MechaStellar Figures – Size and Scale

MechaStellar is meant to be played with your favorite mecha series and there are a lot of different options for model kits and figures out there.  This post is intended for players who want to setup a Super Robot Wars style Game using figures from different mecha series and different manufacturers.  We are going to cover different sizes and scales as well as a few different product lines should you wish to start or expand your collection of giant fighting robots.

For some players it will be important to have the right scale of miniatures when setting up a crossover / Super Robot Wars style game.  Aesthetically it looks nice seeing the broad arrange of heights in your giant robot army, it’s also quite helpful for remembering who has a larger size stat. 

Do note before we continue, that MechaStellar is balanced in such a way that Size really only comes into play for very large units (100+ Meters) so it is not critical in the slightest to have size accurate figures. This post is entirely for people who prefer a certain aesthetic while playing with some example photos throughout the post. 

If you have any questions about figures or sizes give us a shout in the comments below.

Versus movie

The first option for size and scale is the “Vs Movie”. In the 70s Toei would produce Vs movies of their best selling mecha franchises and even though on paper they were different sizes they were all roughly the same size on the big screen.  You can also consider this the SRW approach where everyone is super deformed and the same size (but they retain a Size stat which influences other stats). 

In the example above the mecha figures range from 18m, 57m to 120m yet are all displayed using figures that are ~5-5.5″

This is a great way to play the game since all your mecha figures will be around the same size.  It works even better if you decide to source most of your figures from one or two product lines or manufacturers to give a consistent aesthetic. In the photo above the Dunbine and Zeta Gundam are both from the Robot Spirits line while the Mazinger, Garada K7 and Doublas M2 are from the Go Nagai Anime Robot Collection.

Lastly we’ll showcase one of my favorite scales, small scale gashapon (capsule trading figures) which are often very cheap and work perfectly with existing 28mm tabletop wargaming terrain. Since most gashapon are usually around the same height it is very easy to set up a same height Vs Movie scaling with these. They’re also very easy to transport to your local FLGS.

Figures used

• Gundam 1/300 SOG – Burning and Master Gundam
• Mazinger Z gashapon
• Super Robot Wars Gashapon – Mazinger, Raideen
• Yuujin Robot Museum – GoShogun, Bryger, Machine Saurer
• Kotobukiya One Coin Figure – Big O and Big Duo
• Giant Robo and GR2

Approximate Scale

The next approach we’ll look at is approximate scale.  This is how we play most of the time for Super Robot Wars style games.  Most of the units fielded are around the same size but some units that are much larger (i.e. Daitarn, Gunbuster, Evangelions, King J-Der, etc.) are represented by a larger figure.  The larger figures don’t have to perfectly match scale, just be larger than normal.

To use an example if your Gundam (18m) figure is 2″ then when you want to field something like Combattler V (57m) or Daitarn 3 (120m) you use a larger figure anywhere from 3-6″.  Just try to avoid having such a massive different in height and width that it looks silly on the tabletop.  The goal here is to have figures that look good together, and when possible the larger robots are actually larger on the tabletop.  Here are a few examples.

In this example we have the original Gundam 18m as a 2.5″ figure, Bryger (Braiger) at 32m as a ~3″ figure, Getter-1 38m as a ~4.5″ figure and Daitarn 3 120m as a 6″ figure. The scales aren’t perfect but each robot is larger than the previous and its very easy to distinguish that on the tabletop. 

You could also have all the figures be the same size and just have Daitarn 3 be larger and that would be perfectly fine too.

Figures used

• Gundam 1/300 SOG
• Bryger (Braiger) Yuujin Robot Museum Gashapon (Trading figure)
• Getter-1 SMP (Super Minipla)
• Banpresto SRW Action Robo Daitarn 3 (6″)

Here we have larger Gundam’s around 3″ with the previous SMP Getter-1. Daitarn 3 was swapped out to an even larger version we had on hand. We also included an Eva 01 whose official height has changed over the years between 40m and 80m depending on the source material. So make it easy and use whichever height you prefer!

Figures used

• Gundam Standart – Blue Destiny Unit 1 and Exia Repair (1/220)
• Getter-1 SMP (Super Minipla)
• Revoltech Eva Unit 01
• Banpresto SRW Daitarn 3 (8″)

In this example Burning (God) Gundam and King Exkizer are around the same size figures even though they are 16.6m and 22m respectively. Next up we have Dangaioh who is 35m and represented by a 5″ figure, then Combattler V at 57m as a 6″ figure and lastly GoLion 60m at a 7.5″. 

In a perfect world GoLion and Combattler V would be the same height while King Exkizer and Burning Gundam would be slightly different heights. But we only care about approximate scale so we don’t sweat the small things.

