BEST Master-Grade Gunpla For Beginners!
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 7 ก.ย. 2024
- Whether you're new to MG kits or new to Gunpla in general, here are some of my recommendations for a great introduction to Master-Grade!
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Thanks for watching!
* NOTE: Just because an MG isn't included on this list does not make it a bad kit! There are so many great MG kits in the line so if you see one you like but it wasn't on this list then check some reviews and go for it!
Strike made it on the list!
Did you get an allergy test lately?
How about MG Barbatos ?😯 Any comment sir?😄
Yeah like the MG Reborns! i had fun building that. wait.
Never build MG Unicorn Gundam as your first gunpla kit, it's really hard to build I guaranteed you that
I fully agree there is no progression. I started with gashapon > rg > mg > pg > now enjoying building SD and HG. Also I'm broke now.
Amen brother
Did anyone ask ?
@@truthseeker9833 >Zaku states that the grade progression is bs
>user says he agrees with it and explains what his grade progression experience was like
I see nothing wrong here.
Me too brotha
@@truthseeker9833 Man it's almost as if responding to thoughts in the comments section with one's own thoughts on the same topic is the primary and intended function of TH-cam comments or something.
IMO, the big reason to build HGs first is that you can try out the hobby for like a 10-15 dollar kit cost to see if you like it, especially if you already have stuff like a hobby knife and/or wirecutters to avoid upfront tool costs. I don't think the complexity is necessarily that big of a deal - I regret being nervous about doing MGs.
I agree! I think it’s not about thinking beginners are dumb, but about developing a feel for the models and as you said, not butcher an expensive kit. I myself started with Hg’s and still wished i practiced more before wrecking my first Mg🤣
I bought an Amazing Strike Freedom as my first kit and I'm so glad I got to learn the hobby on a model kit I ended up hating with a passion :D Even then It came out pretty ok.
After that I built RG Sazabi after many recommendations and of course I screwed up one of the arms, which is a notorious problem on that kit and the overall lack of info on the issue online has made me kinda lose trust in a lot of reviewers. I think if I had some more HGs under my belt I would be able to identify the problem and fix it before I snapped the parts together.
And to rectify the problem (even if probability of someone in need reads this is 0) - the issue is in the chest unit part, step 05-2 when you attach the arm joints to the G26 part. In case of my and many others - the swiveling connection between the arm joint and the chest frame is far too tight and this will result in you twisting the pegs off when you will pose the arms. I've managed to fix one of the arms by scraping some of the plastic from the inside of the peg that connects the pieces, making the connection a bit looser, but still tight enough that it holds position firmly. You could also sand down the peg instead of using my scraping method. I've heard people using some kind of lubricant on that part, like Vaseline, but I can't attest how good that solution is, IMO making the connection less tight by removing some of the pretty thick material is perfect for this particular problem. Unfortunately I was able to save only one of the arms, the other isn't completely broken, but it just kinda... hangs a bit. :<
So the moral of the lengthy story (kudos if you've read this whole thing) - IMO screwing up on cheap model kits you may not have as much emotional attachment to before moving onto a design you really want may be a very smart move. In my case - Freedom is one of my favourite designs and making the amazing version I don't care much about combined both sides of the argument - I'm still making a variant of a design I like, while not feeling down if I screw stuff up.
@@ThatDjinn I didn’t know that happened with the Rg Sazabi🥺 and I feel! I regret doing the mg phenex as one of my first because not only is it finnicky, but I didn’t know how to assemble many parts and I snipped some pegs, as well as putting stickers on it😩 i dont regret hg’s i built that way, but the phenex haunts me😂😂
@@alejandromagana9327 Indeed, the most important thing is to not get discouraged by your first kits and I feel like dumping a bunch of money for an MG and then ruining one can really hurt the feels.
@@ThatDjinn absolutely. At the same time though, my Phenex fiasco kinda motivates me to be better with every kit I build🤣🤣
Now if I could only find that Amazing Red Warrior at not insane prices
Sadly a lot of gundam kits have bullshit prices right now unless you can preorder a reissue. Thanks Covid.
Really, that kit’s expensive now? I remember getting one for like 15 bucks back during an HLJ winter sale a few years ago. Me and a friend who also bought it to fill out big boxes because cheep ended up calling it the Amazing Red Impulse Buy.
