1/144 gundam plastic model kit

1.) They are snap-together.
2.) They come molded in colour and with stickers.
3.) If left unpainted they will look so-so out of the Box, best to paint them so that they will like the cool stuff you see in Hobby Japan and other mags.
4.) They are ok as a base but to really make them look nice you need to approach them like any other plastic model( glue, putty, paint, customisation, etc.)
5.) Poseable Kits are nice, IMO, that you can pose them but once you got them in a good pose they should be fixed down. Otherwise they will be nothing more than a glorified action toy that breaks easy.
Many of those joints are also very loose and parts tend to fall off at times.

Depending on your budget, you might want to check the 1/100 scale kits. And, budget-permitting, try the Master Grade kits too. Lotsa plastic!!

those 1/100 are out of my budget, but they are cool also. i think i'm gonna stick with those 1/144.

one more question, if i leave them unpainted, would it really be that "so-so" out of the box look??

The 1/144 kits only come in a few colours.
Not sure of what kit you are aiming for but things like small engine nozzles and things like that will not be coloured.
Example:
The Chest of 1/144 Gundam RX-78 is BLUE no yellow portion or similar.

The 1/100 & MG Kits due to the bigger size and extra runners can provide more smaller parts in colours.

My advise would be to save for a 1/100 or preferably a MG kit, those look better straight out of the Box. The 1/144 due to the size and few parts look the worst out of the Box.

Let me know what Kit you are after and I will see if I can provide more details.

well sir, i'm aiming for the gundam seed kits, turn a gundam kits, w-gundam kits, and the rx-78. what can you say about these kits??

the 1/100 kit sells for about $30 here and the 1/144 kits are about $10.so there's really a big difference in affordability. if i'm going to collect many kits, i can manage to buy more 1/144 kits than 1/100.

Turn A - Flopped over here badly, hardly sold any Kits.
Seed Gundam - Did a few was not impressed very low grade, IMHO
W-Gundam are very decent kits both in the 1/100 scale and the 1/144 ranges.

Honestly do yourself a favour and check the parts and Instruction sheets between the 1/144 and the 1/100 Kits, you will see the difference in detail and how they build up straight from the box.
Also check the articles in Hobby japan about how the guys out here mod the kits and build them up.

If it just numbers of Kits you want go for the 1/144 but don't be disappointed if the don't look 'cool'.
The 1/100 Kits will build up nice and most proably 1 kit will take you longer than 3 1/144 ones to finish.

In the end the decision and money is yours.
My recommendation is a good 1/100 or MG kit over a 1/144 one any day.

i bought a 1/144 gundam seed mobile bucue, and you're right, a little bit low on details. but nonetheless, its cool, fun and easy to build (did mine in 45 minutes flat), and nice to collect.

im hoping to get another one next week. im planning to collect w-gundam's, gundam seed's, and endless walts's..and whatever neat series there is in gundam.

I prefer the 1/144 scale(1/100 is one of those "odd scales" where it's really hard to find anything else in the same scale), so that I can use my Revell-AG brand 1/144 scale aircraft in dioramas with them!
Also, I rarely go with the show-standard paint-jobs, preferring instead to give them realistic camouflage schemes and move around their parts!
For instance,
I switched around the Tallgeese's dober gun's grip and magazine, to make it look more like a large rifle.
I installed a four-shot rocket pod on my shenlong gundam for added firepower.
And(this one's my favorite), I scratchbuilt a massive double-barreled shotgun for a mercurius gundam, as well as scratchbuild it a bandolier loaded with shotgun shells!

hey guys, where can i find more info on gundam kits. I'm looking for pics of built kits and building tips. I bought one of the 1/144 kits for my son for Xmas and want to build it w/him to get him into modeling.
Sorry, don't remember whch one i bought(it's already wrapped)
Thanx, Mike

Most Japanese monthly model related publications will have pics of finished Kits and also give instructions on how to build them.

There are also a variety of books out there that deal exclusively with gundam modelling, unfortunately all in Japanese. My oldest "How to Gundam" dates back now nearly 20 years I think, that was before the kits became snap-togethr kits.

