Gundam Kits: The Complete Guide to the Most Popular Mecha Anime

From an addictive pastime to a full-fledged cultural phenomenon, the world of Gundam has piqued curiosity and captivated enthusiasts globally for over four decades. The Gundam model kits, popularly referred to as “Gunpla” (a fusion of “GUNdam PLAstic model”), epitomize an intriguing intersection of anime culture, crafting, and collecting. These model kits drew their inspiration from the iconic Mobile Suit Gundam franchise, a ground-breaking Japanese animatic series that was first aired in 1979. What makes this hobby so popular and how can you start your first collection?

The Mobile Suit Gundam Universe

The Mobile Suit Gundam universe tells gripping stories of humanity’s future where giant mechanical suits called Mobile Suits are used in warfare between space colonies and Earth. The franchise emerges with a realistic approach to war storytelling, a complicated political narrative, and an innovative mechanical design. At the core of these stories are the Gundam units – super-effective Mobile Suits that often take leading roles in the narrative’s battles.

What is Gunpla?

Gunpla is a portmanteau of “Gundam plastic model” – they’re basically model kits based on the mobile suits and vehicles from the Gundam anime franchise. Produced by Bandai, these kits have formed a huge part of Japanese culture since 1980 when the first models were released shortly after the original Mobile Suit Gundam series. They are available in different scales (such as 1/144, 1/100, and 1/60) and grades, which describe the kits’ complexity:

• High Grade (HG): Entry-level 1/144 scale kits with a comparatively simple assembly process
• Royal Grade (RG): Contains complex 1/144 scale kits with detailed builds and gimmicks
• Master Grade (MG): Larger 1/100 scale kits with more details and more extensive articulation 
• Perfect Grade (PG): Premium 1/60 scale kits with the most detail and fancy features

Building Gunpla usually involves cutting pieces off of plastic runners and assembling them based on instructions, but may also involve additional weathering or painting. Many builders also engage in customizing their kits with modifications, paint jobs, or kitbashing –  combining parts from multiple models. As the anime series and games have gained significant popularity worldwide, Bandai continues to release both new Gundam kits series and revamped classic designs.

What Makes Gunpla Popular?

Bandai did magic in crafting these mechanical designs into buildable models that hold the charm of their animated counterparts. What makes Gunpla stand out is the excellent engineering. Far from simple snap-together toys, these are sophisticated model kits that offer varying levels of complexity and details. The different grades of models mean they are appealing to a variety of skill sets and expectations.

Gunpla has transcended mere model making, becoming a medium for artistic expression, where builders rely on many techniques to customize their kits. Techniques such as panel lining (fine lines to add additional detail), weathering (effect of deterioration), custom painting, and kitbashing (merging parts of different kits) are well-known practices letting builders create one-of-a-kind pieces to suit their distinctive vision.

Starting a Collection

For beginners, the best way is to start with High Grade (HG). These 1/144 scale models are an ideal balance of affordability, ease of build, and satisfying results. They feature decent articulation and decent detail and normally take a few hours to complete. Although Real Grade (RG) kits are in a 1/144 scale, they are somewhat more detailed, much more complex, and generally feature inner mechanical frames replicating the fictional machines’ supposed inner workings.

Master Grade (MG) kits are quite larger, being 1/100 scale, and thus more complex. Enthusiasts admire them for their detailed inner frames, extensive articulation, and larger size that enables finer detail. Perfect Grade (PG) kits are massive models that can take many weeks to finish and feature LED circuitry, metal details, and superior levels of mechanical details.

A Rewarding Process

For starters, gather the essential tools: nippers to cut the parts from the runners, a hobby knife for cleaning nubs that remain after cutting, and basic panel lining markers. Many builders also invest in sandpaper or files for neat results.

Building Gunpla kits is systematic and rewarding. Each kit comes with a manual detailing the whole assembly process. The manuals have plenty of diagrams that help builders assemble the respective models. Even though the text may be in Japanese, the visual instructions are universal and easy to follow. The parts come mounted on plastic sprues, with each piece numbered to correspond to the manual’s instructions.

The process itself is meditative and satisfying, requiring focus and patience that can be quite therapeutic. Every completed model, particularly one with intricate details or difficult assembly steps, brings immense satisfaction. Moreover, being a part of this community comes with a whole pack of fun, sharing tips and techniques, showcasing your work, and supporting one another in efforts of creativity.  

As you acquire new abilities, you might feel compelled to try more advanced techniques and tackle more complicated builds. The beauty of Gundam kits is that you can grow the hobby at your own pace – adopt new techniques, try custom painting, highly detailed weathering work, or diorama building. There are always new and distinctive challenges, as well as further room for creativity.

Bottom Line

Whether your interest arises from working with engineering marvels, the notable connection to the anime series, or the satisfaction of creating something yourself, Gunpla is a gratifying hobby that combines craftsmanship, creativity, and collecting. This rapidly expanding community is open to builders of all ages and skill levels who want to share their passion for these extraordinary model kits.