I’d suggest just give it time and watch various sites like HLJ for a restock and jump on it then. I had to do that with the MG The O, it took like two years of watching for a restock, so be patience and you won’t have to pay scalper prices.
Huh, I didn't realize it jumped in price. I got mine about a year ago at Barnes and Noble. It is a solid build, but that backpack is a pain to pose.
100 dollars isnt insane price thats what i just paid for mine
@@freddyaycart2914 just cause you paid that price doesn’t mean that’s not expensive for that kit. Definitely insane, double the price
When I started painting MG kits, I started out painting a Rick Dom. Not only do I love the Rick Dom mobile suit design, it also has large pieces to work with which makes it easier for beginners to paint, which leaves a little more room to fix errors. But yeah, my Rick Dom completely blew me away after painting it. It turned out so good and gave me the confidence to paint more MG kits and have been enjoying the hobby even more. I would definitely recommend more bulky, large MG kits for beginners if someone decides they'd like to get into painting their kits.
I'm interested in this. I'm experimenting when it comes to painting my own Gundams and mechas. I'm not a pro at all, but I like it. I even have a Madworks airbrush now and I have to buy a good compressor for it. But until now I've been buying Tamiya for plastic spray cans to modify or make my mobile suits a bit different. Sometimes I just change colors or add more detail, anyways, my question is; do you thing a MG such as the Rick Dom could be nicely painted with my Tamiya cans? I really feel it's going to be a simple kit, or at least it looks kind of simple, but at the same time cool and I don't like to have a lot of similar MS. Another thing is, I normally use my surfacer, then I paint it the color(s) I want it to be, I put a gloss finish to them to pannel line them with the Accent Color without damaging the underneath paint, but I've seen people painting the kits and then adding the pannel lining with no gloss coat in between, yet they're still able to brush it off easily and it looks so so cool. I don't know if that's something I can achieve only with the airbrush or if it is a matter of the way I paint my model kits... (which is pretty much learnt from this "ZakuAurelius guy", lol. Greetings from Spain.
@@jasonex4027 Honestly from what your describing as your process for customizing I’d say you should be able to achieve good results, I’ve been using cheap aerosol cans of paint from a local hardware store and can get decent results, so with some nice tamiya spray paints and your other supplies you should be well set up to get good results. Some reasons why an airbrush is nice is that it’s like spray paint can but with more control and precision, it’s also a bit cheaper in the long run overall, and it’s certainly better for the environment since your buying cans of spray paint which probably don’t get recycled.
@@jasonex4027 Personally, I have definitely had some trouble fully removing excess panel liner after airbrushing if I don't get a solid gloss coat, although I am using acrylics instead of lacquers. I have also seen people get away without the gloss coat in videos - but I think they are usually using some kind of lacquer, which may have a different finish than what I've using, not to mention be far more durable.
I just wish all the other grades had as much as HG does. I generally build HG because that's the only grade the suit comes in
Master Grade Gn Archer when
It looks like Bandai is making an effort to get more “out there” designs as master grades though!
@@soggysoles2872 they absolutely do. No hate for Exia or Wing... but I think we have enough of them lol
@@mattterrell4304 But we really need an Exia 2.0. It cannot hold its shoulders in pose.
@@pangzhiyu8098 I can't argue that, I'd welcome another exia for that reason
I started with a master grade, it should not be a big deal where you start. As long as you live the kit and ready for the mistakes you will make for such an expensive hobby ☺️☺️
I went with MG because of that inner frame and, to me, they seem higher quality than HG and are the "right height" without it being too big or small. I'm just about exclusively an MG builder.
This is about also the same reason I build more MGs, the articulation, the frame and details for a more reasonable price.
Best beginner MG? F91 2.0
I’m so confident on this that I’ll go so far as to say that it’s in the top 3 best for beginners and to be honest, I can’t think of a better one.
Simple (in a good way), rock-solid build, loads of gimmicks/gear, comes with a stand, can be expanded with a light and it’s cheap for an MG.
It’s not gaudy, the color seperation and details are great without being busy and there are great posing options with the shield, gun, sabers, rocket launcher and shoulder cannons.
