What is Gunpla?

Gundam Models refers to plastic and non-plastic model kits depicting the mechas, vehicles and characters of the fictional Mobile Suit Gundam universe. These kits have become popular among anime fans and model-lovers, especially in Japan and in other nearby Asian countries since 1980s. The popularity of Gundam models increased in the 1990s with North America and Europe being exposed to Gundam through television, video and manga. These Gundam Models may also be called Gunpla (ガンプラ Ganpura?), a portmanteau of "Gundam plastic model". "Gunpla" more commonly refers to the practice of building Gundam models, rather than the models themselves.

Scales and grades

» Click to show Spoiler - click again to hide... «


Entry Grade(EG)
In 2011, Bandai released the Entry Grade (EG) line, a low-cost model series that replaces the 1:144 NG and FG lines. Unlike other kits of the same scale, all EG kits are made in China.

Super Deformed(SD)
Not based on any particular scale, the super-deformed style features comically-proportioned models, the most noticeable features of which are teir very large heads. Super Deformed Gundam kits are often very easy to construct but offer very limited articulation and require paint and detailing to truly "finish" the kit. The most famous line is the BB Senshi (or "SD GUNDAM BB Warriors" in English). There are also separate product lines: for instance, Superior Defender Gundam Force and Ganso SD Gundam (discontinued in the 1990s). Most kits of this line are from the Musha Gundam series and the Knight Gundam series.

1:144 scale/HG/RG
The very first kits have been running for 30 years (starting with RX-78-2 Gundam) and are routinely re-released by Bandai. As these kits are limited in articulation and require glue (for the early kits) and paint to assemble, these have retroactively been categorized as NG (No Grade), to differentiate them from FG (First Grade).
During the mid- to late-1980s, the quality of molding improved and HG (High Grade) level kits were introduced in 1990, starting from the titular mobile suits of the first four TV series. These limited-run kits featured full snap fit assembly, an "internal frame" (for the first two kits, which provides better range of motion and were more poseable), and utilized the molding technique known as System Injection, wherein multiple colors would be cast on the same part.

In 2010, Real Grade (RG) surpasses HG as the top-end series of the 1:144 Gunpla line. The kits feature extensive detail and articulation, as well as a poseable skeletal frame comparable to the 1:100 Master Grade kits. The first RG kit is the 1/144 RX-78-2 Gundam, with the second being the 1/144 MS-06S Char's Zaku II coming out sometime in November.

1:100 scale/MG
Just like the 1:144 scale model kits, these kits started about the same time with the very first 1:144 model kits, again starting from RX-78-2 Gundam. "Generic" 1:100 kits may also be called "No-Grade" (NG 1:100) to differentiate from other specific 1:100 kits. Later kits (from Turn-A Gundam onwards) are clearly inspired from the post-HG 1:100 kits and features a similar (or greater) level of quality and detail.
Beginning with Victory Gundam in 1993, the HG line would shift to relatively well detailed larger scale kits in the 1:100 scale. There were need for little painting and detailing. These applied for the 1:100 scale models produced between 1993 and 1998, including Victory Gundam, G Gundam, Gundam Wing, Gundam X, and New Mobile Report: Gundam Wing Endless Waltz. Each TV series would receive on average between 6 to 8 models in this scale and grade.

Master Grade (MG) models were first introduced in the summer of 1995, designed and made to higher standards than most other models. These take much longer to construct and are often much more expensive than their lower-grade counterparts. These kits consists of features similar to those of the HG and HGUC but better. This line of plastic kits was the first to feature a movable inner frame system which enables extensive movement and bending of joints. The popularity of this line was so great that a lot of old and new kits from non-graded series were cast as Master Grade models. The vast majority of MG offerings are from Gundam, with the rest coming from mechas in Patlabor and Dunbine, as well as character figures of Dragonball Z, Kamen Rider W, and One Piece (under the name of MG Figurerise). As the MG line has become a symbol of Gunpla, Bandai released another lineup called Real Robot Revolution (R3), for the non-Gundam type real robots like Layzner and L-Gaim, made using their experience in MG model production.

1:60 scale/PG
Bandai release 1:60 scales to the main mecha of major TV series. These are non grades or TV grades models, and the main line of 1:60 scale. Early 1:60 kits, like other scales, where simply a bigger version of the smaller scales. In the early to mid 90's, 3 High Grade EX models of V2 Gundam, Shining Gundam and God Gundam from the V Gundam series and G Gundam series where release, featuring more details and gimmicks than its smaller counter parts. Bandai also created a much more detailed series of figures. The Perfect Grade (also known as PG) model kits come in standard 1:60 scale but are superbly detailed in terms of color and its inner frame, as well as normally possessing more points of articulation, such as hands that articulate at the knuckles. Perfect Grade kits were mainly used for developing new plastic model technologies, a function currently taken over by the Master Grade series, and typically need a few years to develop each kit.

