A guide to all 16 Gunpla model kit lines — from EG to PG Unleashed
Gunpla is only one year younger than the Gundam franchise itself, celebrating its 45th Anniversary in 2025. 🎂 With such a range in complexity, size and designs, it can sometimes be a bit much. That’s where this guide comes in! ** Updated September 4th, with RE/100 back in the mix!
Terminology primer
Gunpla - Gundam Plastic Models. In this context, Gundam references the franchise — since most Gunpla actually aren’t Gundams!
Plamo - Plastic Models. General term used in Japan when referring to plastic model kits.
1/XX scale - Scale based on in-universe dimensions. Note that this is often loosely interpreted by the design teams. For example ‘1/144’ EG/HG/RG versions of the same Gunpla design will differ in height slightly. Standard Gunpla scales are 1/144, 1/100, 1/60.
Runner - The plastic ‘frames’ from the production process, where the Gunpla parts are attached. Parts are typically separated from the frames using nippers (or by hand with lower-grade kits). For a deeper dive into runners, sprues and gates - check out this article on the plastic injection molding process.
I’ll soon be writing up a more comprehensive Gunpla Terminology post, so please look out for that if interested! (will link from here when ready)
Product lines
As of 2025, there are 16 distinct Gunpla lines. Each is usually highlighted on the box design itself — just look out for its brand label, such as HG, or MG. Below is a breakdown of all these lines. Consider this post an intro, or a reminder of the current state-of-play.
Oh and by the way, never forget that “This one looks awesome, I want it” can often be the best approach when picking your next Gunpla. Ultimately, inspiration is the best motivator!
Entry Grade / EG
1/144 Scale. The Entry Grade line targets newcomers, with nippers not required. Color separation and articulation are quite good. A relatively recent line, starting in 2020.
High Grade / HG
1/144 Scale. The most popular, and prolific of Gunpla lines. All new shows are supported with a comprehensive range of HG kits — if you like a specific design from a recent Gundam show, chances are that a HG kit exists. Color separation and articulation are a mixed bag, with recent kits typically very good. The line stretches all the way back to 1990, though it received a soft reboot in 1999.
Real Grade / RG
1/144 Scale. The most complex of the 1/144 lines, featuring a full inner frame — so tweezers and a keen eye are required! The first few releases have issues with sturdiness, but this has been mostly resolved for newer kits. Color separation and articulation are excellent. The line started in 2010, to coincide with the first 1:1 Gundam statue in Shizuoka — celebrating the Gundam franchise’s 30th Anniversary.
Option Parts Set
1/144 Scale. A varied selection of add-on packs to enhance your Gunpla. Some have a narrative connection, others are more functional (such as hands in various poses). You might notice that some are repackages of existing HG sets, but other kits are entirely new. Starting in 2024, it’s the most recent Gunpla line.
Reborn-One Hundred / RE/100
1/100 Scale. The entry level at this larger size — offering a high-level of surface detail but without the full inner frame or complex gimmicks found in recent MG kits. Color separation and articulation are quite good. The line started in 2014, and was in stasis for the last few years, returning in 2025.
Full Mechanics
1/100 Scale. Almost identical to RE/100 in approach. An entry level at this larger size — offering a high-level of surface detail but without the full inner frame or complex gimmicks found in recent MG kits. Color separation and articulation are quite good. The line officially started in 2017, but has received major quality upgrades in the years since, with a soft reboot in 2021.
Master Grade / MG
1/100 Scale. Newer kits feature a full inner frame, plus multiple gimmicks that may not be found in other grade kits (RG/PG outstanding). Color separation and articulation are a mixed bag due to the length of time that the line has been running — recent kits are generally excellent. The line originally started in 1995, though it came into its own once full inner frames were introduced from 2007.
Master Grade Version Ka / MG Ver.Ka
1/100 Scale. MG kits designed under the leadership of notable designer Hajime Katoki (thus the Ka). The line is notable for pushing technical and production boundaries; setting standards for the MG line in general. Most include waterslide decals, which offer a more seamless application when compared to the dry-type included in standard retail MG kits. Color separation and articulation are a mixed bag, with more recent kits being excellent. The line started in 2002.