Also it has dry transfers which are easier than water decals. And a muscle car front grill that will get you all the girls :)
The only downside is that the legs bend slightly less than the average MG.
Aesthetically, it’s probably the smallest MG gunpla and it should’ve been even smaller, which is not to everyone’s taste.
Besides that, all the standard Wing EW MG’s and then the MG Barbatos which is a top notch kit and so elegant in its simplicity that it’s definitely one of the best gunpla kits ever made - Only suffers from being a little lanky and unstable on its feet if you pose it.
Since articulation was one of the criteria, I didn't think F91 would make it to the list. I was really not expecting Proto Zero though since the new Wing Zero came out which was an all round superior kit, but I guess the proto zero is really quite and has no issues.
my first kit i built was the MG buster gundam. absolutely love the design and building it was very fun!
Yeah the RX-178 Gundam MK2 MK-II Titans Ver 2.0 MG was my first kit and its almost made me want to stick to MGs after trying a couple of HGs after it
That was mine, too. Followed that up with the MG Master Gundam and Shining Gundam
I believe in hg to mg progression because if you fuck up your only out 20 instead of 60+
It's not mandatory it's just a recommendation
Painting is optional, your argument makes no sense
@@truthseeker9833 I'm not talking about painting. I'm talking about breaking parts. Although painting would also apply
You make it sound like MGs are really fragile and obscenely complex.
@@eins2001 nah I'm just stupid enough to put parts together backwards then break them trying to fix it and I used to be a lot worse
MG Tallgeese I was a dream to build for my first time, and with a mostly white model a lot of the nub or stress marks don't show very much. No regrets with it at all.
I loved building mg turn A. The whole time it felt way to light and I felt concerned, till I finished. It's so satisfying and easy. Now I just need to get turn X.
I started with an MG (Freedom 2.0) for my 1st gunpla and I am hooked! if you have the space and money, you can go for an MG. just be careful assembling and read the manual carefully.
I always say that if you want to start with gunpla, start with one HG kit to see if you like it. If you like it, buy whatever you think is cool. At least that's how I think
I just bought Barbatos as my first MG after building a lot of HG's and RG's. Wish me luck!
Great build - really good and actually quite quick one.
Be very careful of the feet... They tend to break on that cursed hook connector...
I built a couple of hg and rg at first. I just got what was at the hobby lobby near me. My first master grade was sazabi verka. I made a few mistakes with the parts but overall it was a fun build.
yes. all of the 2.0 uc grunt suits is a good beginners choice. the gm, gm command, gm sniper, and also jegan. sad that bandai stopped producing them, would like a gm iii or gm custom 2.0 into the list. long live uc grunt suits!
MG Duel Gundam. Lots of accesories, super simple build and great looking kit
My first was Kyrios, and it was really solid and fun. My second was the Jesta... Very similar in build to the Jegan but that dark blue plastic did have a tendency to show stress marks. I've since done more RGs and so far the Origin granddaddy is a fun build as well if you can't find a 2.0
I started with an Exia RG, it was not complicated or anything like that, and because RG have more details, for a beginner you don't need to worry for painting because is just look great just put them all together, without correction color or whatnot.
For me, unfortunately it fell apart... so for a replacement, going to get the HG version
Love the RX-78 2.0, I just finished it last week, super satisfied and fun to play with.
I think one master grade that is a must buy for beginners that loves inner frame details or just details in general is the master grade barbatos. I had so much fun building it as it was my first master grade and was astonished with the out of box product. It's just a very awesome kit
Nah it’s to unique
I think it’s for people who’s bored of a regular mg kit
I started with the Sengoku Astray, which is not a good beginner's build if you're a stickler for anime accuracy. I had to paint the whole inner frame with 2 coats of dark red followed by a clear gloss, which was a challenge because I had to avoid joints and connecting faces.
Seriously Bandai, why did you mold the red parts for the HG, MG, and even SD Sengoku Astray in the standard red????
The Sengoku Astray is supposed to be in a metallic super glossy wine red
I started with HG’s. but that was in 1992 as there was no MG’s hahaha.
Finally someone who has the same thinking as me. I always thought that it didn’t matter which grade u start of with since they all basically go together the same way. Just follow the instructions, simple as. Although beginners may not have the patience for builds with more pieces, there isn’t really a difficulty level that u need to follow since they’re basically the same.
