Gundam Modeling Questions

They are an interesting subject for building. I have a few but only completed one kit. 

For a starter kit, go with the 1/144 scale series kits. They stand to about 5-6 inches. 

The outer parts are IM styrene so whatever paints and paint techniques that was successful with your tanks should be ok with the Gundam kit. 

These kits use vinyl armature joint parts so that the finished figure can be articulated after completion. Most of it doesn't show but if you look closely enough they can be seen. I used these parts but glued the leg joints because I didn't want to re-pose it later. It was included in a diorama. 

Not all Gundam models are created equal. Some are older and not well made, others are newer and have excellent engineering. There are also "action" models which are almost like building an action figure that come in several colors on the same sprue (really neat concept). They are designed to be played with or posed.

Some of the older ones I mention contain mold slip that mean that parts will not align even if locating tabs and pins are removed.

In 1/48 scale, there are some neat kits. One of my favorites is called an Orguss (sp?). Not a traditional humanoid robot, and it transforms into a couple different shapes.

There are a ton of options out there. Just to familiarize yourself with them, the website MAHQ.com has a lot of info on the various series and mobile suits. Hobbylink Japan and Gundam Store and More can give you an idea of the kits. Pick what you think looks cool. Paint it whatever makes you happy. That's the great thing about science fiction. Whatever supplies and techniques you use on other models will work here. Depending on what you choose, they are easy to mask and paint. They're almost modular, you can build sub-assemblies, paint and then put them together. Have fun.

Gundam Planet has all kinds of stuff : kits, magazines, Gundam Markers, bases.......they have a LOT of stuff. And Hobby Link Japan.

The kits themselves range from 1/144 scale all the way up to 1/48 scale. Prices range from less than $10 with limited movement to over $300 and fully articulated.

Ooh, Gundam models are my favs! For the best starter kits, ones that are simple, but high quality, look for the HG ( High Grade) logo on the box. Start with 1/144 th, they tend to be easier to build up without sacrificing details.

For a first kit, stay away from PG ( Perfect Grade) and 1/100 th scale kits. They need some familiarity of Gundam kits to built up, whereas HG 1/144 th all build up in very similar fashion ( regardless of type).

When it comes to painting, these kits don't require it-- they come with stickers and, for the most part, the parts are color- coded, so if painting is not your thing, don't. HOWEVER, if you do choose to paint, ther are full- color paint guides, with color call outs in every instruction booklet ( all in Japanese, but easy enough to figure out, plus GundamWiki can be helpful for other pics if you need more). I suggest painting both the inside and exterior of every part if you choose to do so.

When it comes to weathering, follow the rules of armor weathering, but keep it light, Gundams and Mobile Suits are huge ( the head alone is 5-7 feet tall), so unless it's a derelict or destroyed suit, it won't be super filthy or rusty without looking way out of scale-- keep what I like to call " starship rules" in mind: that small patch of rust or mud could be the size of an SUV.

I hope I didn't overwhelm you with information, but as I said, Gundam's my thing. My brother and I have built about 30 of these wonderful, fun kits. If you want, I've got one in the stash, could build it up as a WIP.

Enjoy,

Klik

Thanks so much for the great resources guys! If anyone has any specific links/tutorials or WIP pictures that would be great! Thanks again.

Gundam Planet,and Gundam Wiki. Both should have links.

If you want to scare yourself,  look up the 1/1 RX-78 they built in Japan (6 stories tall,and they are asking fans on how to make it move), or look up the 1/28 scale garage kit that was shown at the last toy show in Japan.

I am following this thread very closely as I also am very interested in Gundam kits (but just like the OP I have next to no clue about the Gundam universe and all).

Long story short, my LHS doesn't carry much of them (besides some huge 90 $ kits like a robotic blue teddy bear on a futuristic motorcycle) but I was able to find a store near my work place where they sell a lot of them (they also sell air guns and their accessories ...)

Prices ranged from 12 $ to 150 $. I decided on a model, called HGUC RGM-79 POWERED GM, and it cost me a big 15 $ (well within my "try it before you decide if you like it" budget). And I have no knowledge at all what is a "RGM-79 Powered GM".

The clerk help me a bit, suggesting exactly as some of you said, to buy a High Grade (HGUC) kit first because they were very beginner friendly.

Can't wait to try my hands on this robot !

Enjoy! I have.

I would get more, but I have over 200 kits in the collection, not including Gundam/Evangelion.

JayF,

The Powered GM is a souped-up Earth Federation mobile suit from "Gundam 0083: Stardust Memories".  I guess it would be like an M51 Isherman compared to a standard WW II M4.  Good pick for a first Gundam kit!  Assembly and finishing is the same as any other type of model kit, but be sure to take advantage of the modular construction when painting - it will help a lot in reducing masking.  Drilling out the snap-fit sockets or trimming the locating pins will help with alignment if you plan on gluing the parts together.  Doing the pre-shading thing will immensely improve the appearance of the finished model.