1:35 scale/UCHG
Universal Century HardGraph does not primarily center around the humanoids of the Gundam universe. Rather, it centers on military things on a more conventional scale such as land vehicles, tanks and troops. However, some kits do include detailed to-scale mecha parts which are particularly useful for the creation of dioramas. For instance, the Anti-MS Squad kit includes an articulated lower Gundam arm.

Other/Mixed Scales
There are various other scales, like the Mega Grade's 1:48, the Speed Grade's 1:200. These scales are less dominant in the Gundam Model line.
A 1:400 scale model line is designed for large mobile armours and battle ships in the Gundam Collection line, which the line's ordinary mobile suits are figures, not models. Only extremely large units like Mobile Armours and Warships need assembly. These models are pre-coloured models, and the warships need minimal assemble. An earlier line of model, the High Grade Mechanics, with a scale of 1:550 held a similar function in introducing large mobile units, but the line only consist of 3 mobile units from 0083.
Another high-detail line is the EX model, in scales of 1:144 and 1:100 (non-humanoid units like aircraft) and 1:1600/1:1700 (spaceships), ranging from the Universal Century to Cosmic Era productions. This series is not Gundam-exclusive, having models from other series like some of the jet aircraft from Sentō Yōsei Yukikaze and at least one aircraft from Ace Combat 5.

Special Editions
Over the years, Bandai released special limited editions of various kits, usually as competition (such as the yearly Bandai Action Kits Asia (now Universal) Cup held in Hong Kong) prizes, or as an event-limited (such as Japanese toy expos, movie launch premieres) item, although sometimes these kits are sold as limited web-shop items or discreetly sold by Bandai. These kits usually come in clear plastic, metal-plated (certain kits are in so-called 24-k gold finish), "gloss-finish", "pearl-finish", "titanium-finish", or any combination of these. Their prices are usually much higher than their regular-release counterparts.

Non Plastic
Bandai has also released some Gundam garage kit under their branch, B-Club. These models are composed of unpainted resin with no decals provided, often needing modification by the modeler due to the inherent properties of the manufacturing process. While comparably more expensive (some surpassing $400) compared to plastic kits, they offer an unparalleled level of detail for the dedicated and experienced model builder.
A few select kits have also appeared manufactured from metal. These kits are offered by several different manufacturers and most commonly will result in a finished model of about MG level.
These types of models (real detail) usually take days to build.

Previous thread:

Related Links

Gunpla News

Other categories of model kits available in this forum

This post has been edited by nazrul90: Nov 16 2012, 02:27 AM

Congratz on the new thread v27!

Wah.....new thread liao.

wooo..new thread. CONGRATULATIONS !

---

Added on September 28, 2012, 5:03 pmany shifu here can leave me ur contact number so i can ask anything that i dunno ?

This post has been edited by wata: Sep 28 2012, 05:03 PM

\(^ - ^)/

(/^ O ^)/ "V27" \(^ O ^\)

WIP painting 23 thrusters for Sazabi

oh hai there

Subscribed!

Char Aznable's speed like...

this is kinda extreme
just leave a question here, we will try answer as long as we can

This post has been edited by nazrul90: Sep 28 2012, 05:35 PM

Yeah~.. V27.. lucky I'm still able to be in First Page

may i know the diff of this 2 marker ?

GM01 Black Gundam Line Marker (Paint) and GM20 Black Gundam Line Marker (paint)

Congrats! Spam....

Nice banner!



This post has been edited by waikin_31: Sep 28 2012, 05:56 PM

GM01 has a hard, fine tip:




while GM20 has a soft, relatively broader tip like those on Real-Touch Markers:

woah V27 already! congrats

obligatory new thread spam...

congrats on nu thread

GM01 has a hard, fine tip while GM20 has a soft, relatively broader tip like those on Real-Touch Markers:



ty shifu for the info

This post has been edited by wata: Sep 28 2012, 07:08 PM

PLEASE ADD SPOILERss.... when replying Post with Pictures...

[ SPOILER][/SPOILER ]

This post has been edited by ascentic: Sep 28 2012, 06:52 PM

ok..sry shifu

me no shifu. me still learning

besides, all that can easily be acquired from good ol' Google

No need sorry just a reminder.. I'm using SamsungS3 checking forum here.. scroll like mad man... when not put spoiler ..

