Like Gunpla? Click the image below to visit my new blog, Gunpla 101.
My Gundam hobby has been getting out of hand. I spent Hurricane Irene putting together my salmon pink Zaku II (above right) between blackouts. Not two weeks later, I’ve picked up another version of Gundam Unicorn (that’s Destroy Mode on the left), this time the plainer Unicorn Mode. Along with my SD Gundam, my collection is starting to crowd the shelf.
I rekindled my interest in Gundam modeling this year at Anime Boston, where I fell in love with a Gundam Unicorn model. This was back in April, when shipments of the Zaku II, which I was already hunting for, were mostly delayed for radiation testing.
While asking yet another vendor, this shiny kit caught my eye. This Gundam looked brighter than the others, somehow. As I discovered, that’s because of its “titanium finish,” which, while not consisting of actual titanium, still looks very cool.
“Sixty bucks,” the vendor told me. For a plastic toy? I told him I was going to look around for a better deal. When I turned, he saw the Anime Boston Staff logo on the back on my shirt. “Fifty-five for staff,” he called after me. Not much of a discount, but it was enough for me to justify buying it anyway.
It took me four hours to put my Gundam together. Now, she sits on the bookshelf in all her gleaming titanium and florescent pink glory. My Gundams mean more to me than a figure ever will. It’s so satisfying to look at them and know how much time I spent putting them together.
Gundam modeling has become my unlikely but enjoyable new hobby. The only problem is how tough it was to break into it. The instructions in the box are in Japanese, and I couldn’t find a single “just the basics” tutorial for beginners! I guess becoming a professor has given me confidence, because I’ve done my best to do a primer myself. Remember though: this is just the basics, because I’m a beginner, too.
So if you, too, would like to take up Gundam modeling, here’s my guide to get you started:
This Zaku II is a Real Grade. However, we don’t live in a world where this is “realistic.”
Choosing a Gundam kit for your skill level
Before you begin building, you need to learn a few things about the types of Gundam models out there. Gundams are classified in two ways: by grade and by scale.
Grade refers not only to the level of mastery you will need in order to complete your Gundam, but the accuracy of the individual parts. A Gundam of a very detailed grade will be most true to life, er, true to the way it looks on the show. However, it’ll also be the trickiest to assemble. Here’s a list of the most common grades and scales you will encounter:
- Super Deformed: my first Gundam model was one of these. Made to look like tiny, cutified robots, these models have the worst plastic quality and least parts of all.
- High Grade: The next step up. Bandai started releasing these in 1990 as their most complex and intricate models. When they found out there was a demand for accuracy, they began releasing more and more complex grades of models. Today, these are not considered to be too complex and make great beginner Gundams.
- Real Grade: A brand new grade, started in 2010. It takes elements from the High Grade, such as being relatively simple to put together, but also elements from Master Grade, like having an internal skeleton underneath plate-like top parts. The insides make it more posable, but not harder. For me, these are on the same skill level as a High Grade.
- Master Grade: Released in 1995, these models are intricate without being excessively expensive. As the name implies, though, it’s best to have completed a few other models before undertaking one of these.
- Perfect Grade: You can’t get any more accurate than this. Or any more expensive! These are the largest, most detailed models of all. If you don’t think building one of these is a challenge, you should sign up for the Gundam World Cup right now.
Gundams generally come in several scales, based on how many of the model would fit inside an actual Gundam. There are several models that defy this scale, but they’re fewer and farther between.
- 1/144: The smallest scale available. I was surprised when I made my first Gundam in this size and its face was only the size of my thumbnail. It looked a lot bigger on the box. Keep in mind that just because a 1/144 is the smallest size doesn’t mean it is always the least detailed. Real Grade and High Grade models are available in this scale.
- 1/100: The next size up. I’ve got my eye on a few models that come in this size. Master Grade models come in this scale.
- 1/60: Now we’re getting somewhere. These are about as tall as a housecat. You can get less detailed with High Grade or go all the way with Perfect Grade, but nobody’s going to miss something this size sitting on your shelf.
- 1/1: All right, you can’t actually make one of these, but you can go see it in Japan!
Here’s me with a Gundam Unicorn scaled for the Bandai store at Otakon.
Tools to get before you begin
Technically, you don’t need any tools to build a Gundam. The parts snap right off of the plastic runner and into place, no glue required. However, you still might want to visit the craft store before you get started on your Gundam model.
I’ve found two tools that make Gundam assembly a lot more fun: Wire Side Cutters
Other tools that can be useful are model paint and brushes (or official Gundam paint pens, if you’d prefer) for customization, and sandpaper if you’re really particular about smoothing off each part.
While looking up links on Amazon, I just found out that there’s also a comprehensive Gundam tool kit, too. But I’ve gotten by without anything fancy.
