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LED Gunpla: How LED Units Light Up Gundam Model Kits

What LED units do for Gunpla, which kit lines are built for them, how the PG Unleashed Nu Gundam unit works, batteries, and keeping a lit display safe.

By Gundam Models editorial teamUpdated 3 min readHow we research

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A built Gundam model standing in front of blurred colored light trails

LED Gunpla are model kits lit from inside by small battery-powered light units. Bandai sells LED units made to fit specific kits, and Wikipedia calls LED lighting kits a signature of the Perfect Grade line. A unit lights parts such as a glowing frame, so check that its description names your exact kit before you buy.

Which Gunpla lines use LED units

LED units are most closely tied to Bandai’s largest kits: lighting kits are a signature of the Perfect Grade (PG) line, and LEDs are among the features of PG Unleashed, the newer generation of Perfect Grade. A few other lines build lights in as well.

Kit line How LEDs are used
Perfect Grade (PG) LED lighting kits are a signature of the line
PG Unleashed LEDs are part of the design
MGEX The first kit, the Unicorn Gundam Ver.Ka, has an LED strip that changes color between its normal and Destroy Mode looks
Hyper Hybrid Model LED units across the body; building one calls for some knowledge of electronics

For more on the grades with lights, see our guides to Perfect Grade kits and MGEX and Ver.Ka kits.

LED units and light kits for Gunpla

Shop LED units for Gunpla

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How the PG Unleashed Nu Gundam LED unit works

The LED unit for the 1/60 PG Unleashed Nu Gundam is a good example of how a kit-specific unit is made. HobbyLink Japan’s listing for this Bandai unit describes it this way:

  • What it lights: it shows the light of the Nu Gundam’s Psycho Frame and other parts.
  • Where it goes: it fits inside the PG Unleashed Nu Gundam’s body, and the control unit fits into that kit’s own display base.
  • Power: four AA batteries, not included.
  • Modes: a switch on the side picks auto mode or manual mode.

The unit is a separate product from the kit, so the kit and the light are bought one at a time. LED units from other makers vary in how they fit, so check any other unit the same way: its description should name the kit or kits it fits.

How to check an LED unit fits your kit

An LED unit for Gunpla only works in the kit it was designed for, because it has to fit hollow spaces and clear parts that differ from model to model. Before you buy, check three things in the description.

First, the kit name and grade. A unit made for a 1/60 PG kit is sized for that kit, not for a 1/100 MG or 1/144 HG of the same mobile suit. Second, the battery type, and whether batteries come in the box. Third, where the control unit or battery box sits: on the PG Unleashed Nu Gundam it sits in the base, which means the base has to be part of your display.

Plan for the light when you build. Read the LED unit’s instructions before you snap the kit together, so you know which parts have to stay open for wiring.

Running lights on a Gunpla display safely

LED lights on a Gunpla display add a second thing to plan: how long the lights stay on, since every hour of light reaches the plastic too.

Safety

Light fades plastic over time, and the Library of Congress lists LEDs among the common light sources in a room. Switch a lit display off when nobody is looking at it, and take batteries out if it will sit unused for a long time.

A closed case keeps dust off the clear parts that carry the light. Our guide to Gundam display cases covers sizing a case and keeping it out of the sun. For the rest of the kit, from nippers to markers, see the Gunpla tools guide.

Frequently asked questions

Do Gunpla kits come with LED lights?

A few do. Wikipedia notes that the first MGEX kit, the Unicorn Gundam Ver.Ka, has an LED strip built in. Many LED units are sold separately, such as the LED unit for the PG Unleashed Nu Gundam.

What batteries does a Gunpla LED unit use?

It depends on the unit, so read its description. The LED unit for the PG Unleashed Nu Gundam takes four AA batteries, which are not included, according to HobbyLink Japan's listing.

Can I add LED lights to a High Grade or Master Grade kit?

Bandai's LED units are made for specific kits, so check that a unit's description names your kit and grade. Wiring your own lights is a bigger job: Wikipedia notes that Bandai's Hyper Hybrid Models, which carry LEDs across the body, call for some knowledge of electronics.

Will LED lights damage my Gunpla?

Any light adds up over time. The Library of Congress says light damage is cumulative and usually permanent, and the Canadian Conservation Institute advises low light and no hot lights near plastics. Turn the lights on to show the kit, not all day.

Filed under ToolsStart with Gunpla Tools: What You Need to Build Your First Kit

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