What is Bandai Gunpla? A Beginner's Guide to Gundam Model Kits

What is Gunpla? Our guide explains Bandai's Gundam model kit grades (SD, EG, HG, RG, MG), which kit to start with, and ONE PIECE and Ultraman kits.
6 min read
Bandai RG 1/144 Wing Gundam Zero EW, the assembled white angel-winged Gundam model kit shown with its box

Bandai is the Japanese company behind Gunpla, the Gundam plastic model kits that have been around since 1980. The parts come pre-coloured on runners and snap together without glue, so you can build a poseable Gundam, a ONE PIECE ship or even PAC-MAN at the kitchen table.

Gunpla names can look like alphabet soup: SD, EG, HG, RG, MG. This guide explains what each grade means, which kit suits which builder, what else Bandai make besides Gundam, and which Bandai kits we have in stock at Toy Haven.

Bandai Gunpla at a glance

  • Who: Bandai Spirits, part of Japan's Bandai Namco group, makes the Gunpla model kits.
  • What: plastic model kits of Gundam mobile suits, plus ONE PIECE ships, Ultraman, PAC-MAN and more.
  • Since: July 1980, when the first 1/144 RX-78 Gundam kit came out.
  • How they build: pre-coloured parts that snap together, with no glue or paint needed.
  • Grades: SD and EG for quick, easy builds; HG, RG and MG for more detail and more parts.
  • Ages: from 6+ (Entry Grade PAC-MAN and Izuku) to 15+ (Master Grade and Real Grade).
  • Prices at Toy Haven: €11.95 to €84.95.

What is Gunpla?

Gunpla is short for "Gundam plastic model". The kits are based on the giant robots, called mobile suits, from the long-running Mobile Suit Gundam anime. Bandai released the first kit, a 1/144 scale RX-78 Gundam, in July 1980, and the range has grown ever since. Today the kits are made by Bandai Spirits, the hobby company within the Bandai Namco group.

Each box contains plastic frames called runners, with the parts already moulded in the right colours. You remove each part, click it into place following the illustrated manual, and finish with stickers or decals for the small details. Glue and paint are not needed, although some builders like to add panel lines or paint later for extra detail.

Most kits recommend a pair of hobby nippers to cut the parts from the runners cleanly. The Entry Grade kits are the exception: thanks to Bandai's touch-gate system, you can press the parts out by hand.

Gunpla grades explained: SD, EG, HG, RG and MG

The grade on the box tells you how big and how detailed the kit is. Here is how the grades we stock compare.

SD (Super Deformed)

SD kits are not to scale: they shrink the mobile suits into cute, chunky proportions with big heads. The SD EX-Standard and SD Gundam Cross Silhouette kits we sell are about 8 cm tall, rated 8+, and come with weapons such as a beam rifle and shield. The Cross Silhouette RX-78-2 also includes an SD frame inside. They are quick, satisfying builds and a great first kit.

EG (Entry Grade)

Entry Grade is Bandai's easiest line, designed around simple assembly with good results. The Entry Grade 1/144 Wing Gundam is rated 8+, needs no nippers and gets its colours from the plastic itself, without stickers. Bandai also use the Entry Grade idea outside Gundam: the PAC-MAN PACMODEL has just 18 parts, and the My Hero Academia Izuku Midoriya kit has 38, both rated 6+.

HG (High Grade)

High Grade kits are 1/144 scale and launched in 1990. They are the classic middle ground: more parts and more detail than an Entry Grade kit, but still a relaxed build. HGUC kits cover the Universal Century timeline, such as the Sazabi, Char's Zaku II and the Gouf, while HGAC kits come from Gundam Wing, such as the Deathscythe Hell.

RG (Real Grade)

Real Grade, launched in 2010, packs Master Grade-style detail into a 1/144 kit. Our RG Wing Gundam Zero EW is only about 13 cm tall but has an internal frame and lots of small parts, which is why it is rated 15+. Take your time with this one.

MG (Master Grade)

Master Grade kits are 1/100 scale, launched in 1995, and have a full inner frame under the armour. They are bigger, longer builds: the MG Destiny Gundam Extreme Blast Mode measures about 39 × 31 cm when built. MG kits are rated 15+ and make a great weekend project.

More than Gundam

Bandai's model kits go well beyond mobile suits. A few highlights from our range:

  • ONE PIECE ships: the Thousand Sunny from the Grand Ship Collection is about 15 cm and rated 8+, while the bigger Going Merry builds into a ship of about 30 cm (15+).
  • Figure-rise Standard: the 1/12 scale ULTRAMAN SUIT TIGA builds into a detailed figure of about 17 cm.
  • Haropla and Gunpla-kun: small, fun kits of the Haro mascot and the Zakupla-kun and CharZaku-kun mascots, about 7 to 7.5 cm tall.

Bandai ONE PIECE Thousand Sunny from the Grand Ship Collection, shown with its box and the assembled ship with lion figurehead

If you like the Straw Hats' ships, POP MART also make mini ship figures in its Grand Line series; see our POP MART guide.

Which Bandai kit should I start with?

  • Younger builders (6–8): an Entry Grade kit such as PAC-MAN or Izuku Midoriya, or the Entry Grade Wing Gundam.
  • A first Gundam: an SD kit at €14.95 or the Entry Grade Wing Gundam.
  • Ready for more: an HG kit such as the Sazabi or Deathscythe Hell.
  • Experienced or patient builders: the RG Wing Gundam Zero EW, or a Master Grade.

Bandai kits are plastic model kits, not interlocking bricks, so they will not mix with your building-brick collection. If you enjoy snap-together figures, also look at Blokees, whose Transformers and Hatsune Miku kits build the same way.

Bandai kits at Toy Haven

We stock Gunpla from SD to Master Grade, plus ONE PIECE, Ultraman and PAC-MAN kits. Some to start with:

Browse every kit in our Gundam & Bandai collection, all model kits, or our ONE PIECE range.

Frequently asked questions

What does Gunpla mean?

Gunpla is short for Gundam plastic model. It is the name for Bandai's Gundam model kits, which started in 1980.

Do you need glue to build Gunpla?

No. Gunpla parts snap together and come pre-coloured, so you do not need glue or paint. Most kits recommend hobby nippers, but Entry Grade kits can be built by hand.

What is the easiest Gunpla grade for beginners?

Entry Grade (EG) is the easiest, followed by SD kits. Both are quick builds with few parts and a great way to start.

What is the difference between HG, RG and MG?

HG (High Grade) and RG (Real Grade) are both 1/144 scale, but RG has far more detail and an inner frame. MG (Master Grade) is larger, at 1/100 scale, with a full inner frame.

Is Bandai the same as Gundam?

Gundam is the anime series; Bandai Spirits makes the official Gundam model kits, known as Gunpla. Bandai also make kits of ONE PIECE ships, Ultraman and more.

Where can I buy Gunpla in the Netherlands?

Toy Haven stocks Bandai Gunpla and other Bandai model kits online, with free shipping within the Netherlands on orders from €60.

Start your first Gunpla build

Toy Haven is an online toy shop based in Enschede, and shipping within the Netherlands is free on orders from €60. You can also meet us at conventions across Europe, including FACTS in Ghent (31 October – 1 November 2026) and Milan Games Week (27–29 November 2026): pre-order online and collect at our stand. Which mobile suit will you build first? Shop Gundam and Bandai model kits at Toy Haven.