. Among these other grades are the Mega Size Model and RE/100 types.
There are plenty of kits that don’t fit into any specific categorizations and while these kits don’t have an official name, they’re often called ‘No Grades’ by fans. These kits can include everything from older kits to special editions.
