RX-78-2 Gundam: HG vs RG
If you want the RX-78-2 Gundam and cannot decide between the High Grade (HG) and the Real Grade (RG) version, here they are side by side on the things that actually change your decision: size, detail, how hard the build is, price, and who each one is really for.
RX-78-2 Gundam HAWKS Ver.
The same legendary frame in a colorway that makes you look twice on the shelf.
Affiliate link. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
RX-78-2 Gundam
The kit that proved a 1/144 could carry an inner frame worth caring about.
Affiliate link. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
What changes between HG and RG
Both are 1/144, so they take up the same shelf space, but the detail gap is large. High Grade is the affordable, quick, forgiving build, sometimes leaning on stickers for color and varying in articulation across its long history. Real Grade squeezes an inner frame, near-complete molded color separation, and realistic decals into that same small footprint, so it looks like a scaled-down real machine, at the cost of tiny, sometimes delicate parts and a fussier build. Go HG for value and ease, RG when you want maximum detail without stepping up in size.
Get the HG if
you want this suit affordably, want to finish it in an evening or two, or plan to build several kits without breaking the bank. It is the easy, everyday yes.
Get the RG if
you want the most detail you can get in a small 1/144 footprint, you are past your first few kits, and fiddly, rewarding assembly with a decal sheet sounds like the fun part.
We have built and graded both: the HG scored 7.8 and the RG scored 8.3 out of 10. Read the full reviews above for the detail behind the numbers.