So You Want to Build a Gundam: The Complete Gunpla Starter Guide

So you've seen the box art, or a friend's finished build, or a scene from the anime — and now you're wondering: what actually is Gunpla, and how do I start?

Good news: it's one of the most approachable hobbies out there, and you can go from "never built anything in my life" to holding a finished Gundam in an afternoon. Here's everything you need to know.

What is Gunpla?

Gunpla (a mash-up of "Gundam" and "plastic model") is the name for the plastic model kits based on the Mobile Suit Gundam anime franchise. Unlike old-school model kits, most modern Gunpla kits snap together with no glue and no paint required — the plastic itself is molded in the right colours, so a great-looking build is achievable straight out of the box.

That said, if you do want to paint, weather, and customise your builds later, the hobby scales with you — some of the kits our more experienced customers build are genuinely museum-quality.

It's also not just Gundam any more. Bandai uses the same snap-fit model kit engineering for other properties too — including Pokémon Pokepla kits and the One Piece Grand Ship Collection, if you want to branch out once you've got the hang of it.

The grades, explained simply

Gunpla kits come in different "grades," which basically tell you the scale, detail level, and difficulty. Here's the order most people go through:

🟢 Entry Grade (EG)

The easiest possible starting point. No tools, no glue, minimal parts. Genuinely great for kids or for anyone who just wants to see what building a kit feels like before committing further.
👉 Try the Bandai Gundam NEXT FUTURE Entry Grade 1/144 RX-78F00/E Gundam

🔵 High Grade (HG)

The most popular tier in the entire hobby, and where most people properly start. 1/144 scale, still snap-fit, but with noticeably more detail, articulation, and accessories than Entry Grade. There's a huge range of Mobile Suits available at this level.
👉 Try the Bandai HG 1/144 Gundam Dynames

🟣 Real Grade (RG)

Same 1/144 scale as HG, but with an internal frame and far more articulation and detail — think of it as HG's more serious older sibling. A great next step once you've built a few HG kits and want more of a challenge.
👉 Try the Bandai Spirits RG 1/144 Unicorn Gundam 02 Banshee Norn

🔴 Master Grade (MG)

1/100 scale — bigger, with a full inner frame, and often movie-accurate detailing. This is what most hobbyists mean when they say they're "really into Gunpla." Not beginner-unfriendly, but best tackled once you've got a couple of builds under your belt.
👉 Try the Bandai MG 1/100 GF13-001NHII Master Gundam

⚪ SD Gundam

A fun side-branch, not really a "grade" in the difficulty sense — SD (Super Deformed) kits are small, chibi-style versions of Mobile Suits. Quick builds, low commitment, and great fun regardless of experience level.
👉 Try the Bandai SD Gundam EX-Standard RX-78-2

What do I actually need to get started?

For your first kit, honestly — nothing extra. Entry Grade and most HG kits snap together by hand. As you progress, a few basic tools make a real difference to the finish quality:

• Side cutters — for cleaner part removal than twisting pieces off the runner
• A hobby knife — for cleaning up small nub marks
• Panel liner or fine marker — to bring out the detail lines once assembled

Browse our hobby tools range here — everything you need to go from first build to a genuinely polished result.

Don't want to figure it out alone? Come in.

This is the part most online Gunpla stores can't offer: you don't have to do this by yourself.

Hobby Collectors Australia has an in-store space set up for building, and our staff are always happy to help you pick your first kit, talk you through the grades in person, or just answer questions while you're building. We also run regular Build-A-Gundam Days — free hands-on sessions where our team walks you through your first build from start to finish, no experience needed.

Visit us at: 30 Ware St, Fairfield NSW 2165 (Kumon Education Building)
Check upcoming build events: See what's on
Shop the full range: Browse all Gunpla & model kits

Whatever kit catches your eye, that's the right one to start with. The most important part of Gunpla isn't the grade — it's just building the first one.