Real Grade [RG]

Real Grade [RG] sits between High Grade and Master Grade, and that's exactly the point. Bandai fits genuine inner-frame engineering into 1/144 scale, the kind of detail you'd expect from a bigger, pricier kit. Rivals Corner carries RG across Wing, Unicorn, Zeta and even Rebuild of Evangelion. Panel lines run deep. Poseability holds up in dynamic shots. Pick RG once you've outgrown High Grade but aren't ready for Master Grade's part count. Free tracked UK shipping applies on orders over £99.

The Grade Between High Grade and Master Grade

2010 marked Real Grade's debut, Bandai's answer to the gap between High Grade's simplicity and Master Grade's bulk. RG squeezes an actual inner frame into 1/144 scale, the same footprint as HG but with the skeleton usually reserved for bigger kits. Rivals Corner stocks RG across Wing, Unicorn, Zeta Gundam and the Rebuild of Evangelion line. You're not choosing a smaller Master Grade. You're choosing a different kind of kit entirely.

Build your first RG and the difference from HG shows immediately. Inner frame first, then armour panels click over the skeleton rather than snapping straight together. Poseability holds through a full range of motion, hips and shoulders included, not just the elbow bend HG gives you. Miss a frame step and the whole limb sits loose. Get it right and the model holds a dynamic pose without a stand. That's the RG payoff.

Which RG earns a shelf spot first? Gundam Epyon brings Wing's antagonist mech to 1/144 with a transformable beam whip. God Gundam packs G Gundam's martial-arts silhouette into the same compact frame. And Evangelion Production Model-01 brings the RG treatment across into Rebuild of Evangelion, sitting inside this same collection rather than a separate one. r/Gunpla debates RG vs MG constantly, so you're picking a side plenty of builders have already argued about. Stock moves fast on this line, so check availability before you commit to a specific mobile suit.

Fancy stepping up further? Master Grade [MG] adds even more part count and scale. Prefer to master the basics first? High Grade [HG] is the natural starting point before RG.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Real Grade better than Master Grade?

Neither is strictly better; they solve different problems. RG packs Master Grade-style inner frame engineering into a smaller 1/144 scale and a lower price point, so you get detail without the bulk or the higher part count. Master Grade goes bigger at 1/100 scale with more accessories and, often, more complex gimmicks. Pick RG if display space or budget matters more than raw scale.

What's harder to build, RG or MG?

RG is fiddlier in places, not necessarily longer overall. The smaller 1/144 scale means nub marks and frame joints are less forgiving than the same steps on a bigger Master Grade kit. Good lighting and a sharp side cutter make a real difference here. If you've built a few High Grade kits already, RG is a reasonable next step rather than a big jump.

Which Gundam grade is best for me?

Depends where you are in the hobby. Complete beginners tend to start with Entry Grade or High Grade, since both go together with fewer parts. Real Grade suits you once you want an inner frame and sharper articulation without moving up to Master Grade's price and part count. If money and shelf space are no object, Master Grade or Perfect Grade push detail further still.

What does RG mean in Gundam?

RG stands for Real Grade, one of Bandai's five main Gunpla grade lines alongside Entry Grade, High Grade, Master Grade and Perfect Grade. It launched in 2010 to mark Gunpla's 30th anniversary, built around fitting genuine inner-frame detail into the compact 1/144 scale usually reserved for simpler kits.

Do you stock Real Grade Evangelion kits?

Yes. Rivals Corner's Real Grade range includes Evangelion Production Model-00, Production Model-01 and Production Model-02 from Rebuild of Evangelion, sitting inside this same Real Grade collection rather than a separate Evangelion one. Worth checking stock directly on each product page, since Evangelion RG kits move quickly when they land.

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