I recently got into building Legos and Gundams, and holy smokes are they fun. I’ve always liked working with my hands, yet as a kid I always tended to watch my brothers build thing and not participate myself. I started building a couple small Lego packets and it wasn’t long until I was introduced to building a Gundam. Building is extremely entertaining and looking at the the finish product is so rewarding. If you are a hands on person, I’d highly recommend you to build this Perfect Grade Bandai Gundam.
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MBF-P02 Gundam Astray Red Frame
This Seed Astray Red Frame Gundam is available for purchase on Amazon. The Red Frame Gundam model is from the manga series Gundam Seed Astray. It’s piloted by Lowe Guele from the Junk Guild. In the series there are three particular MBF-P0x model suits which include: MBF-P03 Astray Blue Frame, MBF-P01 Astray Gold Frame, and of course this Gundam, MBF-P02 Astray Red Frame.
Different grade levels
When it comes to building Gundams, there are a total of 5 different types you can choose from.
- High Grade (HG) – High grade comes in two scales: 1/144 and 1/100 (about 5″ tall [13cm] and 7″ tall [18cm]). Building this type of Gundam comes with moderate detail and setup. Collectors often have many HG as these have the most variety of Gundam models and are small while also being affordable.
- Master Grade (MG) – If you’re looking for more of a challenge and greater detail, next up we have Master Grade. The scale for these are 1/100 (about 7″ tall (18cm). These often have more mechanics and an inner skeleton that makes them so much fun to build. Compared to the High Grades, the Master Grades contain a number of additional intricate parts that add to the realism and fun factor.
- Perfect Grade (PG) – This is the grade that I built for this post. The scale is 1/60 (just under a foot tall (30cm). PG has the highest quality and best mechanics of all Gundams. These are more expensive than the previous two grades, but well worth the money in my opinion. The detail and engineering is exceptional. It stands much taller than any other Gundam, has the most pieces, and usually comes with added details such as small lights to incorporate into the build. Although I am still a beginner, this build level was the most fun for me. I would highly recommend this grade to anyone that loves working with their hands.
- Real Grade (RG) – Real Grade is similar to perfect grade but in a 1/144 scale. There is great detail while only standing 5″(13cm) tall.
- Super Deformed (SD) – SD are the chibi (mini) versions of Gundams. They are the cheapest and have the least amount of assembly required.
How to read the manual
All Gundams come with a step by step manual that instruct the builder on how to assemble the Gundam. But wait a minute… it’s all in Japanese. How do I read this?! Fear not, here is a simple break down on what these mysterious symbols mean.
Repeat this step two times
Do this step last
Do this step first
Pay attention to orientation
Cut out this part
Place sticker on
Tighten the screw, be careful
Rotate according to the numerical value
Attach same on both sides
Choose one to attach
Time-Lapse
This took me about 7 hours total to build. Those who are more skilled, can most likely finish this model much quicker, and those who are more perfection oriented could take longer. However, I want to stress that it’s not about the speed, but how much joy you can have whilst building! There are a lot of experienced builders out there who even paint their models and add custom details so the end product outshines the original. Maybe I’ll get there someday, but for now, I just want to enjoy building the kits as they are.
Perfect Grade Bandai – Final Thoughts
This Perfect Grade Gundam is great for everyone that enjoys building and using their hands. I only recently realized how much fun this hobby is and I’ve already bought a couple more models to play around with. What I love most about the Perfect Grade (PG) is not only the amazing detail and awesome mechanics, but the larger size pieces makes putting it together all the more satisfying. Anyone that can follow instructions can do this build. I highly recommend this build; the construction process was super fun and the finish product is so satisfying to look at. If you’ve enjoyed this post, please check out my DIY Samurai Dog Cosplay. Hope you enjoyed this review, till next time!
