You discovered the fascinating world of Gunpla in our previous article (or elsewhere!) and you're ready to take the plunge: assembling your own Mobile Suit! Congratulations! But when you arrive at the store ( or on our online shop), a new series of mysterious acronyms assail you: EG, HG, RG, MG, PG, SD... What do they all mean? What's the difference? And most importantly, which one should you choose to start with?
Don't panic! This guide is here to decipher the main Gunpla ranges (or "Grades") offered by Bandai. Each Grade represents a different design philosophy, offering a varying assembly experience, level of detail, size, and price. Understanding these nuances is key to choosing the perfect kit for your needs and experience level.
To help you compare, we will use a simple indicative rating for each range:
- Difficulty (for a beginner): ★☆☆☆☆ (Very Easy) to ★★★★★ (Very Difficult/Complex)
- Level of Detail (without painting/modification): ★☆☆☆☆ (Basic) to ★★★★★ (Very High)
- Relative Average Price: € (Very Affordable) to €€€€€ (Very Premium)
The Main Product Ranges Explained
EG - Entry Grade
The ultimate front door! Designed for maximum simplicity and speed of assembly.
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Rating:
- Difficulty: ★☆☆☆☆
- Details: ★★☆☆☆
- Price: €
- Scale: Primarily 1/144 (approximately 13 cm tall)
- Special features: Very few parts, large and easy to handle. "Touch Gate" engineering often allows parts to be detached without wire cutters (although pliers are always recommended for best results!). Excellent articulation for the small number of parts. Well-separated base colors.
- Average Assembly Time (Beginner): 30 minutes to 1 hour.
- Who is it for? Absolute beginners, children (with supervision if very young), those who want an almost immediate result, or to test the hobby at a lower cost.
- Expectations: An ultra-fast and simple assembly experience, a colorful and surprisingly mobile mecha for the price. Few fine details or mechanical complexity.
HG - High Grade
The cornerstone of the Gunpla range. Offers the best balance between accessibility, variety, detail, and price. It's THE most prolific range.
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Rating:
- Difficulty: ★★☆☆☆
- Details: ★★★☆☆
- Price: €€
- Scale: Mainly 1/144 (approximately 13 cm), but also exists in 1/100 for some older or specific kits (look for "HG 1/100").
- Special features: Wide variety of Mobile Suits from all Gundam series. Good color separation (often enhanced by included stickers). Generally very good articulation, allowing for dynamic poses. Variable complexity, but always manageable for a patient beginner. Requires wire cutters and ideally something to deburr (file/knife).
- Average Assembly Time (Beginner): 2 to 5 hours.
- For Whom? The ideal starting point for most beginners. Also suitable for collectors (huge selection) and modelers who like to customize.
- Expectations: A very satisfying assembly experience, neither too simple nor too complex. A very good final result right out of the box ("straight build"). An excellent foundation for learning basic techniques (deburring, applying stickers).
SD - Super Deformed
Adorable and stylized! These kits represent Gundam in a "chibi" style (small size, big head), often with fun gimmicks (simple transformations, weapon combinations...).
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Rating:
- Difficulty: ★☆☆☆☆ (Assembly) / ★★★☆☆ (Application of the numerous stickers can sometimes be tricky)
- Details: ★★☆☆☆ (Stylized, not realistic)
- Price: €
- Scale: Non-Scale (variable size but generally small, approximately 8-10 cm)
- Special features: Very simple and quick assembly, similar to the simpler EG or HG models. Few parts. Often many stickers to compensate for the more limited color separation in some areas. Unique look.
- Average Assembly Time (Beginner): 1 to 2 hours.
- Who is it for? Those who like cute designs, children, collectors of this particular style, or for a quick and fun build between two bigger projects.
- Expectations: A cute little mecha that's easy to assemble. The final result will depend heavily on patience in applying the (sometimes numerous) stickers. Less realistic articulation than other ranges.
MG - Master Grade
The benchmark for detail and mechanics on a larger scale. The emphasis is on the faithful reproduction of the Mobile Suit's internal structure (Inner Frame).
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Rating:
- Difficulty: ★★★☆☆
- Details: ★★★★☆
- Price: €€€€
- Scale: 1/100 (approximately 18 cm)
- Special features: Consistently includes a detailed internal skeleton onto which the armor pieces are attached. Excellent articulation and numerous gimmicks (opening cockpit with pilot figure, hidden mechanisms, etc.). Very good color separation. High level of detail. Often includes decals (water or dry) for a more professional finish.
