A01Start here
Gunpla Grades Explained: HG, RG, MG, PG, SD and Entry Grade
What the Gunpla grades mean, the scale of each, and which grade to buy first: Entry Grade and HG for beginners, then RG, MG and PG.
23 guides
All guides
Gunpla grades explained, which Gundam model kit to start with, the tools you need and how to finish a kit, plus plastic model kits for beginners.
Grades
What HG, RG, MG, PG, SD and Entry Grade mean, the scale of each, and which grade suits your first or next kit.
A02Question
Gunpla Scales Explained: 1/144, 1/100, 1/60 and 1/48
What Gunpla scales mean, how tall a 1/144, 1/100, 1/60 or 1/48 kit stands, which grades use which scale, and why scale does not set difficulty.
A03Compared
HG vs RG vs MG: Which Gunpla Grade Should You Buy?
High Grade, Real Grade and Master Grade compared: scale, size, inner frame, part count and difficulty, with a clear pick for first, second and display kits.
A04Question
Master Grade (MG) Gunpla: What You Get at 1/100
What a Master Grade Gunpla kit is: 1/100 scale, an inner frame and more parts, Ver.Ka and MGEX explained, and when you are ready for your first MG.
A05Question
Perfect Grade (PG) Gunpla: Is a 1/60 Kit Worth It?
What a Perfect Grade Gunpla kit is: 1/60 scale, a full inner frame, light-up features on some kits, PG Unleashed, and who should build one.
A06Question
Real Grade (RG) Gunpla: Master Grade Detail at 1/144
What a Real Grade Gunpla kit is: 1/144 scale with an inner frame and many small parts, how hard RG kits are, and when to choose RG over HG or MG.
A07Question
SD Gundam Model Kits: Cross Silhouette, EX-Standard and MGSD
What SD Gundam kits are, how SD Cross Silhouette, SD EX-Standard, BB Senshi and MGSD differ, and which small SD kit to start with.
A08Question
What Is a High Grade (HG) Gunpla Kit?
What HG means on a Gunpla box: the 1/144 scale, how hard High Grade kits are to build, HGUC and other HG lines, and how to pick a good first HG.
How to build
Building your first Gunpla kit step by step, then panel lining, decals, top coat and painting.
B01Start here
How to Build Gunpla: Your First Kit, Step by Step
How to build a Gunpla kit from box to shelf: what you need, how to cut parts cleanly, the assembly steps, decals, and the finishing steps to try next.
B02Question
Best Gunpla for Beginners: How to Pick Your First Kit
Which Gunpla to build first: why Entry Grade and recent High Grade kits are the easy start, how to pick a suit, and the grades to leave for later.
B03How to
How to Apply Water Slide Decals to Gunpla
How to apply water slide decals to a Gunpla kit: gloss surface, soak time, setting solution, avoiding silvering, and sealing with a top coat.
B04How to
How to Paint Gunpla: Markers, Brushes and Spray Cans
How to paint a Gunpla kit as a beginner: start with markers or pencil shading, then brushes and spray cans, which paints are safe on ABS, and ventilation.
B05How to
How to Panel Line Gunpla (and Which Panel Liner to Use)
How to panel line a Gunpla kit with a Gundam Marker or a wash, which panel liner suits your kit's plastic, and how to clean up mistakes.
B06Question
Top Coat for Gunpla: Matte, Gloss and How to Spray It
What a top coat does for Gunpla, matte vs semi-gloss vs gloss, water-based vs lacquer top coat on ABS parts, and how to spray it without frosting.
Tools
Nippers, Gundam markers, sanding sticks and stands: the tools that make a kit look finished.
C01Start here
Gunpla Tools: What You Need to Build Your First Kit
The Gunpla tools you need and the ones that can wait: nippers, a hobby knife, sanding sticks, tweezers, Gundam Markers, top coat and a stand.
C02Question
Gundam Markers: Which Type to Buy and How to Use Them
The Gundam Marker types explained: fine-tip, pouring inking pen, Liner Sharp, metallic and EX markers, which to buy first, and how to use them safely on ABS.
C03Question
Gundam Stands and Action Bases: Which One Fits Your Kit?
How to choose a Gundam stand: Bandai Action Base sizes for 1/144, 1/100 and SD kits, how the adapter fits, display cases, and posing tips for mid-air shots.
C04Question
Gunpla Nippers: Single-Blade vs Standard Plastic Model Nippers
Which nippers to buy for Gunpla: plastic model nippers vs single-blade nippers, why not metal cutters or scissors, how to cut cleanly, and nipper care.
C05How to
Sanding Gunpla: Grits, Sanding Sticks and Removing Nub Marks
How to sand Gunpla nub marks smooth: which sandpaper grits to use, sanding sticks vs sponges, the order of grits, and how to avoid scratches and white marks.
Model kits
Plastic model kits beyond Gunpla: car and aircraft kits for beginners and a first airbrush setup.
D01Start here
Plastic Model Kits for Beginners: Where to Start
How to choose a first plastic model kit: skill levels, snap-together vs glue kits, common scales for cars and aircraft, starter sets and the tools you need.
D02Question
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
D03Question
Car Model Kits for Beginners: Scales, Skill Levels and a First Kit
How to choose a first car model kit: 1/24, 1/25 and 1/43 scales, skill levels, snap vs glue kits, the tools and paint you need, and building tips.
Photo: JOHN LLOYD / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
D04Question
Model Airplane Kits for Beginners: 1/72 or 1/48, and Where to Start
How to choose a first model airplane kit: 1/72 vs 1/48 scale, Airfix skill levels, starter sets, eras, the tools you need and how to display a finished plane.
