High Grade (1990)

High Grade or HG is a line of Gunpla kits of the Mobile Suits from the Universal Century timeline in the Gundam meta series. The first variation of the HG line, it was introduced in 1990 to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Gunpla, featuring the first four main Gundams in 1:144 scale redesigned with the latest molding technology at the time. Improvements include snap-fit assembly, polycaps for the joints, clear plastic for the eyes, System Injection (a molding process where two or more colors are injected in one sprue or part to minimize the need to use paint), and gimmicks not found in the original kits. Each kit includes an instruction booklet with artwork by Hajime Katoki, who contributed to the redesign of the kits in this line.

Modelers in Japan refer to this line as "Old HG" (旧HG, Kyū HG^?) to distinguish it from the more recent HG lines.

Lineup

HG #	Model	Series	Yen Price	Release Date	Notes
1	RX-78 "Gundam"	Mobile Suit Gundam	¥1,000	1990 March	The first HG kit ever released. Uses "MS Joint", a polycap-based skeletal frame for the upper torso and legs. Includes a transformable FF-X7 Core Fighter.
2	MSZ-006 "Zeta Gundam"	Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam	¥1,200	1990 May	First transformable HG kit. Transformation design is derived from the 1/144 MSZ-006C1 Ζ Plus C1 kit from Gundam Sentinel. See also MSZ-006 Zeta Gundam (Wave Shooter Equipment Type).
3	RX-178 "Gundam Mk-II"	Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam	¥1,000	1990 July	Uses the same MS Joint parts as HG-01.
4	MSZ-010 "ZZ Gundam"	Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ	¥1,500	1990 July	Capable of transforming into the Core Top, Core Base, and G-Fortress. Includes a transformable FXA-07GB Neo Core Fighter.

HG G-Saviour

In December 2000, Bandai released a single HG kit for the live-action film G-Saviour.

HG #	Model	Series	Yen Price	Release Date	Notes
1	G-SAVIOUR G-Saviour Space Mode	G-Saviour	¥1,500	2000 December

Yen price excluding 5% tax (8% from 2014 onwards).

Trivia

• This series introduced the format that would later be used as the standard HGUC box packaging: Black background, MS name printed in Impact bold font with a colored square before it, and a gold stripe on the side panels.
  • The yellow-orange square used on the RX-78 Gundam became the standard series color for HGUC kits from Mobile Suit Gundam, MSV, 08th MS Team, MS IGLOO, Harmony of Gundam, Blue Destiny, and Battlefield Record U.C. 0081.
  • The green square used on the RX-178 Gundam Mk-II is the standard series color for HGUC kits from Zeta Gundam, Zeta MSV, and Advance of Zeta: The Flag of Titans.
  • The purple square used on the MSZ-006 Zeta Gundam was reassigned to the HGAC kits from Mobile Suit Gundam Wing.
  • The blue-green square on the MSZ-010 ZZ Gundam was replaced by orange for the HGUC kits from Gundam ZZ.

See also

• High Grade Universal Century
• High Grade Ver.G30th

External links

• Bandai Hobby Site (Japanese)