Figures used

• Gundam Standart – Burning (God) Gundam
• Yuujin Trading Figure – King Exkizer
• Revoltech Dangaioh
• Soul of Chogokin Full Action (SOC FA) Combattler V
• Super 7 Voltron Defender of the Universe Ultimate Action Figure

Here’s an example with gashapon (capsule trading figures) as well as a small Voltron figures from Super 7 ReAction. Gundam and Mazinger are all small and the same size, while Getter Dragon, Raideen, Goshogun (all ~50m) and Combattler V (57m) are represented by figures that are ~3″. GoLion (60m) is the tallest at 4″.

Big O and Big Duo are similar to the Evangelion in that their apparent size tends to change depending on the episode. We prefer to represent them as larger figures, as does Moderoid who recently released a massive 8″ Big O kit.

Figures used

• Gundam 1/400 gashapon
• Banpresto Super Robot Wars Mazinger Z gashapon
• Super Robot Wars gashapon (various figures)
• Yuujin Robot Museum – GoShogun
• Kotobukiya One Coin Figure – Big Duo
• Revoltech Dangaioh
• Super 7 ReAction Voltron

Last but not least we have an example with 18m robots up front, 22-32m robots behind them, plus a hunched over 38m Getter-1. In the back row is Gunbuster, Daitarn and Combattler V.

The thing about approximate scale is it doesn’t need to be perfect and it’s okay if a few things aren’t correct. In the above for instance Gunbuster is 200m while Daitarn is 120m, yet they’re around the same height. That’s okay, the important thing is that both are represented by a figure larger than the rest of the board.

Figures used

• Gundam 1/400 gashapon
• Getter Robo Best Posing Figures
• Yuujin Trading Figures – GaoGaiGar
• Giant Robo OVA trading figures
• Anime Robot Collection Italia Combattler V and Daitarn 3
• Banpresto SRW Action Robo Gunbuster

That said here are some examples of what not to do

There are a few things not great here. First thing you’ll notice is that the Gundam model is drastically smaller, generally it’s best to have most of your models be around the same height when playing. In this example the Gundam is <2″ while everything else is 3″-5″.

The more important issue is that you have very tall robots represented by small models while the shorter robots are represented by very large models. It may not matter to a casual observer, but for a mecha fan it looks bizarre when the 18m Mazinger Z is a 5″ figure while the 60m GoLion is 4″ and the 57m Combattler V is 3″. Getter Robo being 38m should also be shorter than GoLion and Combattler.

That said if you dropped Getter and Mazinger this would be a great approximate scale for Gundam, Combattler and GoLion. Remember, it doesn’t have to be perfect.

Similar to the above picture this one also has scale all over the place. Mazinger and its Kikaiju enemies plus L-Gaim are ~18m and represented by ~5″ figures while the similar sized Gundams are 2.5″. Meanwhile Getter Robo 38m is only a 3.5″ figure and Billbine at 6m is a 5″ figure.

If you were to drop Getter and the Gundams, this would be a good example of a Vs movie where all the figures are around the same size.

Recommended Figure Lines

This section is meant for people who are just starting to collect figures or want to expand their existing collection with a new line of figures.

Model Kits

Model Kits for giant robots have been a huge part of the mecha hobby and really took off thanks to the runaway success of Mobile Suit Gundam (thanks to the runaway sales of the gundam plastic “gunpla” model kits). Bandai is the biggest manufacturer in this realm and the most common scales for gunpla kits is the HG Gunpla at the 1/144 scale (usually around ~5″) followed by the 1/100 scale for MGs (usually around ~7″).

In addition to their incredibly massive range of Gundam model kits they also do model kits for other franchises including large varieties of Votoms, L-Gaim, Code Geass and a smaller runs of Mazinger, Getter, Evangelion etc.

Kotobukiya is the other big manufacturer for mecha model kits. They do the Braves series (non scale though), Evangelion, Armored Core etc.

Last and certainly not least is Moderoid which specializes in doing low cost of entry but still nice model kits for a wide variety of popular and fan favorite mecha series. They even do a poll every year for Japanese and overseas customers on what they want to release in the following year. 

Moderoid has a wide range of franchises including most everything you’ll see in the MechaStellar roster currently (and some future units as well). The size depends on the model but many are around 5-6″ with Big O and Giant Robo are 8″.

