Understanding High-Grade Universal Century (HGUC) Gundam Models

HGUC stands for "High Grade Universal Century." It is a line of Gunpla (Gundam plastic models) that are 1/144 scale and are considered to be high quality and detailed. They are typically more complex and challenging to assemble than the entry-level Gunpla kits. They are typically based on the mobile suits from the "Universal Century" timeline of the Gundam anime and manga series.

HGUC models, being part of the High Grade Universal Century line, are typically more detailed and complex to assemble than regular HG models.

HGUC models are designed to be more accurate and realistic representations of the mobile suits from the Universal Century timeline of the Gundam anime and manga series. As such, they often have more parts and require more advanced building techniques to assemble. They also have more intricate internal structures and details.

HG models, on the other hand, are generally simpler to assemble and may not have as many parts or as much internal detail. They are still high-quality and detailed models, but may not be as complex as HGUC models.

However, it can vary depending on the specific kit. Some HGUC kits can be simple to assemble while some HG kits can have a higher level of detail and complexity.

The Universal Century (UC) explained

The Universal Century (UC) timeline is the original setting for the Gundam anime and manga series. It was first introduced in the 1979 anime "Mobile Suit Gundam." The UC timeline is set in a future where humanity has colonized space, and follows the conflicts between the Earth Federation and various separatist factions, with the giant robots known as mobile suits playing a major role in the battles. The UC timeline includes several anime series, OVAs, and movies, including the original Mobile Suit Gundam, Zeta Gundam, Char's Counterattack, and Gundam Unicorn. Some of the notable series and works that are set within the UC timeline include:

• Mobile Suit Gundam (1979): The first series in the Gundam franchise, it follows the conflict between the Earth Federation and the Principality of Zeon.

• Zeta Gundam (1985): A sequel to the original series, it takes place seven years after the end of the One Year War and follows the Titans, an elite force within the Earth Federation.

• Char's Counterattack (1988): A film that serves as a conclusion to the story of the original series and Zeta Gundam, it follows the final battle between the characters Char Aznable and Amuro Ray.

• Gundam Unicorn (2010): A 7-part OVA series which takes place in the year UC0096 and follows the story of Banagher Links, a young man who gets caught up in the conflict surrounding the "Laplace's Box"

• Gundam: The Origin (2015): a manga series that serves as a prequel to the original Mobile Suit Gundam, it covers the backstory of the One Year War, the development of the first mobile suits, and the early days of the characters.

These are some of the main series, but the UC timeline includes other anime, manga, and games that take place in the same continuity, such as the Crossbone Gundam, G-self and many more.

What is the timeline of UC?

The Universal Century (UC) timeline is the original setting for the Gundam anime and manga series and it is set in a future where humanity has colonized space. The exact dates of events within the UC timeline are not always specified in the series, but it is generally agreed that the starting point of the timeline is the year 0001 UC (Universal Century). Mobile Suit Gundam, the first series in the franchise takes place in the year 0079 UC, in which the events of the One Year War occur. The events of the subsequent series Zeta Gundam and Char's Counterattack take place seven and thirteen years after the One Year War respectively.

The subsequent series such as Crossbone gundam, G-self takes place in the years after the One Year War but in a different timeline.

Some of the main events in the UC timeline include:

• The colonization of space: humanity begins building colonies in space, leading to the formation of the Earth Federation and the Principality of Zeon.

• The One Year War: A conflict between the Earth Federation and the Principality of Zeon that lasts for one year, from 0079 to 0080 UC.

• The Titans: an elite force within the Earth Federation that is established in 0087 UC

• The Laplace incident: a conflict that takes place in UC 0096 and is related to the mysterious "Laplace's Box"

• The Gryps War: a conflict that takes place in UC 0087, between the Titans and the AEUG (Anti-Earth Union Group).

It's worth noting that the UC timeline also includes other events, conflicts and stories that are not covered by the main series, and some of them are told in different media such as manga, games, and OVAs.

A brief history about HGUC Gunpla

The history of HGUC (High Grade Universal Century) dates back to 1999, when Bandai first released the line of Gunpla (Gundam plastic models). The HGUC line is a sub-line of the High Grade (HG) line of Gunpla and it focuses on the mobile suits from the Universal Century (UC) timeline of the Gundam anime and manga series.

The HGUC line was first introduced with the release of the 1/144 scale RX-78-2 Gundam, which was based on the mobile suit featured in the original Mobile Suit Gundam series. This release was followed by the release of other mobile suits from the UC timeline such as the Zeta Gundam, Nu Gundam, Sazabi, etc.

Over the years, Bandai has released many HGUC kits, including some rare and special edition kits, as well as kits of mobile suits that were not seen in the original anime series but have been featured in manga, games, and other media set within the Universal Century.

The HGUC line has become a favorite among Gunpla builders and collectors, due to the high level of detail and accuracy of the models, as well as the variety of mobile suits available. Bandai continues to release new HGUC kits, keeping the line active and expanding the collection of mobile suits available in this scale and level of quality.

In addition to the release of new kits, Bandai also re-released some of the kits with new molding and new decals, this is called RE (Real Grade) line which has more details and complexity than the standard HGUC but not as much as Master Grade.

Are HGUC kits more expansive?

In general, HGUC kits tend to be more expensive than regular HG kits. There are a few reasons for this:

• HGUC kits are typically more detailed and complex to assemble than regular HG kits, and therefore require more parts and more advanced building techniques. This can drive up the cost of production and result in a higher retail price.

• HGUC kits are typically based on mobile suits from the Universal Century timeline of the Gundam anime and manga series, which are considered to be more iconic and popular among fans. This can lead to higher demand and a higher price.

• HGUC kits are often released as limited edition or special edition versions, which can also contribute to a higher price.

However, it's worth noting that the price difference can vary depending on the specific kit. The price point of HGUC and HG kits can vary depending on the complexity of the kit, the size of the kit and the level of detailing. Some HGUC kits can be cheaper than some HG kits and vice versa.