Fact: one of the pieces on this Gundam is superglued in. Mistakes can be fixed!
Building your model
Now that you have a model you’re comfortable with and all the right tools, you’re ready to start. The next step is to begin reading the instructions but, unless you know Japanese, I understand how that can be a bit daunting. After building three models, here are some of my tips:
- Every detail counts. Since you’re probably not reading along, you have to rely on the images. Look for visual cues that can keep you from slipping up. For example, when it’s critical that a tiny piece needs to be facing right side up, there will be an exclamation point icon next to it in the instructions. If you need to put a sticker on the piece, there will be an icon of a square. It’s great that Bandai standardizes Gundam model instructions so these will start to look familiar.
- Go one step at a time. It was pretty overwhelming for me to start building a Gundam and notice that step one was divided into seven parts — steps 1.1 through 1.7! In cases like that, just focus on step 1.1. Don’t cut out pieces in advance — they will all start to look the same and that can lead to mistakes. And for me, when you divide up the process into lots of small, simple steps instead of a few complicated big ones, I feel much more confident about making it to the end.
- There’s no mistake that can’t be fixed. While building the Zaku II, I noticed halfway through the second leg that I’d missed a piece early on in the first leg! I simply read the instructions backward until I was able to put the piece in place. Another time, I was able to reset a piece I’d accidentally put upside down without retracing my steps. Even if you break a plastic piece in half, that’s nothing superglue won’t fix. It’s worked for me.
And with that, we’ve come to the end of my knowledge. Do you build Gundams? Thinking about it? I’d love to hear your stories.
Update: Wow, since this post went up, a lot of people have visited! Since then, I’ve learned more about Gundam modeling, so don’t miss these posts:
Gundam Modeling 102
Building your first Master Grade Gundam
Why Gundam Build Fighters means now is a great time to get into Gunpla
Like Gunpla? Click the image below to visit my new blog, Gunpla 101.
50 Comments.
Heh I’ve done simple snap only models back in the day, but I never got around to painting stuff for detail. I was a big lego’s fan, and would spend a lot of time piecing stuff together with the random bits from the thousands of pieces from dozens of sets to stuff I could use. Now I just miss having the workspace to do crafts with.
I only got a couple of the GUNDAM WING models back in 2000, as well as one of the older RX-78 kits from a comic shop.
I definitely appreciated that you didn’t need tons of supplies to put the things together – I had a Klingon Battlecruiser model that I got at a Smithsonian exhibit that never got made because I didn’t feel like gluing a billion parts.
With the 1/144 kits you could pretty much open them up and put them together (although an X-acto knife is good for getting stuff off sprues smoothly).
When you said in the previous post you were working on a pink Zaku I figured it would be a customized loud, “Jem and the Holograms” neon pink version. :)
@Joseph, I’m not above customizing a Gundam into glitter hell — I’ve actually been thinking about it with my new Unicorn Mode — but it’s a lot of extra work and I worry about screwing it up.
Like most 20 something women, Gundam Wing was my initiation into Gundam in the first place. I guess I was too busy looking at the cute boys to tell if any of the Gundams were that impressive. So far, they don’t appeal to me, except maybe Shinigami.
My dream Gundam model? Tequila Gundam.
I actually didn’t see the TV show until long after it was off CN – I had no cable from 2000 to 2004. My first exposure to GUNDAM was the compilation movies of the original series.
http://www.amazon.com/Mobile-Suit-Gundam-Movie-English/dp/B00000ILFI/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1315600594&sr=8-2
I thought all the WING designs looked decent, but I still prefer the original mecha (with Z as a second favorite). Of course I wasn’t focusing on the WING bishounen. :)
Did you see RONIN WARRIORS/SAMURAI TROOPERS (one of the “pretty boys in armor” WING precursors) back when it was dubbed? IIRC it wasn’t as popular with the female demographic as WING was in 2000 although I do remember a couple of male friends talking about the show.
I’m amazed there hasn’t been a Tequila Gundam kit put out in some scale. I can’t tell a lot of recent Gundams apart, but there’s no mistaking the one with the sombrero.
Hey, nice blog! I’ve been living in South Korea for the least year, and I am a hobby enthusiast. Since I couldn’t find a hobby that I shared in common with South Koreans, I picked up a Gundam kit. I was hooked! I’m currently on my third Master Grade, and I’ve even gotten more of the tools, and I have also started painting them and “inking” them. It’s a ton of fun, and I enjoyed reading about your similar journey. Keep it up!
Nice blog. I got started on actually building model kits just this month and have enjoyed doing it. I have been a Gundam fan since i was 10 or 11, but I was intimidated in building these as I was lousy with my hands.
you have helped me pick out my first gundam with one of your other posts(about the SD kit)) and it inspired me to buy the exact same kit! i didn’t paint it, but it has captured my heart, both in cuteness and in nostalgia. hswortly after i received and built the SD choko zaku III and now my little gundam has a friend! ^_^ i have 2 more on the way :D
I’m glad I could help! I’ll need to do a new inspiration post to show off some of the gundams I’m working on now.
