Anyone Here Into Gundam Figures?

[yzrider926]

So I started watching Gundam again recently and my soon to be 7 year old was asking if they made toys of the mobile suits. I know that they make models and such, but I was wondering if there was a toy line more like the cheaper Transformers. He has a few of those as well. I don't really want to shell out money for models that will get broken very easily. I also have younger kids so it's not like it will just be a 7 year old playing with them. I honestly know nothing about the Gundam kits or toy lines, but if someone could point me in the right direction or at least what to look for on EBay I would appreciate it.

Thanks.

 

[IcBlUsCrN]

Im sort of in the same boat between the shows and breaker video game i started to look at models. However im a lazy bastard that does not really want to build stuff so ive been looking for built model lots of the higher end stuff (larger and mg) on ebay kind of want a insta collection rather then piece meal it.
Iv seen some models up close and it does take some skill to make them loom good with all the detail.


first stop
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gundam_model

2nd look through
http://www.neo-geo.com/forums/showt...collect-toys-Action-Firgures&referrerid=25412
ask there as you have some collectors.

 

[herb]

I know they had figure's back when Wing was airing.

 

[Karou]

of the models I built I only kept my 144 kampher I made green.
there are better looking more expensive figures than that wing one above.http://www.toyboxcollection.com/reviews/gffexia/
I was barely paying attention. is this to just be a toy for your kid or shelf decoration...also no idea what gundam you're watching, all I've seen is wing and this

and the HyGogg clip that seems to be from the same series so I don't know if this

guy is something you would relate to/want.

edit:oops should have read! got to excited to google as something to accomplish so yeah the wing one is a way better non expensive kids toy.
what to look for on ebay? search gundam figure then hit lowest first then find one that looks like it won't break right away or lose all its parts...that last bit should be the hard part?

sd (superdeformed)!

are those kits or figures?
sorry to just add questions instead of helping!

 

[alsmoneo]

I have been building and collecting Gundam model kits since high school. The best place to go is not eBay but www.hlj.com I use to get a lot of my stuff there. The current models don't break as easy as the old kits from the 80's / 90's (and don't require glue). It really depends on which Gundam series your son is interested in. There are many grades for the its.. I'll list them below

RG = real grade. 1/144 (mini master grade level)
HG = high grade 1/44 to 1/100 (beginner level)
MG = master grade 1/100 (lots of detail mid to expert and for display)
PG = perfect grade 1/60 (expert level)

Hopefully this helps. Here is my collect below

 

[MrRoboto19XX]

I used to be really into building them back in the early 2000s, and recently tried my hand at a few master grade kits again. It's hard to give recommendations since you've said you have smaller kids around as well. If they're under five I'd be wary about the models since the smaller pieces can break off and become choking hazards. That being said, the action figures are less prone to breaking, but still have limbs that are removed incredibly easy (they pretty much pop right out).

If anything, I'd recommend some basic High Grade 1/144 scale models, and just snap them together without paint. They're not terribly expensive, and they should remain relatively durable depending on the particular model.

I'll also second Hobby Link Japan as an excellent site for ordering and that type of thing, their selection and prices are both pretty good.

 

[alsmoneo]

I also agree to start with the HG 1/144 kits from the more recent series, or you might want to start with the SD Gundam as well (the heads of the model are about the size of a 1/60). Some of them are really nice looking and have less parts.

 

[SouthtownKid]

Mostly models. There were some cheapo Wing toys back in the day, but I don't know if they can still be found for cheap. Pretty much all of the toys available now are more expensive and delicate than the models.

But there are a bunch of cheaper models that can be put together pretty easily. And if an arm pops off, it can just be popped on again.

Look for models called "First Grade" http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=fg+gundam&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Afg+gundam

or "No Grade" ("NG" -- NOT "MG")

or "Advanced Age" (the easiest). http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=advanced+gundam

 

[StealthLurker]

In terms of gundam toys and not models, you want to look up the Gundam DX line. They've been doing it for years but it always gets overshadowed by the models. There are also offshoots like the Gundam Fix Figuration, High Complete Model (HCM), etc.

Back in the early 2000s, Toys R Us here in America sold some really nice foot tall DX figures. Back then I was into japanese robot toys so really stocked up on them.