Wah new tread already...

Slowpoke me

ya....i slowpoke oso, no pro work to show off

do u guys always use spray ? example glossy , semi glossy those type of spray

You mean topcoat? I mostly use it to get rid of the glossy finish on the plastic, which is why I use a flat coat. Speaking of flat coat:





I still hate how I broke his front shoulder hatch(hence why his front shoulder missiles aren't firing), but I still love how the kit turned out. Two down, three to go.

This post has been edited by TaurusOxford: Sep 28 2012, 11:27 PM

Mine already show some time ago but i think i can show a sneak peak of this...

What kind of spray you refering to ? paint spray or top coat ?

If it was paint spray, i always want a flat paint since i don't like shiny armor.

Well Heavyarms have more than enough for it missile spam needs but good luck on the rest of your build.

This post has been edited by Khai62: Sep 28 2012, 11:33 PM

Congrats On V27 Threads..

what spoiler tag, no need spoiler tag la, must show off the picture mah

need spoiler tag meh?

Finally done. So many decals!







This post has been edited by waikin_31: Sep 29 2012, 03:24 AM

Secret lor

Looking very nice! Great job on the decals.

There is still a handful left though...and some of the leftovers shaped as though they really meant to be placed somewhere.

As tedious as the decals go, it's a heck of a fun build. This RG has that solid feel to it. Recommended for first RG attempt...

Hmmm, should i go for RG Freedom or RX-78-2 next?

This post has been edited by waikin_31: Sep 29 2012, 10:09 AM

doesnt matter.. just show to celeb new tered..

Freedom! the SEED series are a heck of a lot of fun to build

whao nice brother!

This post has been edited by Dandy: Sep 29 2012, 11:52 AM

RG Freedom and Justice same inner frame?

not sure, Freedom wasn't mine, it was my brother's but it looked pretty fun too

RX-78-2 you will cry when building it.
no harm to go higher level...
but i can say got a lot of flaw la since it is First RG.

like lotsa sticker that stick on curvy place then hell sure few weeks later the sticker will roll up.


yes.

at least the kneecap is same.

fuyoo, I jelly but I lazy to clear my backlogs.....

I tried to vary my builds so i don't get bored with the same inner frame. Like the case of Freedom since i just recently went through Justice. Though the backpack is a different animal...

Ya, i will be fukken pissed if i break any parts building RG RX-78-2, saw too many negative comments. Anyone or did you breake any parts? When you say cry, is it because the joints are scary or it is easy to damage?

On the decals, i think they roll up because the kits surface gets kinda oily when you manipulate around and decal dun stay too well on them. I tend to wipe clean the surface before i stick them. Maybe Mr. Setter? I don't know how it works though...

This post has been edited by waikin_31: Sep 29 2012, 06:33 PM

Hey guys, are there any cheap gunpla shops in mid valley?

Thank you in advance.

they are real different colour separator, which means it is not same with strike level lol.
and ya got some parts really small.
i never break parts, only accident cut RG-02's zaku's balls.
no, ya you are right, but what i mean is some decal need trim or sometimes i complete remove it to other flat surface.
check the chrome sticker part then you will know.

that's why i rather use chrome marker paint on those joint

i didnt break any parts on my RG RX-78-2 while building it
it's actually one of the few kits that i didnt break anythg when building lol
only i played to much with it i broke the V-fin

as for the stickers, the clear stickers are ok for me, it's the foil chrome stickers that are peeling off

http://gundamguy.blogspot.com/2012/09/band...-system_27.html

hmmm.. that sniper...
DO WANT

all I need to do is complete my MG 00Q & GN Sword IV and I can replicate that pose

Suddenly miss HG Gundam, any recommended kits except UC Series?

I'd say from 00 series. quite good proportions and articulations

Ya, 00 not bad. Any specify gundam?

00 Raiser is okay I think. but being a HG, it does not quite a lot of touch-up paints to make it look good

i have HG 00 series
mostly they cant hold the weapon well compared to HGUC

some of the kit have balance issue too(like HG 00 Raiser,Cherudim), so you might need an action base to display the kit

This post has been edited by nazrul90: Sep 30 2012, 01:12 AM

Really, I want this one....any chance might getting this?



1/48 Zeta Gundam Head Display Included in the January 2013 Issue of Gundam Ace Magazine (Issue Release Date: Nov. 26th 2012, Price: 980 yen)

Not that I know of. Go BTS instead...