Team, thanks for all the great input. I'm getting psyched to pick up a suit or two. I'm interested in putting a custom paint job plus battle damage and weathering. You've been great with offering suggestions, I'm excited to jump in soon.

Josh, I suggest the 1/144 Tieren as a good starter kit. It is not as "Gundammy" as other designs, but is very military looking. Weathering it like an armored vehicle should come naturally.  It is also a fairly recent kit, so it should build easily and pose well. HTH.  Please post pics when you can!

BTW, linkie to the Tieren kit:  http://www.hlj.com/product/BAN952157/Gun

I am going to go against what most people have told you and say go ahead and get a 1/100 Master Grade. I started on the 1/144 kits and later upgraded to the 1/100s. Its night and day difference. You will be doing a lot of seem work with the 1/144s, especially the older ones. Not so with the Master Grades. The engineering is astounding. You basically build the internal frame first and add the armor afterwards. It gives you a lot of options if you want to build with some of the internal parts showing and the internals are well detailed. If that's not your thing just put on a good base coat of paint and then cover it up with the armor. As for what to start with, if you want to get a good feel for the kits without going overboard, give a Zaku or a GM a try. They are both basic trooper suits and are a lot of fun to build. For building help, Youtube is your friend. There are tons of build videos.

Seig Zeon!

Ok, so here are some pictures of Gundam kits that my brother and I have built over the years. Pictures, in my opinion, tend to be better than words.

1/100th Scale JN-X, with internal frame exposed (this is actually one of the simpler MG 1/100th scale kits, but you still get a lot of detail):

A "Family" shot of all the kits we built over the years (from 2012, so a bit out of date)

Another thing about Gundam is that there is no limit to just the suits, there are also Mobile Armors, such as the Ball:

As well as some 1/35th kits, that include some oddities, such as a Zaku head:

All in one kit!

Don't ever think that you're limited to just 1/144th or 1/100th. The beauty of Gundam kits are their diversity, and I am sure that you'll find at least one model that you'll love (for me, its the Zaku--I've built almost every variety that exists). Hope the pictures helped to clarify a few things for you.

Happy modeling!

Klik

Earlier in this thread I said I bought a Powered GM Gundam. It is my first Gundam kit ever.

Well last Sunday I was able to assemble this little robot. Boy oh boy that was quite a fun build ! I'm hooked !

This HGUC grade is perfect, as it is easy to do and the model looks great with its huge shield and machine gun.

Can't wait to get another one !

Me again

Well it's a good thing this Gundam store is near where I work, but very bad for my wallet. 

I bought another HG kit, a big burly guy called MF-14Fs Gelgoog Marine Commander, from the Principalty of Zeon. If things go well during the week-end I might start the build. At 20$ my wallet helped me decided which kit to do next.

Someone said to get Master Grade kits instead, and I totally respect that as they are beautiful. But for the price of one MG robot I can have 3 cool looking HG kits.

While looking at all the numerous kits, some of them intrigued me, and I would like your opinions on them.

Price wise, two kits were very intriguing at 14$ each :

XM-05 Berga Giros and XM-07 Vigna Ghina (in 1/100 scale)

The store clerk said they were old kits (you can see the 1991 year printed on the box) and the mold quality is average at best (his words). What do you think ?

Also I saw a non-Gundam kit : a Macross 1/72 scale Destroid Defender ADR-04 with a 30$ price tag.

Is it worth it ?

Thanks !

(just found my new model kit crush ...)

Don't know, but I'd jump on it because it looks cool.

Guys- Thanks for the feedback and great community! I've got a birthday coming up and will be making some orders soon, WIP pictures to follow!

Hey Josh !

Have you decided on which kit to get first ?

BTW thanks for bringing this thread up !

I was looking for some Gundam dio and I found this very peculiar (and funny in an creative way) site :

http://www.figure.fm/en/post/4000/This+is+my+Gundam+diorama+for+Bandai+World+Competition.html

For the record, just finished my Gelgoog Marine Commander this evening. NEXT !  

(My first post disappeared after I edited it, so I re-post it)

Hi I'm new to this forum and I want to share my 1/144 PLA Tieren (yes the Chinese PLA) which was built in 2008. As with all 1/144 HG Gundam model it is wallet friendly but with some detailing and modding it can be made into a good model.

This is actually my first painted model in my life so it is by far not the best example, however I wish it can bring some ideas.

JayF

Me again

Well it's a good thing this Gundam store is near where I work, but very bad for my wallet. 

