Construction of Bandai SD Gundam Aerial

Gundam is a Japanese anime series where the featuring mechas (piloted giant robots) are referred to as ‘Gundam’. The anime has been around since forever (40-50 years) and so have the plastic kits!

In the Gunpla world (all plastic kits from the Gundam Universe), the Gundams are available at different grades. In short – the more detailed and realistic the model, the more difficult it is to build and the higher the price. The following grades are available:

GRADEDESCRIPTION
SD Mini (SD – Baby Gundam)Baby versions of the normal models that are fun and quick to build. Perfect for those new to the hobby.
Entry Grade (EG)1/144 scale entry level kits that are beginner friendly.
High Grade (HG)1/144 scale, more parts and details compared with EG. This grade has the most extensive lineup.
Real Grade (RG)1/144 scale, highly detailed Gundams with richer colours, more movement, and texture giving a realistic finish.
Master Grade (MG)1/100 scale, larger scale models featuring more intricate details with greater posability.
Perfect Grade (PG)1/60 scale, the most advanced line of Gunpla offering exceptional detail and realistic articulation.

Today, we are building the baby (SD) version of the Aerial Gundam.

No painting is required. This kit comes with pre-coloured parts and stickers.
No cutters are required. You can remove the parts from the sprue by pushing/twisting them out.
No glue is required. All the parts snaps together. Since they are not glued, you can also pull them apart again if you make a mistake.
The stickers are added as you build.
This is the head complete.
The stickers adhere very well to the plastic. Sometimes it folds round the edges, as shown here. We find the best way is to first line up the sticker to the top corner, then bend and smooth it out round the edges.
All the body parts are complete. The ball joints allow the Gundam to be arranged in different poses.
The finished Gundam with its weapons.
To illustrate the scale, here is the SD Aerial Gundam with the realistic looking 1/144 scale HG Aerial Gundam.