Gunpla Grades Explained: A Beginner's Guide to the Different Types of Gundam Plastic Models
Are you new to the world of gunpla and wondering about the different grades available? Look no further! In this beginner's guide, we'll explain the different types of gunpla grades and the features that set them apart.
The five main gunpla grades are High Grade (HG), Master Grade (MG), Real Grade (RG), Perfect Grade (PG), and Super Deformed (SD). High Grade kits are the most basic and are suitable for beginners, while Master Grade kits are more complex and recommended for more experienced modelers. Real Grade kits are highly detailed and accurate, using advanced construction techniques to achieve a high level of realism. Perfect Grade kits are the most detailed and complex, with features such as working mechanical parts and light-up elements. Finally, Super Deformed kits are smaller and more stylized, with a chibi, or super deformed, appearance.
No matter what your skill level or interests, there's a gunpla grade for you. In this guide, we'll delve deeper into the features and characteristics of each grade to help you choose the right kit for your needs.
Here is a breakdown of the different gunpla grades:
Entry Grade (EG)
The Entry Grade line was introduced in 2011. It is the newest Gunpla series and are mainly manufactured in China.
These kits are typically 1/144 scale, meaning that the finished model is 1/144 the size of the full-sized mobile suit or vehicle.
These are the most basic Gunpla kits with few parts than most lines (even fewer than the early on FG line). They are affordable, very easy to assemble, and are even more suitable for beginners.
Only 7 kits were released since the introduction of the EG line. The latest kit introduced was the EG RX-93 vGundam in April, 2022.
These kits are generally very affordable, with prices ranging from around $8to $15.
High Grade (HG)
The High Grade line was introduced in 1990 and is the oldest of the gunpla grades. It was originally intended to be a more affordable and simpler alternative to the Master Grade line.
These kits are typically 1/144 scale, meaning that the finished model is 1/144 the size of the full-sized mobile suit or vehicle.
Until the introduction of Entry Grade line, these are the most basic gunpla kits, and they are typically made of fewer parts than the other grades. They are relatively easy to assemble and are suitable for beginners.
These kits are generally very affordable, with prices ranging from around $10 to $50.
Master Grade (MG)
The Master Grade line was introduced in 1995 as a higher-end alternative to the High Grade line. It was designed to be more detailed and accurate, with more parts and features such as inner frames.
These kits are typically 1/100 scale, meaning that the finished model is 1/100 the size of the full-sized mobile suit or vehicle.
They are more complex and detailed than the High Grade kits. They have more parts and often include features such as inner frames, which allow for greater articulation and poseability. They are more challenging to assemble and are recommended for more experienced modelers.
These kits are typically more expensive than the High Grade kits, with prices ranging from around $50 to $100.
Real Grade (RG)
The Real Grade line was introduced in 2010 as a new, more advanced grade of gunpla. It was designed to be highly detailed and accurate, with advanced construction techniques such as multi-colored injection molding.
These kits are also typically 1/144 scale.
They are designed to be highly detailed and accurate representations of the mobile suits and vehicles from the Gundam series. They use advanced construction techniques, such as multi-colored injection molding, to achieve a high level of realism. They are more challenging to assemble than the other grades and are recommended for advanced modelers.
These kits are more expensive than the other grades, with prices ranging from around $50 to $100.
Perfect Grade (PG)
The Perfect Grade line was introduced in 1998 as the top-of-the-line gunpla grade. It is designed to be the most detailed and accurate, with features such as working mechanical parts and light-up elements.
These kits are typically 1/60 scale, meaning that the finished model is 1/60 the size of the full-sized mobile suit or vehicle.
These are the most detailed and complex gunpla kits available. They are designed to be highly accurate and include many features such as working mechanical parts and light-up elements. They are very challenging to assemble and are recommended for experienced modelers with advanced building skills.
These are the most expensive gunpla kits, with prices ranging from around $100 to $300 or more.
Super Deformed (SD)
The Super Deformed line was introduced in 1991 as a more stylized and whimsical alternative to the other gunpla grades. It features chibi, or super deformed, versions of the mobile suits and vehicles from the Gundam series, with exaggerated proportions and cute features.
These kits are typically 1/144 or 1/100 scale, depending on the specific kit.
These are smaller and more stylized versions of the mobile suits and vehicles from the Gundam series. They are designed to have a chibi, or super deformed, appearance, with exaggerated proportions and cute features. They are generally easier to assemble than the other grades and are suitable for beginners.
These kits are generally more affordable than the other grades, with prices ranging from around $10 to $50.