- Average Assembly Time (Beginner Patient / Intermediate): 10 to 20+ hours.
- Who is it for? Modelers who have already built some HG/RG models and are looking for more complexity and a more striking display piece. Those fascinated by the internal mechanics of mechs.
- Expectations: A longer and more involved building experience, with the satisfaction of assembling a functional skeleton. A larger, more detailed and robust model, with a striking presence.
RG - Real Grade
The "Real" philosophy pushed to the extreme at 1/144 scale. Aims to integrate the level of detail and mechanical complexity of a Master Grade into the size of a High Grade.
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Rating:
- Difficulty: ★★★★☆ (Caution: tiny and fragile pieces!)
- Details: ★★★★★
- Price: €€€
- Scale: 1/144 (approximately 13 cm)
- Special features: Numerous small parts. Internal frame (skeleton) pre-assembled or requiring assembly (Advanced MS Joint). Incredible surface detail. Exceptional color separation, reducing the need for paint or color-correcting stickers. High degree of articulation. Often includes realistic decals.
- Average Assembly Time (Beginner): 8 to 15+ hours.
- Who is it for? Experienced modelers or very patient, meticulous beginners equipped with excellent tools (fine tweezers, magnifying glass, etc.) . Not ideal for a first-time experience if you're not prepared.
- Expectations: A challenging build rewarded by a spectacular result of detail and realism in a small size. Be aware that some parts are fragile and assembly is complex.
PG - Perfect Grade
The pinnacle of Gunpla. A quest for ultimate perfection in terms of detail, engineering, gimmicks, and size. These are the centerpieces of a collection.
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Rating:
- Difficulty: ★★★★★
- Details: ★★★★★★ (Out of scale!)
- Price: €€€€€+
- Scale: 1/60 (approximately 30 cm)
- Special features: Impressive size. Absolutely extreme level of detail, both externally and internally (ultra-detailed inner frame). Use of varied materials (metal parts, sometimes LEDs included or optional for lighting). Complex articulation and mechanisms (articulated fingers, moving pistons, etc.). Very long and demanding assembly.
- Average Assembly Time (Experienced): 30 to 50+ hours (or even much more with painting/finishing).
- Who is it for? Highly experienced, passionate modelers with a substantial budget and plenty of time. Those who want THE ultimate centerpiece.
- Expectations: The Gunpla project of a lifetime (or almost!). A monumental building experience. An absolutely breathtaking final result of realism and complexity, a true work of engineering.
Special Ranges You Should Know
- Full Mechanics (FM): Primarily 1/100 scale. They could be seen as simplified MGs: they offer the size and a good level of external detail comparable to MGs, but with a less complex internal structure (no fully detailed inner frame). They represent a good compromise between HG 1/100 and MG for certain designs, often from more recent series (like Iron-Blooded Orphans or Witch From Mercury). Difficulty and price are generally between HG 1/100 and MG.
- MGSD - Master Grade Super Deformed: A fascinating new hybrid line! It combines the adorable proportions of SD figures with the advanced technology, detail, and articulation of Master Grade figures (SD inner frame, numerous gimmicks, etc.). The result is an ultra-premium SD figure, complex to build (for an SD figure) but with incredible looks and possibilities. High price for an SD figure, moderate difficulty. Highly recommended!
So, where to begin?
For your very first Gunpla experience, we highly recommend starting with:
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An Entry Grade (EG): If you want to test the concept ultra-quickly and at a lower cost, or if you are riding with a child.
- A High Grade (HG): This is THE ideal choice for most beginners. You'll have access to a huge variety of models, a building experience representative of the hobby (neither too easy nor too difficult), and a very rewarding final result. It's the best way to discover if Gunpla is for you!
Once you've built one or two HG models and feel comfortable with the basics (cutting, deburring, assembly), you can confidently consider moving on to a Master Grade for more detail and presence, or even attempt a Real Grade if you have the patience for the smaller parts! SD models remain a fun and quick option at any time. PG models are a long-term goal for the most passionate!
Come See Us!
The best way to choose is to see the kits and assembled models in person! Don't hesitate to visit our store . We can show you the different types of kits and give you personalized advice to find THE model that will truly excite you.
We hope this guide helps you navigate the world of Gunpla Grades! What Grade will be the next one on your workbench?