by Gundam plastic models, known more often (and more easily) as “gunpla,” have been popular for decades, but recent advancements in plastic molding technology, a recent explosion of new builders, and an increase in global production and retailers mean that there has never been a time when gunpla was better, more popular, or easier to get into. And although the visual media from which the plastic models are derived are also seeing increased viewerships, there are also many people who just want to get into the hobby itself. And those who have ever built a gunpla kit aren’t surprised about that fact either, given how fun, satisfying, addictive, and rewarding the hobby can be. That said, it can also be pretty intimidating from the outset. Many find themselves worried that the kits will be too complicated, or that they won’t be able to make sense of the instructions, or that they won’t have the right tools or know-how even to get started. But, like I said, there has never been a better time to get into gunpla. One of the reasons for that is the introduction of a new grade of gundam model kits: the entry grade.
Gundam kits are graded at several different levels which speak to the size and level of complexity of the builds. Master grades, for example, are larger and more complicated than high grades, which are smaller and have fewer pieces. RE/100 kits are the size of master grade kits, but with the complexity of high grade kits, which made them my go-to recommendation for starter kits in years past. But entry grade kits are a recent addition to the lineup from Bandai and sport some of the least complicated builds in the hobby while still delivering a great finished product. In fact, these kits are even designed to be constructed without tools. While tools like nippers, sanders, and a panel-lining marker or two offer you the chance to take your entry grade to the next level, it is possible to completely finish an entry grade build without any tools whatsoever.
Another reason that the entry grade of gunpla kits is newcomer friendly is that they are the cheapest kits on the market, allowing you to check out the hobby without shelling out for the huge upfront costs often associated with starting a new hobby. That said, gunpla can be an expensive hobby. Outside of the cost of the kits themselves, builders also tend to find themselves dropping a pretty penny on tools, accessories, displays, paint, and more. But with hundreds of millions of kits having been sold in the past couple of decades, it’s safe to say that the hobby is thriving. The good news for newcomers is that there’s no shortage of people willing to help you out, and no shortage of kits either. There was a time, for that matter, that kits were difficult to come by, and often involved buying from overseas retailers. These days, not only is it much easier to get your hands on a kit, not only is there a far greater variety to choose from, but there are also kits specifically designed to be fast, simple, and relatively easy to put together.
One thing about grades of kits like high grades and master grades is that these kits require nippers in order to remove the necessary parts from the injection-molded plastic sheets (known as runners or sprues). As a byproduct of the molding process itself, and as a way to keep the parts organized, gunpla kits are shipped as a series of these runners and, unlike hobbies like LEGO, you have to snip the plastic yourself in order to get at the part you need for assembly. That is, you used to. Now the technology has improved so much that small-diameter channels allow for plastic to fill the mold and form the piece while allowing the piece to be snapped off relatively cleanly thereafter. This means that rather than worrying about buying nippers and physically cutting pieces from the runners, it’s possible (and easy) to simply snap the pieces off of the runners with your fingers. That’s why entry grade kits require no tools. And, just like other grades of kits, since the pieces snap together, there’s also no glue required. And with a small number of parts and simple instructions, entry grade kits really are the best way into the hobby.