My first kid was PG strike and fell in love afterwards.
My first kid was a boy! 👍 😆
I'm working on my first build now. Happened to grab HG Calibarn. Really lucked out. Looking forward to my first MG. This helped, thanks!
A list of "Best Real-Grade Gunpla for Beginners" would be nice, and a "Must build Real-Grade gunpla".
Good idea! 👍
I am so glad to see the MG RX-78-2 Gundam 2.0 get some appreciation. I think that a lot of people underrate that kit. It is the most anime accurate of the Master Grades and is quite solid and poseable for a 2008 kit. The 3.0 is also a great kit but is more representative of the first 1:1 Tokyo Base Gundam while the MG The Origin RX-78-02 is it’s own creature so to speak. The 1.0 barely qualifies as an HG anymore, much less an MG. The 1.5 was a step in the right direction while the Ver. Ka was basically a 0083 GM redesign. Enjoyable kits, but I guess all this rambling is about me saying I really like anime accurate kits.
I agree with the progression comment. My first gunpla was the MG Banshee and I loved it. Went smoothly and I love how it looks. I did try out HGs but I'm not the biggest fan of the lack of detail, still love a couple like the moon gundam kit. RGs I love though as well and I have done 4 PG kits now.
Built my first HG kit when i was 9 and honestly, at 9 years old, i felt like HGs were hard. I mostly built HGCE kits and some HGUC ones and then i tried the 1/100 00 Gundam after about 6 years of building HGs intermittently and man did i ever messed that kit up lol. Ive quit building since 2014 and kind of tried my hand on the HG revive kits and RG freedom and ive got to say, RGs really made me want to build MGs for real. So far after returning to building gunpla, ive gravitated towards MGs because of the RX 78 2 OYW anime colors and Wing EW. Ive built daban kits like the Tallgeese II, Phenex, Nu Ver. Ka. Currently about to build the RG Banshee Norn, RG Strike Freedom, RG Wing EW, Daban MG Sazabi Ver. Ka, Daban MG Sinanju Stein, and most importantly: MG Sinanju OVA ver., by far my most favorite mobile suit design ever.
If youre not quite sure if you want to get into the gunpla hobby, i highly recommend you to first build either the HG revive Strike or Impulse. And if you like it, go straight into MG kits
My first was the Deathscythe Hell EW. Took a little doing and I didnt have the best tools at the time. I'd recommend having up to 2500 grit paper and some grinding plates, as well as all the tools you need before going into kits. I love the seed line, wing line, and have Kyrios. Wanting Dynames. Most my collection is seed and I actually have 3 versions of Wing gundam. Love the proto zero and definitely recommend it. I've had his alms out to the sides in the standard Wing buster pose for a few months with zero sag. It's a solid kit. Trying to find Aile strike but definitely gonna pick up sword impulse as soon as it's in stock. Thinking of what I want next.
If you want a challenge as a beginner or haven't done many kits I'd recommend the Freedom 2.0 it's a joy to build but be careful with the legs when posing it. I've put a bit of extra effort into my Freedom 2.0 and it looks amazing. Next up is Destiny. I have it built and I'm taking a small break before diving into the decals.
My first master grade was the RX-78-2 2.0, which I just completed last night. I previously completed about 6 high grades and the real grade Sazabi and Mk 2. I adore this kit.
It was everything I was looking for in a master grade. Sure, it doesn't feel like an action figure like the revive does - but it gave me the perfect taste of master grade construction, inner frame, and gimmicks, and has proportions and aesthetics straight from the anime without sacrificing the "master grade" label. Although it does amuse me that it stands at about the same height as my 1/144 Sazabi. The 2.0 RX-78 kit really whet my appetite for the next thing I'll be pursuing in the MG line - the Hyaku Shiki 2.0. One of these days, I might have to get the Zaku 2.0. One other thing - I LOVE the hands on this kit. The real grade style hands on my Mk 2 stink, but these MG 2.0 hands are super solid. I legitimately prefer them to fixed pose hands.
Expertly skirts around RG kits which maybe do require a bit of prior experience. Building an RG can be a bit of a trial.
