Jesus Loves Noobs: Gundam Scale and Grade for Beginners

So I'd like to start a new corner on the blog for beginners getting into new hobbies called "Jesus Loves Noobs! Beginners tend to get a lot of flack especially from more established veterans and naysayers (ask Jesus), so hopefully this is a safe place for you to get your questions answered on different nerd (or spiritual) topics. But bear with me since in some areas…I am also a NOOB.

So today I'd like to talk about the different scales and grades that Gunpla has to offer. I hope that more people will find a new hobby in Gunpla through this post.

So let's talk about scale first. Scale simply means the number of models it would take to fit into one life size model. So most HG (high grade) and RG (real grade) models are 1:144 scale. This means your model is 1/144th the size of a life size Gundam. 1:144 is the smallest scale that Gundam models come in (about 13cm tall).

My first HG: Gundam 00 Raiser Designer Colors from Gundam 00.

Charlene's first HG! Ghirarga from Gundam AGE

HG Super Custom Zaku F2000 from Gunpla Builders OVA. This guy is armed to DA TEEF!

They also come in 1:100 (about 18cm), 1:60 (about 30cm), and now with the Mega Size Gundams 1:48 scale (about 37.5cm or almost 15 inches tall!). Gundams also have a non-scale line or the SD line (super deformed), which you may have noticed in the pictures my first post. This line is small in stature (8cm) and is typified by the caricatured look (small bodies, massive heads…kinda like Koreans, and I can say that. I'm Korean).

Next we move on to the different grades Gunpla has to offer. The grade of a gundam refers to the relative difficulty and detail that comes in any given model. There are five different levels of difficulty and detail in Gunpla. Going from the lowest to the highest in detail and difficulty we first start with the No Grade line. No Grade includes the SD line and also a non caricatured line of Gundams made for easy and quick assembly but with very little detail, articulation, as well as variation of colored parts. Next we have the HG or High Grade line. High Grade models have better detail and more flexibility than a No Grade models with added polycaps at joints that help articulation and movement for poses. High Grade has the biggest line of Gundams since they are smaller, the line is used as a testing ground sales wise for potential higher grade production. The Real Grade and Master Grade lines is where detail and articulation as well as coloration really start to shine. These lines are built with inner skeletons for ultimate articuatiion and decals for realistic detail. More plastic runners in different colors ensures that each model looks as close to the original material as possible. Finally the Perfect Grade line combines all the latest and greatest in model making technology to perfect a Gundam and is as equally as difficult to build for the most skilled modelers (I've barely built a few SD's and HG's and currently psyching myself up to build my first MG).

Now it's important to note that there isn't every scale for every grade. SD is non-scale. No-Grades typically come in 1:100. HG's and RG's are 1:144 scale. Although RG's and MG's have the similarities in build and detail, the RG is smaller therefore tends to be cheaper. MG's are 1:100, and in order for the detail to be perfected, PG's are 1:60. The Mega Scale 1:48 are about a HG difficulty and detail but are pricey because of the size.

Here's a neat picture of all the different scales and grades for your reference. Sorry about the screen cap.

I hope that this explanation helps you decide which size and difficulty you will jump into with you newfound love for Gunpla~! God bless you as you work up the courage to try something new! You may find another reason to thank and praise Him!

Also if you are in the Orange County area, my new favorite place to go to for Gunpla supplies and models is Robot4less on the corner of Brookhurst and Orangethorpe. They have shelves and shelves dedicated to all different kinds of Gunpla. Go check them out! They also have an online store talk to Eric or Chris. Real nice guys.

And remember Jesus loves noobs too!