Unbox the vintage Gundam model collection – battleships:
Bandai’s vintage collection of Mobile Suit Gundam battleship model kits represents a fascinating and often overlooked cornerstone of the Gunpla hobby, as while the humanoid mobile suits have always been the stars of the show, these ship kits were essential in building the vast, lived-in universe of the Universal Century, allowing fans to physically construct the very vessels that served as the backdrop for the series’ most dramatic space battles. Released primarily in the late 1970s through the 1980s, these kits transport builders back to a time when model-making was a more demanding but deeply rewarding craft, defined by the need for glue, paint, and a steady hand, and their enduring appeal lies not in modern engineering but in their historical significance and the tangible connection they provide to the golden age of anime model kits.
The most comprehensive and celebrated of these vintage releases is the 1/1200 scale series, which successfully captured the distinct silhouettes of the principal warships from both the Earth Federation and the Principality of Zeon. On the Federation side, builders could recreate the workhorse Salamis-class light cruiser and the imposing Magellan-class heavy battleship, which formed the backbone of the Federation’s space fleet and were a common sight in the defense of Earth’s orbital territories. The Zeon forces were equally well-represented with the ever-present Musai-class light cruiser, which served as the standard patrol and attack vessel of the Zeon fleet, as well as the massive Gaw attack carrier that functioned as a formidable airbase for Zeon’s atmospheric operations, and the sleek Zanzibar-class mobile cruiser, a vessel designed for speed and capable of carrying a small complement of mobile suits. Perhaps the most iconic ship of all, the legendary assault carrier White Base, which was the primary setting for much of the original anime series, was also a proud member of the 1/1200 fleet, and these kits were typically composed of around thirty parts that, once assembled, resulted in a compact model with the larger White Base reaching approximately twenty centimeters in length. True to the era, they required glue and paint to achieve their best appearance, and some kits even included additional value such as in-scale miniatures of mobile suits like the Ball and GM, which added a charming sense of scale and populated the flight decks of these impressive vessels.
For the truly colossal capital ships that defied easy scaling, Bandai offered a dedicated 1/2400 scale series, which was the perfect solution for representing the immense size of vessels like the Zeon Gwazine-class large battleship that served as the flagship of the Zeon fleet and the personal vessel of Sovereign Degwin Sodo Zabi, allowing its multi-tiered, fortress-like design to be captured in a manageable form. The White Base was also released in this scale, providing a consistent size for builders who wanted to compare the relative proportions of these iconic vessels, and these kits, often part of Bandai’s First Grade line, were released as early as April 1981 for the White Base and March 1983 for the Gwazine, and they remain a tangible connection to the hobby’s earliest days, representing a time when the Gundam franchise was still establishing its identity and these ships were at the forefront of the series’ world-building.
A significant evolution in the line came with the introduction of the EX Model series, which represented a leap forward in detail and presentation compared to the simpler earlier releases. This later line, often in a 1/1700 scale, was celebrated for its superior mold quality and the inclusion of a wealth of bonus features that enhanced the building and display experience. A standout example is the EX-23 set, which includes parts for both the Salamis and Magellan in a single package, allowing builders to assemble a complete Federation fleet formation that captures the essence of the Federation’s naval doctrine. These kits came with miniature RGM-79 GM and RB-79 Ball figurines, detachable shuttle units, and dedicated display stands for each ship, and the attention to detail and the added value of these accessories made the EX Model series a favorite among dedicated collectors. The EX Model line even expanded to include ships from other series, like the Argama from Zeta Gundam and the Albion from Stardust Memory, and it continued to be a source for highly detailed kits that celebrated the diverse naval architecture of the Universal Century.
These vintage battleship kits are cherished today not just as models but as historical artifacts that offer a direct, unfiltered connection to the early days of the Gunpla phenomenon. They represent a time when model-making was a more intensive but ultimately more personal craft, requiring the builder to invest significant skill and patience in gluing, painting, and detailing their creation, and the final result was a model that felt earned and deeply satisfying. Their nostalgic box art, which often features dramatic paintings of the ships in action, the challenge of assembly, and their direct connection to the foundational lore of the Gundam universe make them highly sought-after collectibles, and their scarcity on the secondary market only adds to their mystique. For the passionate fan or the dedicated modeler, adding one of these vintage ships to a collection is like preserving a piece of the golden age of anime model kits, a quiet but essential monument to the grand space opera that started it all, and they stand as a lasting tribute to the art and craft of an earlier generation of plastic modeling that continues to inspire collectors and builders to this day.