• Mazinkaiser (+custom variants) and Shin Getter Robo (+ Dragon)
• Gaiking, Raideen and Daiouja
• Big O & Giant Robo
• Yuusha (Braves)
• Escaflowne, Scherezade, Alseides
• Dangaioh, Bryger (Braiger), Dai-Guard
• Dann of Thursday and El Dora V
• Xabungle and Brain Powered
• Nadesico’s Aestivalis
• Magic Knight Rayearth
• Zeorymer & Great Zeorymer

Super Minipla

If you enjoy model kits you may want to take a look at Bandai’s Shakugan Modeling Project or Super Minipla (SMP for short). This range has a wide range of Super Robots and a few Real Robots as well. Some standouts are Getter Robo, Daitarn 3, Combattler & Voltes V, GaoGaiGar, GoLion, Space Runaway Ideon, Xabungle, Panzer World Galient, Votoms, Blue Comet Layzner, Gurren Lagann.

Most of the figures are around 4-5″ in height with a few exceptions like the SMP King J-Der which is 12″ and a perfect accompaniment to your SMP GaoGaiGar and other Braves figures. The quality level is better than I expected for the low price range, they also have a few high end kits called “Alternate Destiny” which reimagines say Gunbuster or Exkizer with intricate detail.

The figures are cheap on release like most trading figures, and some stay reasonably priced on secondary markets. A three pack for Getter Robo can be found for 4200yen (~$30USD).  However, very popular or rare figures sell out and become expensive to find on secondary markets. The Box for Shin Getter-2 and -3 are very expensive for instance. 

Robot Spirits

If you’re mostly a Real Robot Fan aside from Bandai models kits / Gunpla you may want to check out the Robot Spirits line which has Gundam figures as well as a number of other series including Aura Battler Dunbine, Heavy Metal L-Gaim, Xabungle, Code Geass, Overman King Gainer and even Evangelion.

The figures are all around 5″ and match the height of your HG Gunpla or Gundam Fix Figuration figures. They’re good for people who don’t like putting together models, but of course as action figures with good articulation the price is higher than a model kit.

Chogokin

Gokin means alloy and Chogokin means super alloy, the enduring name comes from Mazinger who was made out of Super Alloy Z (Chogokin Z). For figures Gokin means the figure has diecast metal used in their construction, usually in the joints for enhanced durability and as some collectors really appreciate, added weight (commonly in the legs for balance) which is helpful when posing.

If you want to collect Gokin the figures will be around 5-7″ or around 8-11″ depending on the manufacturer (and price point) . 

Bandai’s Super Robot Chogokin (SRC) line is mostly 5-7″ while the Soul of Chogokin (SOC) line is around 7-11″ (with exceptions for each of course).  Other manufacturer’s such as Sentinel may have figures in both size ranges, Getter-1 is 6.5″ in height while Shin Getter Robo is 8.5″ tall.

Some other Gokin manufacturers include Evolution Toys, CCS Toys, Aoshima, Artstorm Pose+, Sky X studio, Bandai Metal Build which have beautiful figures and of course impressive price tags. Be sure to look through a few of them to see which producer has the aesthetics you like for your favorite super robot.

If you want to get into Gokin collecting check out the RoboJapan forums (https://robotjapan.proboards.com/) who do amazing reviews of various Gokin figures. You may also want to check out Brave Fortress (https://bravefortress.com/gallery-category/super-robots/) for a dedicated website with photos of various Gokin.

Gokin are a great choice for approximate scale or versus movie scale. Most SRCs are around the same height which is great for Versus movie scale while SOCs can do either Versus movie or Approximate scale depending on what you have in your collection. Some SOCs are all around the same height while the larger robots tend to be taller. 

Revoltech

Revoltech is a very popular brand that debuted in 2006 and has a wide range of mecha figures that are very good at posing. They were also inexpensive back then and even on today’s secondary market are still fairly cheap. My only hesitation in recommending them is that the tolerancing for the joints can make swapping hands a giant pain depending on the figure.

The figures are all 5″, have great posability and tend to be on the thinner side. A good choice for Vs movie.

Mixing manufacturers

One thing to be mindful of is different manufacturer’s also have different sculpts for how their own toys.  Revoltech for instance tends to be a bit thinner and more angular while something like a Super Robot Chogokin tends to be a bit thicker or blockier in its proportions. Putting a Sentinel or SRC Getter Robo next to a Revoltech Getter Robo looks a bit odd on the tabletop as seen above.

Generally when you select figures if you stick to one particular manufacturer or product line you wind up with a battlefield that has a nice aesthetic. On the left is an old Banpresto Shin Getter Robo which looks good next to the Banpresto Daitarn 3, Gunbuster or Great Mazinger. In the middle is the SMP Shin Getter Robo which looks great next to other SMP. Likewise the Revoltech Shin Getter Robo on the right looks good with other Revoltech figures.

They also work well when mixed in with other mecha figures. Remember, don’t sweat the little stuff. Just have fun and roll dice!