Best MG for begginers: RE100 xD
In all seriousness, the Alex is a very solid build for someone that would appreciated a classic gundam design. It's clean, sturdy, it's attached to a great anime, and it's fantastic overall.
That's what i got for a friend to get him into gunpla.
Alex isn't RE100 though. That might not have been what you meant but it was really easy to misunderstand. I do agree that the NT-1 is a great kit, but man are those wrists tight, maybe a bit too solid.
@@pangzhiyu8098 the RE thing was a joke, but yeah, i agree. The Alex and the Duel fro me were so "solid" that i struggled taking them apart for painting. Especially the joints. They are great to build, but if you wanna paint them later, good luck not breaking them xD.
@@dunka12 I broke the wrist, both of them. It is staying on there with cement and I am never touching them again. It was that solid, and I wasn't even trying to disassemble them, I was merely trying to change the pose and twisted the wrist, I was wondering why it refused to turn so I applied a bit more force and "pop", off it came. sigh
the alex 2.0 kit I definitely would not recommend. You have to sand the wrists down, then paint if it gets too loose. Also you need to hold the little yellow circles when attaching a part to the armor plate or else it will come to straight off. Not to mention the yellow circles you may need to cement in that are easy to loose.
My first ever kit was MG Destiny. Over the years I’ve returned to that kit fixing it up so it doesn’t fall apart and I was extremely excited when I saw the recent HG Destiny.
I'd say that anybody competent enough to build a HG could make the jump to MG with no problem. All the skills you need for a MG are the same, they're just a bit bigger with more parts. I haven't bult any MGs that seemed particularly more complex than any other (other than Ver.Ka), but as for a good starter set, I would suggest the Jegan. Very solid and straightforward design. No troublesome fiddly bits. Good colour seperation, you can build it straight out of the box without paint. Though mine is fully painted and (along with my Geara Doga) is one of the best in my collection.
{I left this same comment on your "Worst MG Kits For Beginners" video, but it's even more relevant here.}
Gundam MG2.0 is great, love it so much I have two: full armour type and regular type.
The OYW RX-78-2 is a nice kit for beginners. It doesn't have the core fighter like the older kits or the 2.0 but it's sturdy, fairly easy to build, lots of surface details and just looks good out of the box. If you can still find it, the one with the more muted anime color would stand out better on the shelf.
First gunpla for me was MG Tallgeese and Wife got it for me in 2018ish and it just sat until covid. Then got around to making it and now I'm hooked lmao
I'm super new to gundam.. I built an entry grade and just got a HG 00 Command that I'm going to start tomorrow. I love the hobby after doing the EG, so I ordered 2 MG kits the Dynames and Kyrios
Great choices! You'll love them!
The first MG I built was the Hyaku-Shiki 2.0. It was a great introduction to what the MG line could offer: detailed and good looking right out of the box, not too complicated with little fiddly bits or frustrating rings on springs (looking at you, Zaku II), and no enormous, obvious nubs or uncooperative fabric piping like the Kampfer (2.0 when?).
I agree in regards to progressing through HG > MG > PG. I like HGs as a somewhat new beginner due to the price so I can try new things and not be upset if I botch it.
My first ever MG was the Zaku 2.0, completely blew me away. Although I mostly stick to HGs simply because of space and variety reasons.
My very first MG kit is the Astray Blue Frame D, well because it was the only MG kit available at my local hobby store.
My first kit was, surprisingly, the MG Super Gundam. Yes, the old Gundam Mk.II AEUG 1.0 with that thing called the G-Defenser is my first kit I've build on 2016.
Of course it wasn't a good kit for beginners like I was. All I had was a hardware wire nipper, hardware files, and a panel liner.
It still stands on top of my cabinet, next to my other MGs. Also, my friend is having a pop-up sale on Sunday, and he mentioned to me that he has the MG AGE-1 Normal. So.... off I go!
My first MG build was the Mg Aile Strike Gundam. Had no problems with the build & even started a MG RX-78 ver 1.5 while the paint was drying on the Aile Strike
My first "kit" was the Zoids electronic Gojulas Giga, followed by a MG Exia during High School. I still have him, and while he didn't hold up all that well years after, he still looks pretty nice.
