Previous Gunpla 101 Holiday Gift Guides
Holiday 2014
Holiday 2017
Beginner Gunpla Kits
Guidance for Gift Givers: When shopping for beginners, it’s a good idea to look for High Grade (HG) or Super Deformed (SD) kits. These grades have lots of availability, low price points, and not too many parts. They’re great for new builders as well as those pressed for time—most of these kits can be built in under an hour!
SD Gundam EX Standard Wing Gundam Zero EW
If you haven’t built an SD Gunpla model in a while, you might be surprised by their improved quality, balance, and poseability. With its fluttery wings, the Wing Zero EW looks especially cool as an SD.
HG 1/144 Gundam Barbatos Lupus Rex
What makes this fan-favorite iconic is that it retains its unforgettable silhouette even at the basic High Grade. Fans will love putting that unforgettable mace together in a variety of close-combat poses.
HG 1/144 Gundam 00 Diver Arc
Even though I didn’t enjoy Gundam Build Metaverse, I’d be hard-pressed to pick a favorite model kit from its lineup. Riku’s latest homage to Gundam 00 also draws inspiration from Gundam AGE.
SD Gundam EX-Standard Sazabi
Always a popular choice, the bright red Sazabi with its striking monoeye is as dynamic as its regular-sized cousins. Pose this Char’s Counterattack kit with its weapons or convert its shield to be standalone.
Entry Grade Strike Gundam
Entry Grade (EG for short) is the easiest type of model to build. With just 85 parts, you don’t need any tools or even stickers to build this classic Strike Gundam kit—and the price can’t be beat.
Mid-Level Gunpla Kits
Guidance for Gift Givers: Some High Grade kits with a lot of layers of armor (like anything from Gundam Unicorn) are better for modelers who have built at least one kit before. Hi Resolution Model kits (HiRM) can be a good stepping stone before modelers tackle more complicated Master Grade (MG) kits, though some MG kits are good for intermediate builders who have built several HG and want something more complex. These kits may take a few hours, or even days, to build.
HGUC Xi Gundam
A bulky frame makes this HG an unusual challenge. First animated in Hathaway’s Flash, this mecha stands out with its towering shoulder pads and double-sided beam saber.
MG 1/100 GM Sniper II
This is technically a Christmas kit because it originates from the seasonally-appropriate OVA Gundam 0080: War in the Pocket. Lean and minimal, this medium-difficulty kit makes a great introduction to the Master Grade line and can be displayed in a wide range of poses.
Hi-Resolution Gundam Astray Red Frame
The beauty of the Hi Resolution line is that you get a finished display mecha that looks professional—with half the effort on your part. The price tag is worth the impressive result: a formidable finished kit that looks like a luxury product.
MG 1/100 Mobile Ginn
If you’re ready to make the jump up from basic HG kits, this Cosmic Era mecha makes a great introduction to the MG line. Simply build the structured inner frame, then add the armor, and finish with the super cool backpack to make it pop.
HGUC Narrative Gundam A-Packs
Elaborate riding armor, complete with multiple expansion and deployment gimmicks, makes Narrative Gundam as formidable as it appears in the 2019 Gundam NT movie. You’re going to need some extra space on the display shelf!
Advanced Gunpla Kits
Guidance for Gift Givers: These kits are great for experienced modelers who have built at least five to ten kits of various difficulties. Real Grade (RG) kits are similar to Master Grade in difficulty, but in the 1/144 scale which makes some of them tricky. These Gunpla are more complicated and may take a week or more to build.
MG 1/100 Gundam Astray Red Frame Kai
A mecha so nice I’m including it in the guide twice! Even if you haven’t read the Gundam Astray manga, you can’t deny the cool samurai-inspired look of the red frame, complete with twin gleaming katanas. The perfect aesthetic mix of past and future in one awesome suit.
RG 1/144 Gundam Epyon
In brilliant crimson, and with its unforgettable whip-like Heat Rod, the Epyon stuns in its Real Grade iteration. A perfect gift for the Gundam Wing fan who already has the main five suits.
MG Sinanju Stein Version Ka
Normally outfitted in red and black, the Sinanju gets a completely different look for the 2019-release Gundam Narrative movie. Now it joins the Version Ka line of Master Grade with its own distinctive profile. Comes with great-looking waterslide decals, making it the perfect opportunity to learn a new Gunpla-building skill.
RG Crossbone Gundam X1
A 1/144 model that carefully replicates every pirate’s favorite Gundam down to the smallest embellishment. From the tiny skull motifs to the transformable gimmicks and cape, this is the most intricate version we’ve seen of this already detailed kit. Tricky but worth the extra effort!
PG 1/60 Gundam Unicorn
This is the most difficult model I have ever built, but also the most beautiful. It’s sure to be the centerpiece of any Gunpla collection. Include the LED lighting kit to make it extra special.
Lifestyle Gifts
Guidance for Gift Givers: From clothing to accessories, these gifts are great for the Gunpla fan who wants to wear their fandom on their literal sleeve. Not all of these gifts are official merchandise; some are fan creations (made by friends of Gunpla 101) that pay homage to the Gundam franchise.
Burning Gundam Sweatshirt
Look, the East is burning red! Among the apparel on offer from friend of Gunpla 101 Rideth Mochi is this fiery design of the Burning Gundam. With calligraphy that says “East is Burning Red,” this snuggly sweatshirt will keep you warm.
