Gunpla Chronicle: 30 Years' History of RX-78-2 Gundam Plastic Models

Gunpla(GUNdam PLAstic model kit) celebrates its 30th anniversary this year. Successive models of RX-78-2 Gundam are on display at Shizuoka Hobby Show 2010, from the first ever Gunpla to the latest "RG" series.

Pics after the cut!
The first Gunpla, simply named "1/144 Gundam", was released in July, 1980.

About 125mm(5inch) tall, 300 yen (about $3.20, excluding tax). A revamped version of this model is currently available as "FG 1/144 Gundam RX-78-2" around the same price.

"1/100 Gundam" was released at the same time.

180mm, since Gundam is supposed to be 18-metre tall. 700 yen ($7.50).

"1/60 Gundam" was released in December, 1980.

About 30cm tall, 2,000 yen ($22).

"HG 1/144 RX-78 Gundam" was released in March, 1990 to commemorate Gunpla's 10th anniversary.

The legs and arms became shapely and its abs became more defined, compared to the very first model. 1,000 yen ($10.80).

Gunpla 15th anniversary model "MG 1/100 RX-78-2 Gundam", released in July, 1995.

"MG" stands for Master Grade. 2,500 yen ($27).

Premium Gunpla "PG 1/60 RX-78-2 Gundam" was released in November, 12,000 yen ($129).

"PG" stands for Perfect Grade, and the line is considered the ultimate Gunplas. Some models in the line consist of more than 1,000 parts.

20th anniversary model "MG 1/100 RX-78-2 Gundam Ver1.5", released in June, 2000.

"MG" stands for Master Grade, , designed and made to higher standards than most other models. 3,000 yen ($32).

"HGUC RX-78-2 Gundam", released in May, 2001. 1,000 yen ($10.80).

"HGUC" stands for High Grade Universal Century. The line offers 1/144 scale models of classic mobile suits from the time around One Year War, with refined design made possible by improvement in plastic injection molding technology.

"MG 1/100 RX-78-2 Gundam Ver. Ka" released in December, 2002. 3,200 yen ($34.50).

Famous mecha designer Hajime Katoki supervised the design of this model.

"MG 1/100 RX-78-2 Gundam Ver.ONE YEAR WAR Animation Colour" released in July, 2007.

With colouring close to the TV anime. 3,200 yen ($34.50).

"MG 1/100 RX-78-2 Gundam Ver.2.0" released in July, 2008.

A revamped version of of the 20th anniversary model (Ver. 1.5). 4,200 yen ($45).

"HG 1/144 RX-78-2 Gundam Ver.G 30th" released in July, 2009 to commemorate the TV anime's 30th anniversary.

More detailed than the previous models in the same scale. 1,200 yen ($12.95).

"Mega Size Model Gundam" was released this March for Gunpla's 30th anniversary.

1/48 scale, 375mm (15inch) tall. 7,800 yen ($84).

New Brand "RG"(Real Grade) will be also introduced this year.

To be released on July 24 for 2,500 yen ($27).

1/144 scale. Might look bigger in the pics above, but that's because it's greatly detailed.

Displayed in a hangar.

Shows great mobility despite the relatively few number of parts (which means it's easier to assemble than MG or othe higher-grade series).

Weapons included in the kit.

Bone structure (left) comes fully assembled. You only have to snap it off from the sprue.

Package design.

Looks like the next model in the "RG" seriess will be Char's MS-06 Zaku II.

The 1/1 Gundam from Odaiba last year will be displayed in Shizuoka this summer.

Model of the 1/1 Gundam was also on display.

No, he's not mopping the floor. The beam sabre is cutting through the concrete block.

To be unveiled on July 24, 2010.