I bought another HG kit, a big burly guy called MF-14Fs Gelgoog Marine Commander, from the Principalty of Zeon. If things go well during the week-end I might start the build. At 20$ my wallet helped me decided which kit to do next.

Someone said to get Master Grade kits instead, and I totally respect that as they are beautiful. But for the price of one MG robot I can have 3 cool looking HG kits.

While looking at all the numerous kits, some of them intrigued me, and I would like your opinions on them.

Price wise, two kits were very intriguing at 14$ each :

XM-05 Berga Giros and XM-07 Vigna Ghina (in 1/100 scale)

The store clerk said they were old kits (you can see the 1991 year printed on the box) and the mold quality is average at best (his words). What do you think ?

Also I saw a non-Gundam kit : a Macross 1/72 scale Destroid Defender ADR-04 with a 30$ price tag.

Is it worth it ?

Thanks !

(just found my new model kit crush ...)

It really depends on your modelling skill and what you looking for.

HGUC

For a skillful modeller who likes to do custom detail and modification, I would recommend 1/144 HGUC kits, or HG kits of other gundam anime series (Seed, OO, Age) released after 200x. They are relatively cheap and the choice is huge, and they are the best platform to do custom detail and modification.

On the other hand, if you're just going to finish the kit by the book, HGUC kits are extremely easy, and newer kits (say after year 2007, newer usually better) actually can match older Master Grade kits in terms of detail and articulation, if not better.

MG

Master Grade kits are good of course, but the kit design itself is relatively complex compare to 1/144 HG kits, and most of the details are already present, so the room of custom work is smaller compare to HG kits, unless of course you're planning to do a major project.

RG

There is also the 1/144 Real Grade, which in my opinion are only recommended if you're going to just assemble the model without even painting, and enjoy it as a toy afterwards, as they're actually designed in such fashion. They're the most detailed mainstream gundam kits available, but honestly they're over detailed for commercial reason (think about it, why would a flat, non-movable armor plate split into 5 pieces, so there are more panel lines and looks more "detailed"? is it realistic?).  If Bandai is going to make a Real Grade M1A2 tank then the turret front armor will be split into 20 pieces.

If you're going to paint a Real Grade kit, then expect a lot of unwanted paint chipping, since the design and mechanic are overly complex for a display model, many of its smaller parts are very easy to fall apart.

Older kits

And the 1/100 XM-05 Berga Giros and XM-07 Vigna Ghina you mentioned, well I had them 20 years ago and they're really old kits. They're of course workable but for the same amount of effort you're not going to get the same result as a 2012 HGUC kits. If you want to match the current standard you're going to have a lot of good time if you enjoy custom work. And they're from the F91 series so the size of a 1/100 F91 era gunpla is actually the same as a 1/144 mainstream gunpla.

Hope it helps.

Thanks for the info, Hans

So unless I could buy them dirt cheap, I won't purchase either the XM-05 or the XM-07

Maybe I'll try my hands at a MG kit soon, but my wallet is a bit shy right now (maybe I could ask Santa to bring me one). But right now I have another HGUC grade in my stash, the MS-07B-3 Gouf Custom (a tough looking don't-mess-with-me kinda robot). Just the name that doesn't sounds much impressive though ...

Oh and the Chinese robot you built (in your other post) is very great, I like the weathering you did on it.

Don't worry about the name, the Gouf Custom is from the "08th MS Team" series and is a heroic unit. The pilot is a "good guy in the bad side" (well the whole Zeon thing in the Gundam universe is obviously based on the Nazi, even the name of Zeon's HQ is "Axis") and yes you guessed it there is an epic end for the Gouf.

This guy just arrived in the mail and I can't wait to dig in and start customizing him over Christmas break! I'm planning on trying out the 1:144 to see if I like it before moving up to a larger scale/more suits. WIP shots to

Awesome, these are fun kits. I built the MS-08 several years ago

Great pick! I built that one (the version that came with the Big Gun) earlier this year. It's a fun, relaxing, and simple build, with unique details of its own. I'm a Zaku nut, so this was a must- have for me.

That is the Thunderbolt version, which is a from a Manga ( think Japanese graphic novel)  that hasn't been released outside Japan at this time, to my knowledge . Check the Gundam Wiki for ideas ( the Manga is Black and White, so paint it how you want).

If you want "standard" Zeon paint colors, go with the sprues: I use NATO Green for the Dark green, and XF-21 Sky for the light green. The eye should be pink.

I painted mine black. Have fun with it. That's the fun of Gundam: every single suit was unique to its pilot.

Post a WIP, I'll follow you.

Klik

Josh Ryder: I agree with Klik. I built that kit as well, and really enjoyed it. I normally build glue and paint kits, but a Gundam kit is always a good step away from my norm.