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Gundam ModelsAn independent guide to Gunpla and model kits

Gunpla and plastic model kits

Pick the right grade. Build it clean.

Gunpla kits snap together without glue, and the grade on the box tells you how big and how involved the build is. Start with a High Grade or Entry Grade kit, a pair of plastic model nippers and a panel line marker, then move up to Real Grade or Master Grade.

Grades explainedYour first kit

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A white and red Unicorn Gundam model with a golden horn, seen close up
Fig. 01Built kit, panel lines and decals

Start with a section

All guides
A built Gundam model in a dynamic pose holding a beam rifleGrades
All the runners of a Gunpla kit in their plastic bags on a tableHow to build
A pair of blue-handled sprue cutters resting on a Gunpla runnerTools
A finished propeller aircraft model in green camouflage colorsModel kits

The grade ladder

Which Gunpla grade is which

Each grade has its own scale and build effort. Grade, not scale, tells you how hard a kit is to build.

  1. Entry Grade (EG)

    1/144

    Made for beginners: parts come off the runner by hand, no tools needed.

    Source: Bandai Hobby

  2. SD Gundam (SD)

    No scale

    Big heads, few parts and a quick build.

    Source: Bandai Hobby, Wikipedia

  3. High Grade (HG)

    1/144

    The biggest range and the usual first kit.

    Source: Bandai Hobby, Gunpla 101

  4. Real Grade (RG)

    1/144

    An inner frame and fine detail at HG size.

    Source: Bandai Hobby, Gunpla 101

  5. Master Grade (MG)

    1/100

    Larger, with an inner frame and more parts.

    Source: Bandai Hobby, Wikipedia

  6. Perfect Grade (PG)

    1/60

    The largest and most detailed grade.

    Source: Bandai Hobby, Wikipedia

Inside the box

What you get in a Gunpla kit

Plastic parts of a Real Grade Zaku II kit still attached to their runners on a wooden table

Every part comes on a plastic frame called a runner, molded in the kit's colors, so a built kit looks right before any paint. The parts snap together without glue.

You cut each part off the runner with nippers, follow the numbered steps in the manual, then add the stickers or decals. Bandai suggests tweezers for the small ones.

How to build a Gunpla kit, step by step

Before you buy a kit

  • Read the grade code and scale: HG 1/144, RG 1/144, MG 1/100 or PG 1/60, printed on the box.
  • Buy one tool first: plastic model nippers. Kitchen scissors stress the plastic.
  • Check the seller: look for Bandai on the box and listing, and a new, sealed kit.
  • Plan your finish: a panel line marker and a matte top coat change how a kit looks more than any other step.

A first kit and the tool to build it

All tools

High Grade (HG) 1/144 kits

Shop high Grade (HG) 1/144 kits

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Nippers for plastic models

Shop nippers for plastic models

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Finishing

Make a snap-built kit look finished

A built Gundam Exia plastic model in blue, white and redHow to panel line GunplaMarkers, washes and which liners are safe on your kit's plastic.
A built Gundam Barbatos model holding a long sword on a white backgroundTop coat for GunplaMatte, semi-gloss or gloss, and how to spray it.
A navy blue model airplane with white markings on a white backgroundHow to apply water slide decalsSoak, slide, set and seal, without silvering.

Gifts for someone who builds Gunpla

  • The first-time builder: an Entry Grade or High Grade kit plus plastic model nippers.
  • The builder who wants a cleaner finish: panel line markers, sanding sticks and a can of matte top coat.
  • The collector with a full shelf: an Action Base stand for mid-air poses.

See the tools that make good gifts

Beyond Gunpla

Car and aircraft model kits

A plastic aircraft model being assembled on a workbench beside its runners and paint bottles

Most car and aircraft kits are glued, not snapped, and painted by the builder. Makers rate them by skill level, so a beginner can start with a low part count.

Airfix rates its kits from 1 to 4 and recommends its starter sets, which include paint, glue and brushes, for a first build.

Plastic model kits for beginners

Questions builders ask

All guides

A01Model kitsQuestion

Airbrush Kits for Models: What a Starter Setup Needs

How to choose an airbrush kit for model kits: single vs dual action, gravity vs siphon feed, a compressor with a tank, paint thinning, cleaning and safety.

Photo: Shixart1985 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0

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