Hey @aetios I have question for you since you love Modell-Building so much. I though I might ask you for some gift advice.

My Bro is turning 30 soon and he does like building GunPla-Kits from time to time. So I thought about buying a nice and more expensive model for him. It does not have to be a GunPla but thats what I somewhat know lol. It can be a bigger one, but painting is out of the question.

You have some recommends for me?

@stefan I need to get back to this. What kind of budget do you have?

@aetios Tbh I did not think all too much about it but 300€ at max I think, so I should be able to get something nice

@stefan with that budget you should look at the perfect grade models, they're the biggest and bestest gunpla models. they're around 130-280 euros.

@aetios I was eyeing for those exactly. Since they are bigger and more detailed. Also I am pretty sure my brother never would one like that for himself. So it seems like a great gift.

Any you can recommend in particular?

@stefan i dont have any myself because they're expensive. if it fits your budget I bet he will love to build the PG Unleashed, it's the original Gundam but turned up to the max. But all of them are supposed to be really good. I personally want the Mk II Gundam since I think that looks so good. But it's a bit of an older model. I'll take a look at some other options.

@aetios do you happen to have any images I could reference when buying? I am not like super into gundams myself ^^"

@stefan I will send some when I'm at work

@stefan

This is the PG Unleashed. It truly is 'the best' gunpla currently on the market. But quite expensive.

@stefan

The PG Mk II and Zaku II are a lot older kits, but still good.

some others are the strike freedom and the unicorn.

I dont know what series your brother likes to build. I am mostly into the original, more 'down to earth' grounded version of gundam but a lot of people like the more extravagant gundams like the strike freedom. If you happen to have a picture of his collection i can get an idea of what he likes

@aetios I will see that my sister makes a photo of the collection he has atm. I just there being a lot of white ones (yeah I know very helpful xD)

I will come back to you when I get that one.

@aetios Though I am pretty sure he does not have such an intricate one looking at the website xD: https://en.gundam.info/pgu-gundam


I will though come back with photos

@aetios The photo is kinda meh but it should be enough to get a gist I suppose?

@stefan

I would choose one from these. Whichever you like giving the most. - in no real order.

Perfect Grade Zeta Gundam
PG Gundam MK2 (RX178)
PG Unicorn (he has a smaller version of the unicorn already)
PG Unleashed (the incredibly detailed version I showed you, this would be the ultimate gift but also expensive!)

@aetios Thank you very much aety I really appreciate the recommends.

While the Unleashed seems like a great set (like damn the detail) its the most expensive of course. Though my brother has only a small scale Model of it. I don't think its the one.

Buying another Unicorn does not speak to me as well. (Especially since I could not figure which one you meant xD)

Personally I like the blue MK2 the most since it would some more color to the collection. There is also a point in going that unicorn instead as a big show piece of white.

Its kinda hard to decide. Though tbh the shops decide for lol. The Mk2 is not as easily found in stock atm.

@stefan If you really want to go for a splash of colour, you could go for the "Char's Zaku II" suit. It's all red and a real eye catcher. I'm a big fan of Char although he is the antagonist in the first series. It's quite a departure from the other suits though so that is why I didn't include it.

I would also add that the blue MK2 is also a 'bad guy' suit, but it does look extremely badass in that colour scheme. The more definitive scheme is the white one.

@aetios I will think about these options. I don't actually know how much of the series he has or has not seen. It could be just about big anime robots for all I know xD.

I think with these models its also about building. He did built the ones I gifted before as well. So I do not think it would matter that which one I get tbh. He might have fun building anyway. I may ask my sis which she thinks would look best.

@aetios is this one the zaku I am looking for?

@aetios Ignore the image. I will get the RX-178 Mk2 that one seems like a nice model

@aetios that is if I can find one

@stefan The rx178 a.e.u.g. (white version) is currently in stock at my hobby store, i think you should be able to find one. if you want i can help you search

@aetios I actually specificall did not want a white one D: I might look around a bit. The AEUG is readiliy availiable in stock it seems.

@stefan sadly, it doesn't seem like that one has been reprinted recently.

@aetios Ye I will have to look for somthing else I suppose. I did not want to buy another white one really. And that Zaku just looks so goofy to me xD

@stefan The zaku is a bit goofy but it's a very famous and loved design. imho the way it's posed in the promo pics doesn't sell it very well to people who aren't really familiar with the model.

This is a much more dynamic pose of the 'regular' Zaku II that shows what's it's got going for it much better (the regular PG kit doesn't come with all the weapons sadly). One of my personal favs :)

@aetios I have to say the green one does look less goofy than the red one atleast. So I might actually go for a Zaku still. The Weapons are a seperate purchase I suppose? What would I need to buy?

@stefan i think it was a separate limited edition kit, it will be hard to find

@aetios I see thank you for all that info atleast.

@stefan if you also wanna give the Mk2 gundam, the Master Grade is real nice and could fit in the budget next to the zaku ii.
https://www.o-gundam.de/gunpla/master-grade/1-100-mg-gundam-mk2-titans-ver-2-0-ca-21cm-gross_253_1184/

@aetios Yeah I thought just buying a second one in 1/100 as well.

@aetios Just to give you a heads-up. I know settled on the green Zaku. It was also on a slight discount being 117€ instead of 129€ (seems to be generally affordable for a PG dunno if thats good or bad though)

So I grabbed a 1/100 as well this one kinda caught my eye it looked cool from the pics: https://www.o-gundam.de/pre-order/full-mechanics-1-100-forbidden-gundam-ca-21-cm-gross_2524_3455/

Even though I have no clue what "full mechanics" is supposed to mean. Bought it since it looked cool.

Thanks again for all your help aety

@stefan fullmechanics seems to mean that it has a lot of gimmicks. it looks very cool, good choice.

The zaku is just a little older so its cheaper. Gets very good reception though

@aetios Either my brother will the detail or he will curse me for it. I just thought it looked cool with the scythe and stuff.

I literally scrolled through what the shop had in stock.

My wallet is hurt a lot this month since there is 3 people celebrating birthday