Which grade should a Gunpla beginner start with? [Recommended tools included]

The second season of Mercury Witch is about to air.
Sales and production of Gunpla are also booming, with many products on display in the sales areas.
The new manufacturing method makes it easier to build Gunpla than ever before, resulting in highly complete and satisfying products.
Due to the Mercury Witch effect, more and more people are starting to build Gunpla, and I hope that this will lead to more people reselling older kits.

So, this time, we've put together a summary of Gunpla's features for those who want to get started with Gunpla, but there are so many types that they don't know where to start.

There are several grades (types) of Gunpla

You have come to the sales floor to purchase a Gundam model.
There are many different types of Gunpla on display in the sales area.
So, which one will you pick up?

At this point, you'll probably realize that there are several different types of Gunpla.
HG? RG? 1/144? 1/100?
Yes, Gunpla are categorized by grade, based on factors such as the level of detail and size.
Not only are there differences in price, but there are also various other differences, so be careful when purchasing Gunpla.

Entry Grade (EG) 1/144

A new grade added to the lineup in 2020.
This Gunpla is packed with features for those who are just starting out with Gunpla, including snap fit that requires no tools or glue, and an affordable price.
Hearing this, some might think, "But surely the build quality isn't that great?" However, the color separation and range of motion are actually better than previous kits.
Although some parts of the construction are simplified, I am impressed by Bandai's technology, which allows the aircraft to be accurately represented through assembly alone, without the need for stickers.
Currently, as of April 2023
・First Gundam
・ストライクガンダム
・ν Gundam
Three types of aircraft are being deployed.

High Grade (HG) 1/144

This is the grade with the largest product lineup of all Gunpla models.
The price range starts from 1000 yen, and varies depending on the size of the kit and the number of parts.
New Gunpla are generally sold by HG, and are the grade that many Gunpla modelers pick up.
You will need nippers to create this part, so having a selection of plastic model tools on hand will make the process easier.

Some Gunpla models are 1/144 but are still quite large, so it's not true that "HG = small Gunpla."
Some items come in boxes that are so large that it can be difficult to carry them home.

Real Grade (RG) 1/144

This grade is for those who want more realistic designs.
Compared to HG, it has more parts and is more detailed.
The details are carefully crafted from the start, so you can create a satisfying Gunpla just by assembling it without any modifications.
A distinctive feature is the method of assembling an internal frame and then assembling external parts onto it.

Due to the construction, some assembled parts may fall off, but overall the quality is high.
Basically, the lineup includes many protagonist and rival machines.

Master Grade (MG) 1/100

From here on, the scale changes.
If you want to enjoy larger, more detailed figures, we recommend choosing the Master Grade.
Since each part is large, I think MG is the easiest to assemble.
MG is also a type where you assemble the parts after assembling the frame, so the feeling of snapping together the parts is amazing. It's like being a mechanic.

Please be aware that some of these grades come in huge packages, so please be careful when purchasing.

On the other hand, a Nightingale of the same size as this MG is pretty big...
There is also a type of MG called "MGEX," but it costs about the same as PG...

Perfect Grade (PG) 1/60

The pinnacle of all Gunpla.
The scale and price are perfect.
It takes some people several months of work to complete...that's the perfect grade.

This is the ultimate Gunpla that I would like to build someday, but it is so difficult that it requires a lot of effort to build.

Get the tools you need to build Gunpla

We previously introduced some useful tools for building Gunpla, but this time we will introduce the minimum tools you need to make Gunpla building easier.

https://akihabara-bc.jp/ganpura-tool/

Nippers (single-edged nippers)

When preparing nippers, choose ones designed for plastic models.
Regular nippers make it difficult to do detailed work, so it's easier to use dedicated nippers.

You should also consider single-edged nippers.
If plastic is cut with too much force, it will turn white, a phenomenon known as "whitening."
Single-edged nippers are ideal for making clean cuts without applying too much pressure, so if you can, having one on hand will make it easier to create beautiful Gunpla.

If you use something too cheap, it will not be sharp or the blade will chip, which will cause problems when working, so make sure you prepare a good quality knife.

design

There are many ways to use just one.
If you choose a replacement blade set, you can use it for quite a long time, which is convenient.

Gunpla will continue to be released in the future

The second season of Mercury Witch will also begin airing in April.
Information on the new Gunpla lineup is constantly coming out, and the rush of new Gunpla will continue into 2023.
Mass production systems are being put in place and stock is coming in, so if you're interested in Gunpla, it might be a good idea to start in 2023.