The term Gunpla refers to the plastic mecha models, characters or vehicles from the Japanese Gundam franchise marketed by Bandai; it is a contraction of " Gundam plastic model ". It first appeared in 1980.

 

THE GUNPLA PHILOSOPHY: MODELS FOR EVERYONE! "without glue or paint

All Gundam models are characterised by two essential properties:

- the parts fit together

- and they are moulded in colour.

 

Gunpla are classified into ranges (called "grades") according to their quality and/or size. The main ones are :

• NG No Grade (1980), although the term does not appear until much later, it refers retrospectively to the first models released in 1980.
• HG High Grade (1990), the first high-grade range in 1/144 scale.
• MG Master Grade (1995), of higher quality than the HG High Grade with, for example, the internal mechanics fully modelled in 1/100 scale.
• PG Perfect Grade (1998), the most technically advanced range in 1/60 scale.
• FG First Grade (1999), an inexpensive clip-on range.
• HGUC High Grade Universal Century (1999), a popular reissue of the Universal Century robots.
• EX-model (2001), a range dedicated not to robots but to related vehicles and flying machines.
• MS Mega Size (2009), 1/48 scale range.
• RG Real Grade (2010), similar to the MG Master Grade with an advanced internal skeleton but in 1/144 scale like the HG High Grade.
• RE/100 Reborn One Hundred (2014), a new 1/100 gunpla range.
• ...

However, exhaustive classification is far more complex, since it depends on the scale (ranging from 1/550 to 1/35), improvements (the Master Grade range exists in versions 1.5, 2.0 and 3.0) and special events (a Ver.G 30th range was released for the franchise's 30th anniversary, for example).