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Gundam model
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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It has been suggested that Gunpla Grade be merged into this article or section. (Discuss) |
Gundam Models, or Gunpla, refers to plastic and non-plastic model kits depicting the mecha, vehicles and characters of the fictional Mobile Suit Gundam universe. These kits have become popular among anime fans and model-lovers, especially in Japan and in other nearby Asian countries since 1980s. The popularity of Gundam models increased in 1990s with North America and Europe being exposed to Gundam through television, video and manga.
Plastic Gundam model kits are manufactured by Bandai in Japan (or China) which has an exclusive license in manufacturing and marketing them around the world, the first of them being sold in 1980 in Japan. These consist of several trays of injection molded styrene parts ("runners" or "sprues") which must be cut out of the frame before assembly. The majority of post-1990 models have snap-fit parts, with models prior to that requiring an adhesive such as plastic cement. Plastic Gundam models kits are typically supplied with stickers and sometimes decals to apply extra colors and markings as seen they are seen in popular media such as TV shows, movies, manga or video games. Smaller or lower grade kits often require paint to give the model a finished appearance, due to colour discrepancies.
The kits range in different scales with the most popular scales being: 1:550, 1:220, 1:144, 1:100 and 1:60, and more recently the 1:35 (UC HardGraph) line. With a few exceptions, all currently-produced kits bear grade ratings that give a good idea about their final quality. The following lists the most well-known and common categories with humanoid designs (very roughly) in their order of quality, from lowest to highest.
Please note that other categories, such as EX Model, do exist. They are simply not listed here. Additionally, Bandai often produces limited-run kits for special events such as JAFCON or C3. These have different packaging, and usually only differ from their common counterparts in that they are metal-plated or made of translucent plastic.
Not based on any particular scale, SD Gundam (Super Deformed Gundam) features comically-proportioned models, the most noticeable features of which are their very large heads. These kits are often very easy to construct but offer very limited posability and require paint and detailing to truly "finish" the kit. The most famous line is the BB Senshi (SD GUNDAM BB Warriors on Bandai's English page). Depending on the popularity of series, SD units may also be sold in separate product lines: For instance, Superior Defender Gundam Force. There was another line called Ganso SD Gundam but has since been discontinued in the 1990s.
Bandai put the First "Speed Grade" Gundam Model kits into production in 2007. They are packaged in a bag, and come with minimal, pre-colored and painted pieces and a display stand. The kits are in the 1/200 scale. Lacking high mobility and detail, they are ideal for children. Unlike Bandai's other Model kits, the Speed Grade series of kits are made in China, not Japan. The plastic is cheaper, and of a less quality.
The very first kits have been running for 20 years (starting with RX-78-2 'Gundam') and are routinely re-released by Bandai. These kits, when completed, had a very poor range of motion which rendered them almost unposeable. In addition, adhesives and paint were necessities, not options. Although not called as such back then, these models were retroactively categorized as NG (No Grade), to differentiate it from FG (First Grade).
1:144 scale no-grade kits based on certain mobile suits and mobile armour in New Mobile Report: Gundam Wing and After War: Gundam-X. These are called Limited Edition (LM) kits since it consists of various enemy mobile suits and atleast one support aircraft, aside from being produced in limited numbers only. These kits needed glue and paint to finish the model. Only known mobile units to have an LM kit are: OZ-06MS "Leo", DT-6800A "Daughtress", RMS-006G "Jenice Custom", and GS-9900 "G-Falcon" (however, this list may be incomplete because the kit number of the G-Falcon is #0014, meaning that there can be additional kits aside from the given list).
Introduced in 2000, these kits feature plastic internal joints that doesn't require polycaps. Initially only 3 model kits are only produced (RX-78-2 "Gundam", MS-06 "Zaku II Mass-Production Type", and MS-06S "Zaku II Char Custom"), however this line is re-introduced in mid-2007 to accommodate the 4 Gundams from Mobile Suit Gundam 00. The first FGs contain integrated joints and are all colored in their pre-domintant color (painting is required), while the latest doesn't require nippers to remove parts from their specific gates, are multi-colored and includes polycaps for joints.
Later the quality of the molding improved and HG (High Grade) level kits were introduced in 1990, started from the titular mobile suits of the first 4 tv-series. These kits feature some sort of an "internal frame" ( for the first two kits) and provide better range of motion and were more poseable. It would later lend its name to the more advanced High Grade Universal Century, and more recently High Grade Gundam SEED.
1:144 kits based on models seen in U.C. (Universal Century) productions, the first of which were released in May 1999. The HGUC line represented the chance to release many upgraded designs for the first time in kit form with modern injection moulding technology. These are of good quality, and new designs plus model improvements continue to be introduced into this line even today. This grade is largely considered to be the rightful heir of the original HG line. Until now, all unit from the HGUC series are mobile suits before U.C.0093 and over 50% of the units are from the One Year War (including variations).
1:144 kits based on the models seen in the OVA and movie New Mobile Report: Gundam Wing Endless Waltz. It is called "Fighting Action" since their respective models include certain parts (usually additional chest parts depicted bending forward) to recreate their "signature" action poses depicted at their respective box arts.
1:144 kits based on the models seen in the C.E. productions, mainly Mobile Suit Gundam SEED, Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Astray, Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny, and Mobile Suit Gundam SEED C.E. 73 Stargazer. They are considered equivalent in quality to earlier HGUC models.
Same as the kits from the High Grade Gundam SEED line, now based from the mobile suits from Mobile Suit Gundam SEED MSV.
1:144 kits based on the units in Mobile Suit Gundam 00, currently 5 units have been announced to be released in this series. Unlike HG Gundam SEED, more advanced skills which has been previously applied on recent models in High Grade Universal Century has been used.
