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Over the years, Bandai has been continuously improving the quality of Gundam Plastic Kits or Gunpla kits to satisfy the needs of modellers around the world. Although there were kits from Bandai that were from other mecha and sci-fi series, the most popular model series have been from the Gundam lines. There were but a few changes made over the 30 years of Gunpla release.

late 1970s - late 1980s

The first Gundam show debuted in 1979 and thus the first Gunpla kits came in the early 80s. Models produced during this era were considered non-graded models which lack articulation and detail. Furthermore, these kits needed cement or glue to fix the parts together and in order to achieve a likeness to the anime, paint is something that cannot be missed. Fans need to be at least navice modellers in order to completely detail these kits to perfection. These kits normally come in a maximum of 3 colours with parts on each sprue having the same colour all the way even if the part wasn't supposed to be in that colour.

1990s

Polycaps were incorporated in the late 80s to early 90s after production of a line of kits from the Round Vernian Vifam series. These kits, although still require glue, but would feature polycaps that are made from soft rubber plastic for better articulation of joints. Beginning from the Universal Century series Victory Gundam, all model kits feature snap-fit assembly beginning from the 1/144 Scale series of the Victory Gundam timeline.

HG (High Grade)

These were kits produced in the mid-90s and feature better quality plastic and details as well as snap-fit assembly. From this line onwards, parts were given in multiple colours even if they are on one sprue or frame. There were need for little painting and detailing. These applied for series from the alternate universe series from G Gundam till Gundam X and at 1/100 Scale only. There were also 1/100 Scale of HG kits for the Victory Gundam lines but the series was very limited as compared to the non-graded versions.

HGUC (High Grade Universal Century)

Later in the 90s, Bandai decided to release a whole HG lot based on the original timeline of Gundam series, Universal Century. HGUC kits were standard mold of 1/144 Scale and feature snap fit assembly as well as almost-to-actual details and colours. Some kits also feature plastic cloured stands for action poses or for kits that are too heavy to stand by themselves.

MG (Master Grade)

In the late 90s, 1/100 Scale modelling leaped through another step as the new Master Grade models finally made its appearance. MG kits consists of features similar to those of the HG and HGUC but better. This line of plastic kits was the first to feature a moveable inner frame system which enables superb movements and bending of joints. The popularity of this line was so great that a lot of old and new kits from non-graded series (even from the Seed and Seed Destiny lines) received the MG treatment. The boxes of MG kits are normally bulkier and bigger. MG kits come in a standard scale of 1/100 even for very big sized Mobile Suits (like the Perfect Zeong, Sazabi and MSA-0011(Ext) Ex-S Gundam ). In addition, all transformable mobile suits or units can now fully transform without needing to use extra body parts beginning from this series.

PG (Perfect Grade)

Upon releasing Master Grades, Bandai challenged their plastic kits abilities by going to the limits of what plastic kits can do. The Perfect Grade comes in standard 1/60 Scale but are superbly detailed in terms of colour and its inner frame. These kits were very pricey and were released very limitedly and due to high costs, the prices of these kits were also higher.

Gundam Seed/Gundam Seed Destiny/Gundam SEED C.E. 73: Stargazer/Gundam Seed MSV

1/144 Non-Graded kits from the Seed and Seed Destiny series feature almost all Mobile Suits featured in the series. These are the new generation non-graded kits that require no glue and paint to assemble preceeded from G Gundam, Gundam Wing, and Gundam X. 1/144 High Grade Seed and Seed Destiny series are integrated in one series number and feature certain units and mostly units released under the 1/100 Non-Graded kits. These kits feature snap assembly as well as additional details not found in the non-graded versions. In the 1/100 Non-Graded kits from the Seed and Seed Destiny lines, kits are molded almost (at around 85-90&) alike to the 1/144 High Grade series and are considered High Grade kits to many. These kits do not have movable frames but do feature polycaps for joints as well as high detail and colours. The minor differences between the 1/144 High Grades and these are the size and some details that are not molded in similar colours.