Are Gundam Kits Pre-Painted? Let’s Clear Things Up
If you’re new to the world of Gunpla (Gundam plastic models), one of the most common questions you might ask is: “Are these kits already painted?” It’s an understandable curiosity, especially when you see the incredible colors and detail on the box art or finished builds online. The short answer? Gundam kits are not pre-painted, but they are pre-colored and that’s an important distinction.
Let’s break it down and look at how Gundam kits are produced, what you can expect out of the box, and how they’re great both for beginners and seasoned builders who love customising.
What Does “Pre-Colored” Mean?
When you open a Gundam kit box, you’ll find plastic parts on sprues (also known as runners) that are molded in a variety of colours. These parts are designed to snap together and match the appearance of the Mobile Suit as seen in the anime or manga—without the need for paint. Bandai, the company behind Gundam kits, has mastered injection moulding to the point where some parts even include multiple colours on a single runner. It's quite incredible.
Take the MG Gunleon as an example. This kit features excellent colour separation right out of the box. The orange, white, grey, and dark navy parts are all individually molded, so once you’ve assembled it, you’re already holding a model that looks remarkably close to the anime version—no painting required.
Are All Grades Pre-Colored?
Yes! Whether you’re building a beginner-friendly High Grade (HG) or a detailed and massive Perfect Grade (PG), you can expect all the plastic pieces to be molded in appropriate colours. Here's a quick look at how each grade handles colouring:
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High Grade (HG) – Great for beginners. Good color separation, usually needs a few stickers for fine details.
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Real Grade (RG) – Highly detailed with advanced parts separation, often includes color-accurate inner frame elements.
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Master Grade (MG) – Excellent color accuracy with deeper mechanical detailing. Inner frames and panel separation help avoid the need for paint.
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Perfect Grade (PG) – The ultimate display kits. Phenomenal color separation and structural complexity.
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Super Deformed (SD) – Chibi style kits. Simpler builds with fewer parts but still pre-colored.
No matter the grade, Bandai ensures that the kits look great assembled straight from the box.
So, Is Painting Necessary?
No, painting is entirely optional. You can build and enjoy your kit without ever touching a paintbrush or airbrush. That said, many builders choose to paint for added realism, weathering, or to personalise their builds. Painting can help you hide nub marks (leftover from cutting parts off the runner), enhance detail, or completely change the color scheme of the Mobile Suit.
Pre-coloured parts also make it easy to try panel lining and detailing, since you can experiment without worrying about a primer layer underneath.
If you’re interested in painting your kit or trying out new techniques, you can explore our full paints collection here.
What About Extra Finishing Touches?
Even without painting, there are a few things you can do to elevate your build:
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Panel lining – Use Gundam markers or fine liners to bring out the mechanical lines.
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Stickers & Decals – Many kits come with foil stickers or water slides for logos and finer detailing.
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Top Coats – A great finishing touch! You can use a flat, gloss, or pearl clear spray to seal your kit, reduce shine from stickers, or give it a smooth texture. If you’re curious about this process, check out our blog: Tamiya Top Coats Explained.
Tools for First-Time Builders
Even if you don’t plan to paint, a few simple tools go a long way in making your kit look cleaner:
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Side cutters/nippers
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Hobby knife for trimming
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Sanding sticks or files
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Tweezers for applying stickers
These tools help reduce nub marks and improve your overall finish without any paint involved.
Final Thoughts
So, are Gundam kits pre-painted? Not exactly, but they’re cleverly designed to look fantastic without paint. That’s one of the reasons Gunpla is so beginner-friendly. You get an amazing-looking model straight out of the box, but the sky’s the limit if you want to take it further with customisation and detailing.
Whether you’re just getting started or you’re a seasoned builder looking for your next project, there’s a kit that fits your style and your skill level.
Happy building, and don’t forget: sometimes the best detail is the one you add yourself.
Blog Summary Bullet Points
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Gundam kits are not pre-painted but pre-colored using injection-moulded plastic.
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All grades (HG, RG, MG, PG, SD) come with colour-separated parts.
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No paint is required to complete a great-looking kit.
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MG Kyrios is an example of excellent colour separation.
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Painting is optional and used for extra realism or custom looks.
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Panel lining, stickers, and top coats enhance the model further.
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Beginners can get great results using just basic tools.
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Explore paints and read about top coats for customising your kit.