I’m very happy to see that other people appreciate gundams like me… hope you would always inspire others. it’s a great hobby(yet expensive) i enjoy it myself… me being a professor… takes away the stress…
This blog post is pretty old, but If your looking for a more in depth for Good gunpla help, Check out Danny Choo’s guide for gunpla. Although its jumbled around, it gives more ideas to build them including spray paint, laquers, paneling, and sanding.
Superglue can fix just about anything. But do be careful. I was putting together a light-up version of a 1/100 scale Gundam 00 Raiser when a piece broke in half. I tried to superglue it, but it kept falling off. It was one the pieces of the wings for the Raiser jet so I can’t put the Raiser itself together unless it’s combined with the Gundam 00 itself.
I just got my first gundum after I had read this I had first saw these things off of a Japanese television show! It was very aggravating with the words being in Japanese but I just looked on with the pictures as you said. I got mad many times and broke one of the stickers and that made me mad too. About this part I am not kidding if I hadn’t found this I would have gotten a master grade :D!!!
I am 12 also so i hope this will be a long term hobby for me and i want to go to japan and see a perfect grade:)
Since this article shows that many people too share my love for models, I just want to share my experience on this, I started with SD when im 6 then now im on my 20s making MGs(hopefully in my 30s it will be PG XD since its too expensive), Its amazing how the models evolve from the original to Gundam 00, from cartoon like to super-engineered (Gundam Age sucks btw, sorry for age fans *personal opinion =D)… A tip on anyone who wants to start this hobby, i suggest start with old models(ones that dont cost that much) before moving to the ones that cost THAT MUCH!, so you could practice and wont waste good money accidentally messing it up… newer models have more parts than the old ones… Also, try using the model pen(the one that looks like a gel pen… you can use a standard 0.5 gel pen, but they take too long to dry or in some cases not at all, so to avoid smudges use the bandai pen =D) and follow the line-like deppressions, doing so will make it look like a real mech XD… well that one is optional tho =D, I just shared cause i like it…
Im currently contemplating on getting (MG)gundam 00 Raiser or seven swords… can someone give me an opinion on this, since I broke the GN drive of my Exia ahaha…haha…*sigh
Hey! Your blog was actually very helpful as I know absolutely nothing about the topic other than these model kits look fantastic once assembled. I have to say I thought about getting into it and I have heard that the colors that the kits come with are sometimes dull and could always use an upgrade in the paint department. I have looked into spray paint and airbrushing and it seems that this could get pretty pricy. I read that you recommend the markers, but how do you feel about the other two methods I mentioned, should I go that route as a newbie? I believe I can put the perfect grades together and do it well, but I am curious to know: Am I biting off more than I can chew?
@Jose, I’m usually pretty happy with the colors that come in the kits (I tend to pick them based on the colors, though, and I’ll build anything Char Custom!). Since you’re a newbie, I’d try building your first model first before getting crazy with paint.
Also, is paint really that pricey? I’ve use Gundam markers, and it’s like $10 for a pack of five.
Thank you very much for your very imformative page :) I have built warhammer models in the past and the instructions are pretty vague as well, so I think building these will be extremely amazing and I’ll probably start with High/Master Grade models, as the models I have currently build were way smaller scale as well as very complicated to paint. Long live Gundam as well, Long time fan of mecha anything really.
Thanx again. :)
-GeZ
Hi Lauren i build my first Gundam today, an belive it or not i started with the “MG Gundam 78-2 one year war version” and i finised in about 6 hours, i love that Bandai makes it so easy, i have yet to try others, but so far its been a sintch, so im looking forward to my next build witch is the “MG patlabor ingram 1” ive browsed through the manual, and it in general looks alot tougher then the gundam, but only time will tell, maybe i should try a PG after this he he
p.s.
Not too brag but i never build a model of any kind in entiremy life before this, maybe i should make a living of it ;)
@Kenn, no problem! You can bet I bragged when I finished my first Gundam! Next step: why not post a photo on r/gunpla? They’re a really nice community.
what gundam would you recommend to someone who has only done the gundam that you have in your photots? (unicorn)
@Stephen, Unicorn was TOUGH! If you can make that one, you can probably work on any HG Gundam you’d like to. I’d recommend trying a 1/100 scale next for the variety. Plus, it’s easier to see the pieces since it’s the same difficulty but a larger size. Out of all the models I’ve built, Gundam Unicorn Psycho Frame is still the most complex.