Said that not many deal with the 1/144 kits, but more with the 1/100 or the MG series.

I learned a lot of modeling tips just by looking at the pics in Hobby Japan which is all in Japanese but still worth the $15 bucks I spent on it. The copy i have is at least 10 yrs old and I still often refer to it.
Hey, tenchi i took my 1/144 scale Tallgees II and sortened the barrel and receiver to make a large pistol for a command version of the tallgeese [which is really kind os a command mech anyway].
But any way 1/144 scale is cool but will ONLY look good if you paint it, other wise it will look like a cheap toy and you would be better off just buying the action figures [which i don't own due to budget but are pretty cool I might add.] You can often find 1/100 scales cheap at anime convetion [$10-$20 which is where I buy mine]. Try "House of Anime". They have a site. I buy mine from them at conventions an I have always found some in the $15-$20 range like the ones from the Gundam X series. I have never seen the series but some of the designs rock and the gundams from Gundam Wing are obviously based on these.

if you want some ideas for gundam kits what's available and rough price ideas goto www.gundam.com or www.gundamofficial.com

I am just a newbie here but I hope you dont mind if post my opinion.

I strongly agree with MadModelFactory that you try getting at least one 1/100 kit, even if its not a MG. However, if you prefer to go with 1/144 kits, may I suggest looking into the older injection type kits, eg this old HG Zeta Gundam kit: http://www.hlj.com/scripts/hljpage.cgi?BAN29771. I have several of these kits including an RX-78. They come molded in more colors than the Seed kits, and cheaper even!

Well I've finally gotten around to posting here (I post at a few other sites, mostly Gun-Pla oriented sites). The HGUC line is probly the best 1/144th Gundam line. I do tons of modifications on my kits (I usually scratch build about half of the kit and joints to my own liking). I got most of my knowledge from FSM and a few really great American Gundam websites (not Gundam.com or GundamOfficial). I'd advise looking at the following sites:
www.gundamshop.com
great service and what not (I get most of my kits from there)
www.cybermodelcomp.com
cool monthly competitions
www.j-hobby.net
a new store with great stuff and great prices
www.hobbyfan.com
mostly resin figure kits and stuff, but a large amount of mecha and sci fi kits as well
www.childofmecha.com
this is the best site I've found. Very informative, very well done, a good message board, and great links and works.

I hope these help!

Thanks for the websites, urthspike! I've built a few of the 1/144 kits and they do look cool ( after u paint & weather em ) and I have several of the HG & MG kits on the shelf. I'm rather lucky, though because the 1/144 ones I can get at the 7-Eleven over here for 400 yen ( about 4 Bucks ) & there is a LHS about every other block here close to Tokyo! The big ones run me anywhere from $22 to $40.

i'm just starting in my collection of 1/144 kits.. here are what i have so far
HGUC kits:
1. rx-78
2. zeong
3. guntank
4. z'gok-e

HG kit "the 08th ms team"
5. gm sniper

HG kit endless waltz
6. gundam wing zero custom

gundam seed kits
7. raider gundam
8. forbidden gundam
9. mobile bucue

i'm planning on getting more 1/144 kits, especially HG ones. they are so cool!!

how about you guys? tell me about your collections.

tnx.

No collection, I normally buy them as testbeds for paint schemes and new techniques.


1:100 and upward I will build at times.

I just started collecting (seriously that is) Gundam kits. So far, I was able to get the following:

a. 1:144 Epyon [Gundam Wing]
b. HGU 1:144 RX-78
c. HGU 1:144 Zeta Gundam
d. HGUC 1:144 EX-S (Way cool!)
e. HG 1:100 F91
f. HG 1:100 Dahgi-Iris
g. HG 1:100 Deathscythe
h. MG 1:100 RGM-79(G) Sniper GM
i. SD God Gundam
j. SD Zeta Plus
k. SD RX-78 GP02a
l. PG [Poor Grade] 1:144 Freedom Gundam

Hopefully, I'd still be able to grab me the Deathscyth-H, the Deathscythe Custom, the Heavyarms Custom, and 1:550 Dendrobium.

Btw, does anyone collect Macross and/or Evangelion kits?