I was really impressed with the detail, pose-ability and yes durability. I've dropped them from a table and they were fine. Plus they were only like 25-30 bucks! Unfortunately not so today

Some of the nice ones:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/BANDAI-DX-M...352?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2edccd6eb0

http://dxrobo.com/tag/gundam/page/4/

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Bandai-DX-M...838?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item58af7fa3be

http://dennis-toys.blogspot.com/2011/12/dx-rx-93-nu-gundam.html

http://gundamph.com/2011/10/03/msia-dx-sazabi-12-inch-model-gundam-review/

The result of me raiding local Toys R Us stores back then. Most were picked clean, but some in more remote areas still had a few. I was more stoked about being able to finally pick up something I liked locally vs importing everything from Japan. An old pic from the early 2000s at my old pad.

Now if you want super durability, there's the Jumbo Grade line. They're about 20 inches tall and made of solid semi-soft vinyl. About 4 types were made. Back when they came out they were about 100-150 bucks, have gone up a bit since.

Overall never cared for the model kits (don't have the skills to do them up right) also not the biggest gundam fan (more Macross), but the toys caught my eye.

 

[LegoSlug]

So I started watching Gundam again recently and my soon to be 7 year old was asking if they made toys of the mobile suits. I know that they make models and such, but I was wondering if there was a toy line more like the cheaper Transformers. He has a few of those as well. I don't really want to shell out money for models that will get broken very easily. I also have younger kids so it's not like it will just be a 7 year old playing with them. I honestly know nothing about the Gundam kits or toy lines, but if someone could point me in the right direction or at least what to look for on EBay I would appreciate it.

Thanks.

I had a ton when I was a kid. They were made by Bandai, about 7-8 inches tall, action figure size. They cost around $12-15 bucks if I remember correctly. I have not seen them at stores since though. They had them for all the various shows/series that would be on cartoon network.

They were like this one: http://www.amazon.com/Bandai-Tamashii-Nations-Spirits-Gundam/dp/B004UPIN6O/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1431580902&sr=8-1&keywords=zaku+figure

Looks like they have a Gouf and an RX-78 too. Kinda want one now... haha.

EDIT: I can confirm those are the same scale as the ones when I was a kid. The GM Sniper says 12.5cm. That's about right, now that I look at a ruler.

 

[alsmoneo]

sd (superdeformed)!

are those kits or figures?
sorry to just add questions instead of helping![/QUOTE]

These are simple kits lol (but again with any model kits they are not going to be super durable... you drop them....they will come apart)

@Yzrider926 I guess i totally depends on what Gundam they are watching now. If they are more in the new stuff "Build fighters and stuff) they might be more towards pla-models. otherwise what StealthLurker suggest would be best.

@StealthLurker Your totally right I totally forgot about the HCM and the Jumbo Grades (as you mentioned super durable)

 

[yzrider926]

Thanks for all of the replies. I'll check out that site.

My kids are most familiar with Gundam 00 and Wing, just Endless Waltz. I'm waiting on them to release more of the older series so they'll eventually be more familiar with the UC timeline.

Either way I did a lot of googling yesterday and figured some 1/144 HG was they way to go. Figure it would be a fun activity for my son and I. There are some inexpensive ones still. I'll show him the site and ask which one he likes the best. I think I'll grab Char's Zaku from the Origin that they released recently for myself. I know to get them looking really nice it takes a lot of time and experience, plus painting. I'm not to worried about that right now though.

Those jumbo's would be awesome. Could fight his Unicron he got for Xmas, haha.

 

[yzrider926]

So I went ahead and ordered a few kits and some tools to get the job done. I ordered Char's Zaku from the Origin, A Wing 0 model from Gundam Wing, and my son wanted an Exia model from Gundam 00. That should be enough to keep me busy. I'm going to try and have my son do as much as he can on his. I know I'll have to help him with things, but you never know he may surprise me.

 

[Azra113]

I know there used to be action figures for G gundam. They would come with a 4-5 inch figure along with like 4 mini ones, but I have no idea how you could find those today.

As for kits I had bought 2 kits from China town back when was 16. I had Heavy Arms and Epyon.

I don't know if they were legit products or Chinese knock offs, but they broke pretty fast. These models are more like decorations then toys a kid could actually play with imo.

I never bothered painting my models. Do you intend to paint the models ?

 

[dullbuoy]

For gundam action figures (not kits) probably not suitable for kids due to them being pricey (and also there are a lot of very sharp edges on some of the robots), Bandai's Robot Damashii line of toys has some really good Gundam figures

 

[yzrider926]

Do you intend to paint the models ?

Just panel lining with a Gundam Marker, and top coating.