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TheGundamanime has inspired some of the best plastic models around, with a wide range of sizes and difficulties for all levels of experience. These models, called Gunpla, all have a classification called grades to let you know how complex the model is.
There are five main grades you should be aware of, along with a plethora of others that are either older, less frequently used, or discontinued grades that can be a bit more complicated to sort out. We took a look at all the different grades available for your favorite little plastic robots and broke them down for you to enjoy.
Super-Deformed (SD)
These kits arethesmallest of the Gunpla grades, making themquick and easy to assemble. Because of this, they’regreat for beginnersand younger fans of Gundam. SD kits are, just like the name suggests, super-deformed versions of your favorite Mobile Suits.
They’ll have huge heads and eyes, with much smaller bodies. There are some fairly complex kits out there, but generally speaking, you cancomplete most SD kits in under an hour.
Entry Grade (EG)
Entry grades are theeasiest kits for beginners to jump in, with the exception of maybe the SD kits. These kits aregenerally 1/144 scale, meaning they are functionally thesame dimensions as the full-size Mobile Suit, just smaller. If you took 144 of these fully built kits and stacked them on top of each other, they would reach the same height.
The appeal of Entry Grade kits is that theydon’t require any tools. At all. You can easily remove them from the sprues, the little plastic frames that keeps everything stable and safe in the box, with just your hands. The downside is that these kits aresomewhat basic in design and are a bit limited in mobilitysince more flexible kits require more points of articulation.
High Grade (HG)
Themost commonof the Gunpla kits, High Grade models are great for anyone who has completed a few Super-Deformed or Entry Grade kits and is ready for something a bit more complex.
You can also jump right into an HG kit even if you have no prior experience and not get too overwhelmed with the process. These kits are often at 1/144 scale size, so they’re a good size for anyone looking for a build that’snot super complicated.
These kits also require tools to build, including clippers to get pieces off of the sprues, files or sandpaper to clean edges, and even a small pair of tweezers to help apply stickers.
Master Grade (MG)
Once you’ve mastered High Grade kits, you can move on to the next level, the Master Grade. These Gunpla kits are at a higher scale than others, at1/100 scale size, which allows you to get kits withhigher details and more intricate pieces.
These kits all come with aninternal skeleton as the base of the kit, giving you a lot more control on how you want to pose and manipulate the finished model. Because of this, you have access to severalaccessories and extra pieces you can swap between kits.
These are among the most popular kits with experienced Gunpla builders given their versatility and impressive look once completed. They also tend to bea fair bit more expensivethan other kits given their more complicated designs.
Real Grade (RG)
A healthy balance between a High Grade and a Master Grade kit, Real Grade kits combine the best of both worlds in one kit. You get thescale size of a High Grade, at 1/144, as well as theinternal skeleton frame of the Master Grade.These kits tend to have more points of articulation than a High Grade, though with smaller pieces than a Master Grade, given its smaller scale size. Real Grade kits also tend to include a ton of stickers and decals, which can be a bit more complicated than you might expect.
Perfect Grade (PG)
The largest and most complicated kit available, Perfect Grade kits take Master Grade kits and kick them up a notch. Perfect Grade models come at a much higher scale than other models, locked in at1:60 scale size, often putting them at 12 inches or taller.
These kits are special because many aredesigned to integrate LED lighting systemsinto the finished model. They are sold separately from the actual kit but can elevate the level of design to huge heights if done properly.
These kits aren’t cheap; however, theyoften cost over $100 on average. You’ll get your money’s worth from them, though.
Other Grades
Now that we’ve covered the main grades, there are quite a few other ones that you might encounter while looking for your favorite Gunpla kits. These kits include:
There are other grades out there, but these are among the most common of the non-main Gunpla grades.