Staying with the 2.0 RX-78, I recommend every MG that uses the same inner frame (RX-78 variants, GMs). Most keep the same design for the inner frame, for the ones I've seen the main difference is the torso, some go for accuracy to the original design, others for good articulation
i rmb my very first gunpla was the old NG 1/100 Epyon. after that, i jumped straight into the old MG Sazabi. MGs immediately became my fav product line, and I’ve never looked back.
I have the Strike RM since around its original release date. 8 years later and that kit is still a blast to play with, the joint just held up really well. And yes, you can put it on standing pose even on Perfect Strike mode, something you can rarely achieve with MG SEED kits.
I recommend MG Jegan for an easy build as well.
I would say that progression doesn't matter if you're straight building. But if you want to do a few of the more advanced ones (putty seam line removal, shading, and other advanced painting techniques), then you might want to experiment with a few burner kits first before doing those fancy techniques on the kits you want. Though if you're attempting these, you're probably not a beginner anyway.
Was thinking of buying the MG Strike but all the reviews were from 8 years ago, so given all the advancements in Gunpla over the years, they weren't reliable. Thank you so much for the 2021 review!
my first MG was the Jegan D-Type and i enjoyed building it very much, solid kit. my second was the GM ground, 3rd - aile strike RM and my 4th - MG Barbatos which is awesome and my favorite build to date
I'm glad that people agree that there is no order of progression. That being said, my first gunpla was a the MG Crossbone Gundam X2 ver KA and I to this day regret starting with that wobbly abomination.
I’m just getting into the “Gundam” franchise and working my way through the incredible anime’s now. So of course I got interested in Gunpla also and your videos have been a HUGE help in understanding this awesome hobby! I had also heard repeatedly, “Start with HG… etc.”. But the styles and sizes I like are in the MG lines. Both the Zaku Gunner and Ginn mentioned around 6:00 look really cool and sound like a good place to start! Not sure which kit I’ll get first, (maybe both!) because I need the other supplies like sand paper, snippers, etc. But can’t wait to start!
The Jegan was my first MG kit. I love to mess around with this kit, it’s so solid. I’m still waiting a MG Stark Jegan.
My first MG kit was the full armor gundam ver ka and like anyone who has own this kit i broke the shoulders on both arm, stupidly i tried to glue it while it was still an arm so everything got glued together. Luckily i was able to salvage the arms, now all i need is a spare shoulder.
My first ever kit was the MG Wing Gundam EW back in 2018. I built it just using nail clippers and the nail file that comes with it. It was a very easy build since it's just a repackaged kit from 2004. The Endless Waltz and SEED GAT-X Master Grades are very good choices for starting off your hobby
A few MG's I would throw in would be the MG Tallgeese 1 EW, Providence Gundam and the Freedom 2.0. Plus the Freedom and Providence come with stands for display.
Mg barbatos is the go to beginner kit! Really simple build, English translate, lots of details, good price and god for posing!
I started with HG 1/100 Heavyarms if im not mistaken, then stop for 10 years or so, then started back with MG Titus, and been building and collecting MG since, so I agree that you dont need to start with an HG for beginners.
Just built my first kit today. It's a Master Grade 1/100 Neo Japan. Took me about 5 hours. ❤
Nice work!
As a beginner, the only reason I am nervous about moving to MG is because the stakes are much higher, so if I mess up and blemish the plastic during nub removal then it is much more of a sunk cost. I am currently going through HGs and RGs from series I like in order to make sure my nub removal skills are perfected. I have learned a lot from doing HGs and I recommend any beginner in the hobby starts with HG unless you have a background in modeling.
A little advice from a fellow beginner who only got into the hobby over the past year (and now has a nice collection of HGs, MGs, RGs, and a PG): the color of the plastic is where I feel the most risk of marking comes in, and the larger scale + inner frame of MGs does a lot to mitigate that.
The first MG I bought was the MG Epyon, a slightly older kit that is full of dark crimsons and off-blacks, daunting for sure. So I went out and picked up an MG Dynames (which is one of the best OOB MGs out there) and took a crack at that first. White outer frame over the usual grey inner frame gave me more time to get comfortable with it, and helped me realize how the construction of MGs makes hiding the nubs under other pieces/on the underside so much easier to engineer. Plus, you notice those tiny tiny nub marks a lot less when they're 1% of the total height of the model instead of 5%. I say take a shot at a kit you like and see what happens. After Dynames I picked up some better midrange nippers, and the rest is history lol.
