Walk into any hobby shop and you'll see hundreds of Gunpla boxes labeled HG, RG, or MG. Those letters mean everything — they define how complex the build is, how much detail you get, and how much you'll pay. Here's the breakdown.
HG — High Grade (1/144 scale)
HG is where most builders start. At 1/144 scale they're small — a typical Mobile Suit comes out around 13cm — but modern HG kits (especially the HGUC and HGIBO lines) have detail that would have been MG-quality a decade ago.
- Price: ¥1,100–¥3,300 JP (roughly $8–$25 USD import)
- Build time: 2–5 hours
- Inner frame: No — color separation is done with separate parts
- Best for: Beginners, army-builders, collectors on a budget
The EG (Entry Grade) line is a subset of HG with snap-fit, no-clippers-needed builds — perfect for absolute first-timers. The RX-78-2 EG is free in some bundles and still looks great on a shelf.
RG — Real Grade (1/144 scale)
Real Grade packs MG-level engineering into the same 1/144 scale as HG. You get a full inner frame, multi-color parts, and often pre-applied decal sheets. The tradeoff: tiny parts, patience required.
- Price: ¥2,200–¥5,500 JP (roughly $18–$45 USD import)
- Build time: 6–12 hours
- Inner frame: Yes — articulated skeleton under the armor
- Best for: Intermediate builders who want show-quality detail in a small form factor
RG kits are notorious for joint stress — the small inner frame pieces can snap if forced. Take your time, don't rush the inner frame assembly, and you'll have one of the most impressive kits on your shelf per dollar spent.
MG — Master Grade (1/100 scale)
Master Grade is 2.5× the size of HG/RG at 1/100 scale — a typical MS comes out around 18–20cm. The size allows for engineering complexity that smaller scales can't support: cockpit interiors, pilot figures, full inner frames with working gimmicks.
- Price: ¥3,300–¥8,800 JP (roughly $28–$75 USD import)
- Build time: 10–20+ hours
- Inner frame: Yes — and usually more complex than RG
- Best for: Hobbyists who want a substantial weekend project and a centerpiece display piece
The MG Ver. Ka (Katoki Hajime version) line is the premium tier within MG — larger decal sheets, more complex engineering, often ¥2,000–¥3,000 more expensive, but visually the best kits Bandai makes short of PG.
Quick comparison
| Grade | Scale | JP Price | Build time | Inner frame | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HG | 1/144 | ¥1,100–¥3,300 | 2–5 hrs | No | Beginners, collectors |
| RG | 1/144 | ¥2,200–¥5,500 | 6–12 hrs | Yes | Intermediate builders |
| MG | 1/100 | ¥3,300–¥8,800 | 10–20+ hrs | Yes | Hobbyists, display pieces |
My recommendation by situation
- "I've never built Gunpla" → Start with an HG. The RX-78-2 EG or any recent HGUC.
- "I've built a few HG, want more detail" → RG. The RG Unicorn or RG Nu Gundam are peak.
- "I want a weekend project and centerpiece" → MG. MG Sazabi Ver. Ka or MG Strike Freedom.
- "Price doesn't matter, I want the best" → MG Ver. Ka or wait for a PG.