I’m a newbie and started buying gunplas beginning of this year. I’m not bragging but I built a mg astray red frame that took me an entire day on the very first time!! After that, I bought mg unicorn, 00 raiser and sinanju. Seriously, mg is not that difficult . It’s just a bit more complex than hg. Trust me guys, if you all started on mg, you will NEVER go back and build hg. Anyways, nice blog!! :D
I purchased one Gundam Model which came in the mail yesterday. I put together some HG ones years ago, when Gundam Wing used to air on TV. The one I got in the mail turned out to be a Master Grade. When I purchased it, I went by the picture. I opened the box, and man, there is so many parts and pieces. It’s pretty intimidating, but exciting too. I just got out of building Warhammer 40k models. None of those models are as intricate as this.
@JayCha, thanks for sharing! I’ll be writing an article on building Master Grade models soon.
Titanium Finish!..what a beautiful kit..
Thank you for this really helpful blog post! I am currently researching all about Gundam assembly because I am planning to give my boyfriend one kit for Christmas. He told me how he and his Dad (who is now working overseas) used to assemble together. I thought this would be nice meaningful gift to him. You gave me all the vital info I need. Thanks much!
@Kim, glad to hear it! Feel free to email me if you need custom advice.
This post was very informative and very helpful. I was really into building the models, but they disappeared one day never to be seen again! I stepped into a comic book store with my girlfriend the other day and I looked over the comic rack…and my jaw dropped, I couldn’t believe it. So I bought one and hopefully it’ll lead to a next one and so forth. Awesome models by the way. :)
Thank you for the tips! After a recent trip to Japan I bought three RG models on a whim because they looked so cool and were remarkably cheap, can’t wait to get them together!
Thank you so much for your article! I built my first set recently and now doing a model with mix plastic and cast metal parts. The first model was snap together but a welcome challenge and turned out gorgeous! The second model, I’m having a bit more problem getting the pieces to stay together. Either they do not fit or “lock” together or they snap apart at a touch. So…I seek more info, but your article is a great “how to”! THANK YOU!!
Does anyone know if the Tsugumori Scale 1/100 Full Action Plastic Model Kit from Knights of Sidonia is similar to any Gundam model kits? As in requirements for glue, paint, tools etc..?
between super deformed and High Grade is First Grade – FG. These are beginner 1/144 models with almost no articulation but is a good starting point to gundam building as they are cheap.
There will be that one piece i keep breaking…
My RG Strike Freedom… no….
I think we’re dodging the serious questions here: Are you single though?
@kylebang:disqus actually, I’m married! To another Gundam fan. But I’ll take this as the compliment it is =)
I’ve built some pg kits before
[…] since I wrote Gundam Modeling 101, I’ve gotten lots of questions about the relative difficulty of Gundam modeling, especially in […]
[…] written a bunch about building Gundams, but the real question is how to maintain them afterward. With all those tiny pieces, […]
[…] bring this up because, after all this time, my Sept. 7, 2011 blog post, Gundam Modeling 101, is still the most popular post on Otaku Journalist. Is Gundam modeling getting more […]
thanks for the article! My sister just gave me HG Wing Gundam for Christmas. this will be my very first build… oh the nerves haha
@disqus_WZ8o0ZSfzF:disqus how exciting! For more tips, be sure to check out my new website on Gunpla building, Gunpla101.com.
[…] to other Gundam series, Gundam Build Fighters Try features a tournament-based story-line where Gunpla models are built, customized, and […]
I just finished a Master grade seven sword/g 00 raiser as a beginner. I do not recommend. Hell i snapped the poor things neck on accident. It was long and tedious and i wish i had started with a high grade. Yet i will be proud to show it off on my shelf.
any sites or something that explain assembling instruction in english….?
i’m working on my 1/144 RG Zeta Gundam now, and it’s quite confusing,
if anyone knows where i can find assembling instruction in english please e-mail me : ashar.work@gmail.com or sent me a message on Facebook : asharbudiarto@ymail.com
thx in advance. BTW nice sites u have here dude…. :D
Zaku II Char Custom!!
Thanks for your article I have learned lots…My first gundam model was the smallest size haha,I never knew that.But here is a question,Are larger gundam models easier to build?
Oh my gosh i love putting these models together i bought them at a yard sale and for my bday the person who sold me his models gave me his whole model collection
Boss,ever tried bootleg kits? I live in a ghetto place where bandai HGs are twice the price of bootleg Mastergrades. So 2 to 3 bootleg MG = 1 bandai HG
good explanation ..thx u
sooooo i made a booboo with worong on a gundam in a 1/60 scale kit, and looking for replacement wire but ahving an issue wth finding the wire type. SOOoooooooany tips?
Oh no. definetly not good if things are breaking. What 1/60 gundam are you talking about? One of the old High grade ones or a perfect grade kit? depending on the kit its going to determine which there is. Can you also post a pick of this as well?