Gunpla (a word that mixes “Gundam” and “plastic”) is a huge hobby. If you build models of any type there is a very good chance you’ve built or at least very seriously considered buying a Gundam model kit.
For starters, they are just cool looking. Big robots with shields and rockets and laser cannons, seriously cool designs and an animated history that goes back to the 70s. It’s model hobby royalty, and they have only grown in popularity over the years.
Made by Bandai, a Japanese juggernaut of figure and model production, as well as the publishers of many of our favorite games and cartoons from Japan, these model kits are some of the most complex and interesting things you can build. The MG NT-1 Alex 2.0 is from a classic 6-episode miniseries called “A War in the “Pocket” that aired in 1989, this is one of the great classic suits from the series. Originally designed for the original Gundam protagonist, Amuro Ray, the NT-1 Alex draws its roots straight from the original source, and the lines and colors of the design show a deep connection to the original RX Gundam from that first show.
Let’s say you don’t know anything about the Gundam show. Anime has never been your thing … totally understandable! If you’re a model builder, this should still be on your list. If you’ve never built Gunpla it might help to go over some of the things that make them so unique. First, there is a nice and easy way to know how complex your build is going to be by a two-letter rating system. The kits go from “Entry Grade” or EG, to High Grade (HG) to Master Grade (MG) to Real Grade (RG) and finally to Perfect Grade (PG).
Entry grade is exactly what it sounds like. Very simplified and streamlined to help newcomers to Gunpla learn the basics. These are usually very cheap and can be built in one sitting without much trouble.
HG Sets are slightly more complex, but among regular builders they are considered the most simple. They come in at 1/144 scale, making them fairly small, about 5 inches tall in most cases. The MG sets are much more detailed and larger at 1/100 scale, or about 7.5 inches tall. These sets are a huge leap in detail and presence. The RG sets are a combiniation of HG and MH, giving you the smaller 1/144 scale models with a ton of detail and complex builds.
Finally, Perfect Grade sets are the pinnacle of the Gundam craft. They are a whopping 1/60 scale, or around 12 inches tall, and they utilize the most complex engineering and crafting techniques of all the sets.
This one is a Master Grade so we get a larger model with good detail. On these larger kits, there is a huge amount of really cool engineering that goes into these things. The first step to most builds is to build the inner frame elements that the outer armor sits on. These inner frames can be extremely complex, but the MG NT-1 Alex is fairly simple, which is one of the reasons I like this model so much.
That inner frame is either built entirely separately in some kits, or it is built in parts as you move from section to section, meaning you never actually see the entire inner frame on its own. Like with most Gundam kits, you’ll start with the chest segment, which includes a tiny little pilot figure that sits in the core. Then you build out from there to the head, arms and legs.
If you are coming here from another model building hobby, it might surprise you to know that there is absolutely no glue required for these sets! The whole thing is snap-tight. Now I do know that snap fit models in other genres are notorious for being the cheapest and least good-looking sets out there, but these are different. The molds are so precise that every piece fits perfectly into the next, snug and stable. Keep in mind that these are posable figures, so not only are the snap fittings solid, but they can also hold up to a lot of jostling and bending. The joints and the MG sets are solid and reliable and there is usually more than just the standards points of articulation, many sets including armor panels and cockpits that hinge open for display!
The NT-1 Alex comes with a fairly unique gimmick, though. I mentioned that the inner frame is fairly simple, which does make this a slightly easier MG set for those breaking into the hobby or the Master Grade, but on top of all the standard armor there is a second layer of heavy armor with its own sub-frame to hold it in place! The base Alex is a clean-lined brightly colors homage to the original Gundam. But once you fit the outer armor to it, it becomes a big, lumbering tank, looking distinctly more military than its light form.
The outer armor comes in two stages. First, a light outer frame that snaps over the original Gundam’s primary plating. This looks very industrial and skeletal, and makes it easy to create “battle damage” scenes by leaving off heavy armor sections to show the inner frame. The second stage is the actual armor plating which completely transforms the original clean lines of the Alex into something bulky, imposing and gray.
The NT-1 Alex also comes with full sheet of decals. These are standard sticker decals, though, and not the water-slides a normal hobbyist might expect. So these, I’d say, are only good for builders who don’t mind having visible sticker lines on their set. There are third party water-slide decal sheets made for this model that aren’t expensive, so I’d recommend going for that.
If you’re completely new to model building, this set might be a little complex for you, but if you really want to start with a Master Grade set, this is a really good one to start with. In this case, though, it’s important to know that you might need a couple of extra things to make this model look its best. First thing is either a craft knife like an exacto and/or a “nipper” which is a tool made to safely extract the model parts from the plastic runners they are stored on. These are really important so you can avoid having a bunch of little divots in your parts where the plastic tears away from the runner. The craft knife is the most important of the two, since it can do the work of a nipper, but it is needed for shaving off the little imperfections. The net tool you’ll want is something called “panel liner” This comes as a bottle of very watery paint or as a set of super-fine pens. This is for darkening the crevices between angles on your Gundam, which makes the model look much better. I’d normally say painting should be saved for when you really get good at building these kits, but the panel lining is such an important part for making them look good, I’d almost go as far as to say it’s necessary.
As far a Gundam sets go, this is an excellent middle-ground set. Not too complex, not too simple, and with links to a classic time in the source show’s history. It’s not too pricey, going for $61.19 on Amazon, and will make a great addition to any collection, or a wonderful one-off item for your desk! Once you get really into the craft, it has two sets of armor to paint, too, so it can be a great customization project down the line! That’s one nice thing about these snap-fit models, even after you build them, you can take the armor off and re-paint it, no problem! If you’re looking to get into a new hobby and you’re already a little experienced with model building, this is a great place to start!
About the Author:
Ever since a young George was disappointed with a toy that did match up to the advertising, he became a tireless advocate for consumers. He’ll review anything that folks have to spend their hard-earned dollars on. George is grateful that he gets to use his skills as a writer and an artist to help connect with consumers and help them make the best decisions possible.
This article is for informational purposes only and reflects the author’s independent opinion. Readers should verify details directly with the manufacturer or retailer before making a purchase decision.