I just got into gunpla and that's been my fear. I don't want to mess up a MG kit by having blemishes be it nub marks or stress marks. Currently figuring out how to clean up my kits that may looks a little rough.
RG is a hella more risky (especially the small parts though)
age 11:
NG death scythe 1:144
NG wing gundam 1:100
gave me such a "junk" feeling I didn't touch model kits for 15(?) years.
Age 26:
hg strike rouge iswp (to test tools and cutting/shaving of numb marks)
pg unicorn
mg full armour gundam ver. ka
mg nu gundam ver. ka
mg wing gundam proto zero (felt too easy by then)
Now I kinda lost track on when I build what, though starting airbrushing made me go slower, so I'm back to one/a couple a year.
I have to say, love the strike rouge rm ver to bits :)
made me fall in love with the color tables bandai provides.
My first MG was the GM command, picked it up at a Barnes & Noble along with the RE 100 Zaku Kai. I have them displayed together.
Wow i really like the first 2 gundam shown. Good for me to mess around and learn to panel line spray paint etc..
My first kit after an 18 year hiatus was the EG RX-78-2 just because I randomly saw it at Target one day. From that point on, I caught the gunpla bug and purchased the Ver Ka Wing Zero EW a week later. Fast forward 7 months later to today and I'm now 12 kit's built with a 30 kit backlog deep😬
My first kit was hg penelope and the next 6 was mg and 1 hg recently
This would be a niche one but I would like to see a Best/worst/bang-for-buck type of Mecha musume kit list from you sir!
I believe you have tried out a vast majority of different lines maybe apart from GSC’s Chitocerium.
Good idea! I’ll think about that
I recommend starting with HG mostly due to price point. Do 1 or 2 so you get a feel for whether you'll like it or not. If you don't, oh well, it's only like 10-20 gone where a MG is like 30-50 gone. If money is of no issue, then sure do what you want but for someone with even minor budget constraints, HG is where you should start to decide if this is the hobby for you. Most will probably know by the first half hour of a build.
Starting with MGs isn't a problem at all. I've only built one HG and that because I won it in a contest, all my other kits were either MGs or 1/100 scale kits. My first one was the Ver Ka. RX 78-2, pretty simple kit and fun to build.
Great list, i can recommend the Wing tv version as it was my first almost 10 years ago, loved every bit of the build, the kit is solid (the way the claw holds the buster rifle straight while in the hand was genius) and thanks to it here i am still building gunpla
My first kit was a Zaku II Ver2.0 and I had a fantastic time
Except for the power pipes
I started with Master Grades with the Master Grade Jesta, it's a fun kit to mess around with, really solid and is a spec ops styled GM, really tactical look to it,
I think one good reason to maybe start out with an HG or 2 is it gives you a low-pressure build where it's more forgiving to make mistakes, more so if you don't have the proper tools. I did my first build with wire snips and a box cutter, and if the kit cost ~$50 I probably would've been way more upset about all the blemishes I left. I could see that souring some people on the experience.
My very first MG kit was the 1.0 Grandaddy Gundam, like almost 20 years ago. Ugh, remembering this makes me feel old now. haha
But man, comparing the first kits like that and the 0083 MGs back then to the recent stuff is night and day. The kits from the past ten years are so good in terms of details and articulation.
Funnily enough, my first gunpla was the MG Gundam Mk-II 2.0 because I started getting into the franchise again after the first season of 00 aired in the US. When I watched Zeta Gundam, I instantly fell in love with the Mk-II's design and asked my parents for it for Xmas. And my 2nd gunpla was the the MG Strike E with IWSP, solely because I thought the big backpack covered in weapons and all the other weapons it had was cool 😂
What I'd like to see is a list of interesting builds. Not really focussing on how easy or complex something is, but just if it's interesting or different from the standard gundam kits.
Waiting for my order of a Entry Grade RX-78-2, HG Barbatos Lupus, and SDCS Barbatos Lupis Rex. Gonna be my first build, thought I'd try out something cheap and simple for my first builds. Plus SDCS BLR looks awesome!