Just like the 1:144 scale model kits, these kits started about the same time with the very first 1:144 model kits, again starting from RX-78-2 "Gundam". "Generic" 1:100 kits may also be called "No-Grade" (NG 1:100) to differentiate from other specific 1:100 kits.
1:100 kits, MG (Master Grade) models were first introduced in the summer of 1995. These are designed and produced to higher standards than most other models, with corresponding superior quality. Appropriately, these take much longer to construct and can easily cost a lot more. MG models are very presentable even straight from the box, but like previous grades can be improved through further detailing and painting. A notable design difference from earlier grades is that MG models are supported by a detailed internal "skeleton",(also known as "inner frame system") whereas lower quality models have no such feature. These may require screws and usually come with decals. The vast majority of MG offerings are from Gundam, with the rest coming from other properties such as Patlabor. As the MG line has become a symbol of Gunpla, Bandai released another lineup called Real Robot Revolution (RRR), for the non-Gundam type real robots like Layzner and L-Gaim while applying skills of MG models into them.
1:100 Master Grade kits that wholly consists of clear parts (except the polycaps and certain components such as mesh tubes, screws, etc.), hence the name Crystal Model. First appeared in October 1996, only 3 types of kits were produced. They are RX-78-2 "Gundam", MS-06F/J "Zaku II Mass-Production Type", and MS-06S "Zaku II Char Custom". Note that these kits are the crystal version of their respective MG version 1.0 models.
In line with the celebration of Mobile Suit Gundam's 20th anniversary, Bandai produced metallic plating versions of certain MG kits. First produced in July 1998, it only features 6 mobile suits in Mobile Suit Gundam, Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory, and Mobile Suit Z Gundam. These mobile suits are: RX-78-2 "Gundam" (ver. 1.0), MS-06F/J "Zaku II Mass-Production Type" (ver. 1.0), MS-06S "Zaku II Char Custom" (ver. 1.0), RX-78GP01Fb "Gundam GP01 'Zephyrantes' Full-burnern Type", RX-78GP02A "Gundam GP02A 'Physalis'", and MSZ-006 "Zeta Gundam" (ver. 1.0). Aside from metallic-plated parts (except the polycaps and other related parts), these kits also featured unpainted figures of their respective pilots (except for the Zaku II F/J which featured a generic Zeon pilot figure).
In line with the 10th anniversary of the Master Grade line, Bandai produced another kit of RX-78-2 "Gundam" (ver. 1.0), this time in predominant red and white colors and with new sets of marking decals which commemorate the E.F.S.F.'s victory over Zeon in the One Year War. According to the data from the kit, this Gundam is remade from RGM-79 GM (since the original RX-78 was destroyed in that war) and used in official ceremonies only.
After Bandai produced the MG kit of the "One Year War" {[Playstation 2|PS2]] game version of the RX-78-2 "Gundam", they also produced 3 more kits of that same version. They are MS-06F/J "Zaku II Mass-Production Type", MS-07B "Gouf", MS-09 "Dom", MS-14S "Gelgoog Char custom", and RX-78-2 "Gundam" in its original anime colors. Note that their construction is entirely different from their respective previous versions.
1:60 kits from various eras. These kits are enhanced High Grade models with extra details and usually transformation and/or LED gimmicks. These models are known for having ridiculous amounts of panel line detail, more so than the Real Detail line and even several Perfect Grade kits. Only 4 HGEX kits have been made to date: the LM314V21 "V2 Gundam", GF13-017NJ "Shining Gundam", GF13-017NJII "God Gundam", and XXXG-00W0 "Wing Gundam Zero" (tv-series version).
1:60 kits based on designs seen in the Gundam SEED, Gundam SEED Destiny, and the upcoming Gundam 00 series. Although much larger than most of their brethren, Real Detail designs are functionally scaled-up HG models with slightly-improved detail and enhanced poseability.
1:60 Real Detail kits with embedded lighting. Only applies to 1:60 scale ZGMF-X20A "Strike Freedom Gundam".
1:60 kits, PG (Perfect Grade) kits are unmatched in sheer quality. First released in late 1998, these are made of even higher quality plastic and metal components than the MG kits. These kits include parts that have to be secured with screws, and often require some minor wiring for small LEDs. The market for the Perfect Grade models is limited due to their high cost, often topping $150. Highly-complex design makes PG models a true challenge and their construction can take a few days.
1:60 kits from the MS of the Zeon Faction. These kits include multiple embedded LED lighting located on various parts on the body. Only kits released so far are the 1:60 scale of MS-07B "Gouf", MS-09R "Rick-Dom", and MS-09RS "Char's Rick-Dom".
Bandai has also released some Gundam garage kit under their branch, B-club. These models are composed of unpainted resin with no decals provided, often needing modification by the modeler due to the inherent properties of the manufacturing process. While comparably more expensive (some surpassing $400) compared to plastic kits, they offer an unparalleled level of detail for the dedicated and experienced model builder.
A few select kits have also appeared manufactured from metal. These kits are offered by several different manufacturers and most commonly will result in a finished model of about MG level.
These types of models (real detail) usually take days to build
For trade shows and toy fairs, Bandai displays some extreme large model in 1:12 scale. True to the scaling, some of these models are well over 5 feet (1.50 meters) tall. Although only mainly used for display purposes, some stores sell these at high prices, topping a whopping price of $2000 CA. But, they are usually only for display and not for sale.
The kit that is being referred to as GIGANTIC or BIG (1.5M) is known as a HY2M model kit, and is actually a model that one can purchase.