Gunpla guides · reviews · tools

Build your first Gundam model kit the right way.

ModelKits helps beginners pick the right grade, buy the right tools and finish a clean build. Plain advice, tested kits, no gatekeeping.

A 123456789
Start here

Three steps from box to shelf

  1. A-1

    Pick a grade that fits your hands and budget

    Entry Grade and High Grade kits snap together in an evening. Master Grade and Perfect Grade take days. Compare every grade.

  2. A-2

    Get two tools before anything else

    A pair of side cutters and a hobby knife make the biggest difference to how clean your build looks. See the starter toolkit.

  3. A-3

    Learn one finishing technique

    Panel lining with a marker takes ten minutes and makes a straight build look detailed. Follow the panel lining guide.

Popular guides

What builders read first

Buying guide

Best Gunpla kits for beginners

Seven kits we'd hand a first-time builder, from a no-tools Entry Grade to a first Master Grade.

Read the guide
Explainer

HG vs RG vs MG vs PG

Scale, part count, build time and price range for every grade, side by side.

Compare grades
Technique

How to remove nub marks

The double-cut method, sanding grits and the white-stress fix for colored plastic.

Learn the method
Free tool

How tall will your kit be on the shelf?

Enter a mobile suit's height in metres and see the model's size at 1/144, 1/100 and 1/60 scale.

Example · 18.0 m suit

1/144HG · RG · EG12.5 cm
1/100MG · FM18.0 cm
1/60PG30.0 cm
From the blog

Latest articles

Comparison

HG vs RG: which Gunpla should you buy?

Read article
Beginner tips

10 Gunpla mistakes beginners make (and how to avoid them)

Read article
Technique

How to apply water slide decals on Gunpla

Read article

All articles