Gundam Merchandise – Mechs to Build Yourself
Before a Gundam gets to pose in a display case, it was a sprue full of individual parts – and that's exactly what its fans love. The story begins in 1979 with Yoshiyuki Tomino's "Mobile Suit Gundam": an anime series that portrayed giant robots for the first time as military hardware in a believable conflict, founding what's known as the real robot genre. The show's success grew into a franchise with countless spin-offs – and, starting in 1980, into a hobby that has connected model building and anime fandom ever since, thanks to Bandai's Gunpla kits. At Elbenwald you'll find Gundam model kits and figures for beginners and veterans alike. You don't need prior experience, just a bit of patience – the rest comes naturally by your second kit.
What's behind Gunpla?
The term is a portmanteau of "Gundam" and "plastic model" – and it describes a principle that has worked for more than four decades: the mobile suits from the series come as build kits in various scales and difficulty levels, from compact 1/144 kits to elaborate collector's models. Assembly is part of the fun – separating parts, deburring, watching a poseable figure emerge piece by piece, ready to strike dynamic poses afterward. Many fans don't stop at building: painting, panel lining, and custom modifications turn every kit into a one-of-a-kind piece. And because the franchise has continuously delivered new series, timelines, and mech designs since 1979, the workbench practically never runs out of supplies. Which scale and which series stand behind a kit is listed on its product page.
Frequently asked questions
What Gundam products does Elbenwald offer?
Mainly Gunpla model kits in scales like 1/144, plus pre-built figures and action figures for various Gundam series. Details on scale, scope, and series are listed on the respective product page.
What does Gunpla mean?
Gunpla is a portmanteau of "Gundam" and "plastic model." It refers to the model kits for the franchise's mobile suits that Bandai has produced since 1980 – in various scales and difficulty levels.
How long has Gundam been around?
The first series, "Mobile Suit Gundam" by Yoshiyuki Tomino, launched in Japan in 1979. Since then the franchise has grown to encompass dozens of series, films, and timelines, and is credited as the founder of the real robot genre.
Range overview
The centerpiece is the model kits in the puzzles & model kits department – from mobile suits to accessory sets with extra weapons and hands. If you'd rather enjoy the result already assembled, you'll find what you need among the figures and action figures. And since nearly every kit comes from the same manufacturer, it's worth checking out the Bandai brand page along with the collector lines from Tamashii Nations.
What else goes well with it?
If you love mechs, you're spoiled for choice: Evangelion tells the darker version of the genre, Code Geass the more strategic one. Transformation experts from the West wait at Transformers, and the Anime theme world gives you the full overview of Japanese series worlds – hangar expansion explicitly allowed.