If distance is a problem, go for online resellers. Look around earlier threads for some of the more reputable ones

Okay, thanks. Will go there next time I visit KL.

come..come.. i wanna see setsuna's gundam cool poses together..


dunno about hg cherudim, but i can pose ng 1/100 cherudim no poblem without action base

sampai liao... the content pretty much like any HG kit
.. got a white display with this kit as expected Bandai, im prefer a new design(display base) instead recycle from old one which is originally from HGUC

reveal it !

you mean this?

after u done it reveal it oso lol

Well this is something that i don't imagine come from Bandai...



This post has been edited by Khai62: Sep 30 2012, 10:57 PM

haha, it's been out and missing for a long time!

nice ! how much is it ?

where to get this1?

It not mine obviously but a quick search from uncle google show that there some on Hobbylink Japan and Hobbysearch costing about RM22 and there alot other pokemon also in stock.

in stock? seriously? i thought they went extinct already!
anyone getting some? i want some too!

Well some of them will be in stock next month it seem but Pikachu in low stock on HLJ so better hurry.

as usual the problem is i don't have a credit card so i have to ask if anyone is getting anything lol

I forget you don't have that, i considering to get it since it look like a good quick build but need to check my next month quota.

haha, agreed.. it looks cute, easily built and won't need too much detailing and cheap!

u can pay with paypal, then paypal account can link to your bank account

really? i thought paypal need some sort of card also

Many years ago Litt Tak was selling RM10 each during their warehouse sales

This post has been edited by ngcheechong: Oct 1 2012, 12:03 AM

Know where to find it since i don't want to pay shipping just for that.

i thought can get in bts ==

LOL.. BTS really remind me of 1 road name called BTX, Bui Thi Xuan @ Hanoi.. lol... damn bring back memories.. anyway... I think u might wanna try luck with AF Hobby or Graffiti.. I remember seeing it at Graffiti but not pikachu.. just a blue color pokemon thingy.. dunno what name.. so sorry..

It's a model kit though

if not i maybe wait get 1 pikachu for christmas present =3=

for company annual activities

Any sifu know is there any cheaper Alternative of top coat FLAT?

Krylon matte finish 30 bucks but come in large can, equivalent to u buying two cans of mr hobby top coat for the price of 1.

Another way is to DIY, mix some tamiya flat base with future floor acrylic. This is the most cost effective way but u nid an AB.

what does the future floor part do? i hear of this method many times but i have not come across this item before.. if i knew what it was for, exactly, i could find an alternative

Well u nid to 1st kno that top coat is virtually just a clear layer of paint. Future floor is actually a coat to make ur marble floor shiny and since its an acrylic base u can use it for model kit. Effectively making future floor == top coat gloss

Next u nid to know that tamiya base flat is not for painting on the surface directly, it has to mix with paints to turn the paint to matte finish. Thus in order to make a top coat matte, all we nid is the base flat + a clear paint (which is what future floor is for).

Future floor no longer calls by that name, i dun rember it from the top of my head but u can google it. It can be found in Ace Hardware.

This post has been edited by TheAdmiral: Oct 1 2012, 10:01 AM

a quick google search turned up, Pledge? i think i've seen this around before.. thanks for the thorough explaination

This post has been edited by HxiiiK: Oct 1 2012, 10:01 AM

anyone finished his Blitz yet? i kinda dont like the light purple....but no knowledge n time for repaint. =_=""

getting buster soon....still undecided bout Aegis. the price is bit expensive. lol

something like this, instead?



more here

A new one:



More here:

http://imgur.com/x4jJw,fha8n,xPiKj,6pwWQ,Cp8Ck#0

yaaaa, something like that !! very nice lo. but ...aih....even assembling gundam also no time. not to say paint. =_= i still hv.... 9 misb/mib gundams =_=

Or like this?

This post has been edited by shauno: Oct 1 2012, 10:51 AM

take your time each one u assemble slowly and pay attention to detailing and painting, even though it takes u super long, u will feel it is worth it
and the purple in the pic i think a bit too dark maybe in between that one and the original purple would be nice.. need some light colors to break up the black and red

ya, i think the first pic, the purple is nicer. bit darker than the original.
nolar, AB takes a lot of time for me. really don hv the time. huhu.

slowly piece by piece.. when u see it come together, you will be even happier

maybe im just lazy to learn AB

laziness is a problem i cannot solve i also haven't found the solution to my own laziness

Just thought of sharing this finding....not sure if this is old. Looks helpful

there is a pinned thread for post like this

http://forum.lowyat.net/topic/488910

nice share.. the zaku one looks particularly interesting.. too bad i'm still not too fond of cutting my models in half saved for future reference though