Gonna be looking into getting an "enemy" MS next. HGUC Zaku-II (Char's) is looking nice.
MG GM Sniper II definitely should be on the list, it is fairly simple, super solid and doesn't takes ages to build
MG ball also quite solid, it is a very interesting build but doesn't adhere to what gunpla usually would be
on side note, if you don't mind 3rd party kit, supernova heavyarms custom (with or without igel unit), very solid kit, very good colour separation, but it takes more time to build due to undergate
MG GM Sniper is built on the RX-78-2 2.0 frame, with the core block replaced with a more flexible middle. Most of the articulation is the same.
MG GM Sniper II.. it's relatively simple but has superb articulation for posing.
Age 1 Normal and Aile Strike were expectation. But they aren't bought until right now. Finally, I want Age 1 Titus
I jumped from the HG Leo to the no grade Mercurius/Vayeate to the Clear Transam Exia RG, so I fully support just vibing it out and picking kits that appeal to you! Nothing is super hard, and there's plenty of great resources on here for newbies.
The only reason I haven't built an MG yet is that I really love the 1/144 scale, but that Barbatos looks incredible and I might grab that at some point.
Since i saw the unicorn gundam i knew to my self that is one hell of a gundam to me, and when i first bought my first gunpla, it was the MG unicorn ver ka. And yes as a begginer, i messed that up real good. Hahaha but with a tweak of super glue and bad fixes, i dont regret it buying it, because that was the point i started on gunpla. And yes, cant really afford that MGEX ahahaha
First kit I started with was rg astray red. First mg I rocked was the jesta. Such a good kit
4:52 I can attest. RM Aile Strike is my first MG (straight bare build) and it's complicated (almost had me discouraged getting another MG) but the pose and articulation is super beautiful and elegant.
Agree with the philosophy. I started with RG Banshee and would not have had any interest in gunpla if I instead went for most HG kits.
My second Mg me and brother build was the Mg Blue Frame Astray and we took like 4 hours to build it was a pain and it got broke in the end, the plastic is very brittle. Everytime I moved it, it became loosen up and break easily. Tho, I would definitely agree you would start with MG Strike Rouge or Aile Strike. Very fun to build and sturdy plastic
i think 'anything' is fine, the important thing is that you like the mobile suit. my first MG is Daban version of AGE-1 Normal, i know it won't be as good as Bandai's, but i really like that Gundam, and i satisfied with the result
It's funny, I own doubles of both the jegan and strike rm because I like them so much. The mg ground type gm is also a banger, especially for what it comes with.
Started off making exclusively HGs…told myself RGs are too expensive and MGs are outta my league…now just exclusively getting MGs since i got all the HGs and RGs that i wanted
i do agree with the grade progression thing is slightly silly. to me, complexity of building a gunpla is measured by the work that u hve to put it in. for example, early RG kits tends to get loose so the amount of effort to fix it is what determines a kits complexity.
I literally built one HG kit before deciding I preferred MG kits. Well, okay, I rather enjoyed that HG kit (Gundam The Origin Zaku II Red Comet Edition), but the MG Zaku Gunner Warrior was sooooo much more fun to build, and I loved the look of the scale a whole lot more. For smaller scales, I've found I rather enjoy the RG series, and thoroughly loved building my mk II Titans, so odds are I'll look into a few more RG kits as well.
Nice selection of kits as suggestions!
My first was the Mk. II Revive when it came out, but didn't get anything after. A few years later, my idiot self decided to get the Full Saber when it came out, and I didn't even know that you needed nippers and scuffed my fingers for the next three or so kits. I got the 00 Raiser and Exia Trans-Am afterwords, and also didn't use nippers. Big pain.
I'd say once you paint a couple cheap hgs like Zakus the MG Jegan is a good first choice to paint.
just saying all the strikes come with stands to display them on if that helps anyone
I started with HG cause of the cost and space. And i always expect more for MG to be so good. So i bought my first MG Crossbone (without checking the review first), holy hell what a baaaddd experience. The kit is a messed. Same thing when i try RG for the first time bought the Johnny Ridden Zaku, that kit sucks too thinking i could get 2 or 3 HG kit that are more solid with the price of RG/MG respectively.