Master Grade Extreme / MGEX
1/100 Scale. A premium MG offering, with each kit focused on an ‘Extreme Point’ (e.g. LED Color-Shift Lighting). Color separation and articulation are expectedly excellent. Starting in 2020, it’s a relatively new line — but with only two original designs released so far, it’s hard to predict what’s coming next.
Master Grade SD / MGSD
No Scale. Featuring a full inner frame, and all the gimmicks you’d expect from the MG line, but with chibi proportions. Kits are approximately as large as a small MG, or large HG kit. Color separation and articulation are excellent. The line started in 2023, and is the newest in the Master Grade suite.
Perfect Grade / PG
1/60 Scale. Positioned as the pinnacle of Gunpla engineering, at the largest standard scale available (note larger scales do exist, such as 1/48). PG kits feature full inner frames, and an abundance of gimmicks. Color separation is typically excellent, though articulation sometimes falls short compared to MG or RG equivalents. The line started in 1998, and is considered one of the classic trio (HG, MG, PG).
Perfect Grade Unleashed / PG Unleashed
1/60 Scale. If PG kits are the pinnacle, then the Unleashed line is… the pinnacle’s pinnacle?! Expect extreme levels of detail, and engineering. The line launched in 2020; and with no brand new ‘standard’ PG kits having released since, it’s hard to say whether the Unleashed moniker is simply a soft rebrand for the PG line in general.
SD Gundam Ex-Standard / SDEX
No Scale. A baseline of sort for SD kits, and priced accordingly. Color separation and articulation are at the lower end. Some offer an interesting feature, in that parts can be formed into an accessory for HG kits. The line started in 2016.
SD Gundam Cross Silhouette / SDCS
No Scale. Chibi-style designs with an interesting twist — the choice to build your kit with one of two distinct proportions: smaller & a little more cartoony (the eyes!), or a little taller with a more serious look. Color separation and articulation are reasonably good. The line started in 2018.
SD Gundam World Heroes
No Scale. It’s unusual for a Gunpla line to be focused solely on a specific show, but here we have one. Fantastical interpretations of various Gundam designs, in chibi form. Color separation and articulation are fairly basic. The line started in 2021, to coincide with the anime.
Gunpla-kun
1/1 Scale. A line stemming from the Gunpla-kun shorts, created to celebrate and promote Gunpla in a humorous way. Color separation and articulation are ok. The line started in 2023.
No Grade / NG
Mixed Scales. Sometimes Gunpla aren’t assigned to an existing product line, and so are colloquially referred to as No Grade.
Older lines
Some older Gunpla also receive fresh reissues. You’ll often see older No Grade kits, or repackages of classic SD Gundam BB Senshi kits on store shelves. Notably the original ‘Best Mecha Collection’ RX-78-2 Gundam was reimagined with color separation to celebrate the 45th Anniversary. Do raise a glass for the RE/100 line which hasn’t seen reissues for some time — an interesting suite of 1/100-scale designs that seems to have been all but superseded by Full Mechanics. RE/100 is back!
(There’s some misinterpretation online that RE/100 was planned to be UC-focused, and Full Mechanics AU-focused. This wasn’t the original intention, as RE/100 was originally set to cover both UC & AU, but has just happened to only ship UC designs up until this point)
Bonus: Figure-rise Standard
No Scale. Whilst technically not Gunpla, the Figure-rise Standard line of Plamo has recently started featuring characters from the Gundam franchise. Color separation and articulation are very good. The line started in 2016, with Gundam characters entering its ranks from 2018.
Plastic Crack
And there we have it. 15 lines of plastic model goodness, all under the Gunpla umbrella. Check out the Gunpla Releases List to browse all upcoming and recently released kits.
Hope this has been a useful bit! Do ping me on Bluesky if you notice any errors, or if you simply fancy chatting about the hobby.
All images in this post are sourced from the official Bandai Hobby site
