Goddamn! I Built a Gundam!

19 August 2025

Box art for the Bandai RG 1/144 scale model kit of RX-78-2 Gundam Ver. 2.0. The image shows a close-up of the Gundam’s head on the left and the full figure standing with shield and beam rifle on the right. Logos for Bandai Namco, Bandai Spirits, and the 45th Gundam anniversary are present, along with text identifying it as an E.F.S.F. prototype close-combat mobile suit.

So after years of scrolling Reddit, seeing these amazing Gundam builds, and thinking, “Yeah, nah, way too fiddly for me,” I finally cracked and bought one (or two). And now I’m sitting here, looking at photos of this little plastic dude on my cutting mat, wondering how the hell I actually pulled it off.

Picking My First Kit (aka: Jumping in the Deep End)

Of course, being me, I didn’t start small. Oh no. I grabbed the BANDAI RG 1/144 RX-78-2 GUNDAM Ver 2.0 – a Real Grade. Turns out RG is like the big leagues, way more advanced than High Grade, with microscopic bits that love to ping off into the carpet. Did I know that beforehand? Absolutely not. But if you’re going to dive in, might as well belly flop straight into the deep end.

Apparently, this is THE Gundam – the original from the first series. Even without knowing a single thing about the lore, that red, blue, white, and yellow just screams “main character energy.”

The Build (or, Me Learning Patience the Hard Way)

Straight away, I was hooked. Everything just snaps together, no glue, no mess. Every click is weirdly addictive.

A close-up of a hand holding a tiny Gundam model headpiece, painted in white, red, and grey with yellow eyes and V-fin antennae. The background shows a green cutting mat with a grid pattern, commonly used for scale modelling.

Starting with the head blew my mind. All that detail in something the size of my thumbnail – tiny vents, those big yellow eyes, the V-fin. It felt like LEGO, but on hardcore mode.

Then the torso clicked together, and suddenly it wasn’t just plastic sprues anymore, it was a proper model. Blue chest, red body, yellow vents, and I kept stopping to take photos because I couldn’t believe it was actually coming together.

A close-up of a hand holding the partially assembled torso and head of a Gundam model kit. The figure has a white head with red and grey details, blue chest armour with yellow vents, red lower torso, and two grey cannons on its back. The background is a green cutting mat with a grid pattern.

Holy Details, Batman

A partially assembled RX-78-2 Gundam model kit standing on one leg in a dynamic pose on a green cutting mat. The model has its torso, arms, and one leg attached, painted in its classic colours of white, blue, red, and yellow. In the background are hobby supplies, paints, and the model’s instruction manual. — Tis but a scratch! Just a flesh wound

By the time I had the whole body standing up, I was spotting all these clever little design tricks. Shoulder joints that actually move, colour separation that means you don’t even need to paint, and armour that looks like armour. Whoever designed this kit is a wizard.

And the shield. Mate. Bright red, yellow cross, crisp white border, pure iconic. Clipping that on was the moment it truly became a Gundam.

A close-up of an RX-78-2 Gundam model kit holding its large red shield with a yellow cross emblem. The Gundam is posed with one arm raised behind its head, and the shield covers most of its body. The background shows an instruction manual slightly out of focus on a hobby workbench.

Lessons Learnt (by Stuffing Up)

First lesson: patience. Every piece needs to be snipped, cleaned, and slotted in carefully. Rush it and you get stress marks in the plastic – which, fun fact, look awful.

Second lesson: respect the engineering. The way these parts fit, the way joints flex without falling apart, it’s genius. I’ve built plenty of IKEA furniture that felt less solid than this little plastic mech.

Third lesson: Don’t expect these kits to be like your old Airfix kits. Nice plane at the end of an evening of glueing and decal application. They take time and demand respect. I timed myself on the right arm and shoulder assembly… It took me over two hours to cut, clean, sand, and assemble all THIRTY-TWO pieces.

The Finished Gundam

A completed RX-78-2 Gundam model kit standing on a green cutting mat, posed with one arm raised behind its head in a casual stance. The model features its classic red, blue, yellow, and white colour scheme with red feet. The background shows hobby tools, paints, and supplies on a workbench. — RX-78-2 serves bold primaries with a pop of red heel

A completed RX-78-2 Gundam model kit standing on a green cutting mat, holding its large red shield with a yellow cross emblem. The model’s white, blue, red, and yellow armour is visible, and the background shows an open instruction manual and hobby workspace. — RX-78-2 stuns in a bold crimson shield with gold cross detailing

So here it is, standing proudly like it’s about to defend the Earth Federation (don’t ask me what that is, I still haven’t watched a single Gundam show). It’s not just a model, it’s proof I actually finished something tricky without giving up halfway. And it looks mint on the shelf.

Box art for the Bandai HG 1/100 YF-29 Durandal Valkyrie (Maximilian Jenius Use) Full Set Pack model kit from Macross. The artwork shows the blue Valkyrie mecha in both fighter jet and humanoid modes, equipped with large cannons, flying in space against a glowing starfield background. Logos for Bandai Namco, Bandai, Big West, and Macross are visible along with scale and age rating details.

Already have my next kit sitting on the bench waiting. Bandai HG 1/100 YF-29 Durandal Valkyrie. Maybe I should finally watch an episode of Gundam so I know who these guys actually are.

Would I Recommend It?

Absolutely. But maybe don’t be a muppet like me and start with a Real Grade. Grab a High Grade kit first, get a feel for it, and then work your way up.

You don’t need to be a diehard fan. You don’t need to paint or mod anything. Just building one out of the box is hours of fun, and at the end, you’ve got something genuinely cool to show off.

Welcome to Gunpla. It’s fiddly, it’s addictive, and it makes you feel like a mix between an engineer and an artist, one tiny bit of plastic at a time.