QUOTE: Originally posted by ragnarokk1977 Btw, does anyone collect Macross and/or Evangelion kits?

Got a few Macross Kits o the Shelf.

Evangelion:
Tect EVA-00 & EVA-01
Romu Eva-01
Dying Rei in Entry Plug
Rei eating Ramen

Was not too impressed with the Bandai offerings of the Robot. Prefer the Tect Kits more detailed and more accessories.

QUOTE: Originally posted by MadModelFactory Tect EVA-00 & EVA-01 Romu Eva-01 Dying Rei in Entry Plug Rei eating Ramen

I dont believe Ive ever seen these kits. Not even in HLJ methinks. I only have the LM Bandai kit (the one with the frame). Where can I find these (re: online)? Thanks!

Most of those are either Event Only or VERY old Kits made by smaller producers.

Most of the early Eva Resin Kits featured in Hobby Japan were the TECT Kits, FULLY detailed and fully poseable with tons of accessories.

AFAIK, ALL of those kits been OOP for a few years now.

FYI, the Anime Kits you see online and that are advertised in the mags are only a small percentage of the kits that are really produced, majority are Event Only Kits.
Also many of the smaller makers ONLY sell their Kits via 2 or 3 shops and mail-order within Japan.

am really into armor modelling but i also have Zoids and Gundams! (and some WWII planes and modern jets)

i apply the things i've learned from building armors...washes and drybrushing.

zoids and gundams are always having battles...so i give them battle damage and other details like wear and tear.

my gundams are 1:100 and it looks better than 1:144 specially if paint and weathering is added.

QUOTE: Originally posted by ninen well sir, i'm aiming for the gundam seed kits, turn a gundam kits, w-gundam kits, and the rx-78. what can you say about these kits?? the 1/100 kit sells for about $30 here and the 1/144 kits are about $10.so there's really a big difference in affordability. if i'm going to collect many kits, i can manage to buy more 1/144 kits than 1/100.

Turn A gundam? Well I have the 1\100th turn a gundam, the only 1\144th from that line ive built was Mobile Flat and looked decent unpainted, but I cant stand not painting kits anymore.

The High grade gundam seed kits that sell for like 15-20 dollars are preety good I hear, I never built one though. Some of the 1\144th No Grade gundam SEED kits (the ones that sell for like 5 dollars have color manuals and few parts, and no posability in arms or legs) are kind of mixed for me, the Luancher strike 1\144th NG was the worst model I ever built but the 1\144th Raider was preety good.

Gundam Wing is a decent line, painting would make them look realy good (or pannel lining at least)

I have a few Gundam models:
HGUC GP03S
HGM (1/550) Dendrobium
HGUC S-Gundam
HGUC The O

And a MG, the RX-79[G]. Here are some pics of that model:




This model was published on IPMS Stockholm
http://www.ipmsstockholm.org/magazine/2003/08/stuff_eng_cuenca_rx78.htm

Any comments are appreciated

QUOTE: Originally posted by MadModelFactory Most of those are either Event Only or VERY old Kits made by smaller producers. Most of the early Eva Resin Kits featured in Hobby Japan were the TECT Kits, FULLY detailed and fully poseable with tons of accessories. AFAIK, ALL of those kits been OOP for a few years now. FYI, the Anime Kits you see online and that are advertised in the mags are only a small percentage of the kits that are really produced, majority are Event Only Kits. Also many of the smaller makers ONLY sell their Kits via 2 or 3 shops and mail-order within Japan.

@MadModelFactory: I'm very very sorry for the delayed thank you. Bad me. I've failed to log on because of PC trouble. Thanks a lot for the FYI! Too bad I cant seem to get hold of them from my end.

ragnarokk1977.

That is the nature of the Garage-Kit Industry, you either have to live close to the maker, know him personally or get lucky to get a Kit at the Event/Shows before they are sold out.

I can often find Event Only kits at the 2nd-hand Kit shops, on Sunday I picked up a 1/35 Resin Kit of the SF3D Melusine by Red Dog.

Your one lucky devil! Man am I jealous...

Again, thanks!