Glitter Harornaments
Ashe Blitzen‘s sparkly Haros will bling up your tree. From Psycho Purple to SEED Pink to Original Green, Gundam’s cutest mascot comes in a variety of colors. Pick your favorite or go wild with a blind box that could even be silver or gold!
Witch From Mercury Ornaments
‘Tis the season to celebrate Suletta and Miorine’s beautiful love story with these 3D-printed ornaments from friend of Gunpla 101 Isekai Heavy Industries. These durable prints can also be used as keychains or zipper pulls.
Gundam All Terrain Clog
I’m a little too old to comprehend the Croc craze, but these colorful Gundam shoes are enough to tempt even a Millennial. Display your love for the RX-78-2 with this versatile shoe. They include plenty of room for Gundam-themed jibbitz, too!
Mobile Suit Gundam Socks
Wear a different mobile weapon on your feet every day of the week with these officially licensed socks based on the original 1979 Mobile Suit Gundam. From the Zaku to the Guntank, these comfy polyester-blend socks include lots of variety.
Tequila Gundam Pint Glass
A Gundam named after a liquor was just asking for its own barware. Luckily, friend of Gunpla 101 Tex Merquise has remedied that market gap. This glass featuring Neo Mexico’s finest import is her original design.
Gold Burning Gundam Figure
This is not a Gunpla model. Instead, it’s a pre-built Gundam Spirits figurine available just in time for G-Gundam’s 30th anniversary. This all-gold display figure will gleam in any fan’s collection, and the price is surprisingly reasonable: below $30!
Movies and Manga
Guidance for Gift Givers: In 1979, a toy company called Clover sponsored Mobile Suit Gundam with the intent to use the show to advertise robot toys. Today, the show’s influence goes way beyond its initial role as a vehicle to sell toys! This section features the movies, shows, and manga (comics) that inspire Gundam model kits.
Mobile Fighter G-Gundam Part 1 Blu Ray
Almost 30 years after its release, G-Gundam gets the release it has always deserved. Remastered color and smooth audio make the latest Blu-Ray transfer the ultimate way to watch this cult classic. Want to learn more? Check out my review on Anime News Network.
Mobile Suit Gundam: Cucuruz Doan’s Island
This 2022 feature film takes the 1979 Mobile Suit Gundam’s “lost episode” and transforms it into a work of art. Watch how Director Yoshiyuki Tomino’s least-favorite episode becomes something special in this critically-acclaimed Gundam film.
Mobile Suit Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz: Glory of the Losers Vol. 1
Take a deeper dive into the world of Gundam Wing with this comprehensive manga that delves even further into the adventures of Heero, Duo, Trowa, Quatre, and Wufei. Closely following the story of the TV show, “Glory of Losers” also touches on each protagonist’s motivations and backstory in a way the anime didn’t have time to do. It’s required reading for diehard Gundam Wing fans. 14 volumes are now available!
Gundam Thunderbolt: Bandit Flower Blu Ray
2019’s first Gundam film release picks up where Gundam Thunderbolt: December Sky left off. This gritty look at another battlefront of the One Year War is a visually-arresting piece of art. Just keep in mind, this jazz-infused drama is a little too violent and sad to be fun for the whole family.
Mobile Suit Gundam 00 Blu-ray Collection 1
16 years after it first came out on the SyFy channel in the United States, you can watch Mobile Suit Gundam 00 on a crisp Blu-ray transfer. You’ve never seen Setsuna F. Seiei and co. look or sound so clear. It’s a great way to rewatch or check out the show for the first time.
Tools and Accessories
Guidance for Gift Givers: Modern Gunpla kits snap together with no glue, and they don’t require paint. However, builders sometime do additional work anyway to make models look their best. Check in with your giftee to see if there’s a preferred process they have or a new skill they’re hoping to learn so you don’t buy them redundant tools.
Vallejo Model Color – Basic USA Paint Set
We recommend the Vallejo Model line (not the Game line) as a bright, long-lasting set for people looking to start painting their Gunpla. These low-cost paints are versatile enough for both hand painting and airbrushing (with a little paint thinner in the mix) so they’ll work for any approach you want to take.
Badger Aspire Pro Compressor
Badger doesn’t pay us to talk up their products but maybe they should. Two different Gunpla 101 contributors independently came to the same conclusion: their tools can’t be beat. Megaplamo said when he updated to the Badger Aspire Pro Compressor, “the experience was like night and day.”
Self-Healing 5-Layer Cutting Mat
In almost every Gunpla 101 tutorial, you can see us and our contributors work on a trusty craft mat. A self-healing mat will keep its tough exterior no matter how many nippers, craft knives, and corrosive battle damage substances you throw at it. We love this one in bright blue!
God Hand Ultimate Nipper
This is the not-so-secret weapon that got us through our PG Gundam Unicorn. It’s unparalleled among nippers, with the thinnest, sharpest blade allowing you to achieve the most precise cut. Use a pair of these to snip pieces out of their sprues, and you can leave your usual X-Acto knife step out of the equation!
Badger Patriot Airbrush
As outlined in our airbrush guide from Otaku on a Budget, this American-made airbrush model is the best bang for your buck. It’s very adjustable and works with a variety of paint types. Not only is it long lasting, but its replacement parts are easily available and affordable, making it so you can use this airbrush indefinitely.
Previous Gunpla 101 Holiday Gift Guides
Holiday 2014
