Bandai 30 Minutes Missions

[hachi]

Has anybody been following this line from Bandai? Is this based on a series or game? It has a simpler look compared to gunpla which makes it seem 'fresh' to me.

https://hlj.com/search/go?w=*&filter=itemgroup:30MM201903&cnt=30

[chyll2]

I dont think it is based on any series but the design are close to the current mobile suit designs they have. I am seeing that as a Frame - arts from Bandai

[Big s]

I checked them out last week while preordering some other items. I guess you buy a main robot kit and then you customize it with weapon sets and specialized armor sets. But I don’t know what it’s from if anything.

[hachi]

I was curious there seem to be lots of options. I hope it goes down in price later on after release so I can try it!

[Big s]

They don’t look expensive at all, but if they drop down in price I’d be tempted due to the customization options.

[Big s]

Thought these were more than an interesting addition to the line. Seems that Armored Core is gonna be customizable and will allow part swapping with other kits. 
here’s the first two kits and additional parts pack for their thirty minutes missions line

[Wolf-1]

To my knowledge 30MM is Bandai's way of attempting to mix models with gaming similar to that of Warcraft 40K.  Since I've never actually played the table-top, turn based systems I can't speak for how well the system works or doesn't.  I have seen these kits sold at Gaming stores typically dedicated to the miniature table games.  I have purchased a couple of the weapon packs and integrated them into my HG Gundam set-ups and one of their winged transports.  Lately, I have found that I'm gathering up their Bridge & Building sets to go along with my Tomitec buildings as well.

[Big s]

1 hour ago, Wolf-1 said:

To my knowledge 30MM is Bandai's way of attempting to mix models with gaming similar to that of Warcraft 40K.  Since I've never actually played the table-top, turn based systems I can't speak for how well the system works or doesn't.  I have seen these kits sold at Gaming stores typically dedicated to the miniature table games.  I have purchased a couple of the weapon packs and integrated them into my HG Gundam set-ups and one of their winged transports.  Lately, I have found that I'm gathering up their Bridge & Building sets to go along with my Tomitec buildings as well.

I haven’t seen anything related to gaming with the regular kits. Just a lot of model builders customizing them.

 think the Armored Core kits are the only ones with any type of attachment to really anything. 
 

All that being said, I’m sure a lot of builders use the kits or parts for gaming and if that’s what people want to do with them then that’s their choice. If they bought it and built it, then they can use them however they want

[renegadeleader1]

3 hours ago, Wolf-1 said:

To my knowledge 30MM is Bandai's way of attempting to mix models with gaming similar to that of Warcraft 40K.  Since I've never actually played the table-top, turn based systems I can't speak for how well the system works or doesn't.  I have seen these kits sold at Gaming stores typically dedicated to the miniature table games.  I have purchased a couple of the weapon packs and integrated them into my HG Gundam set-ups and one of their winged transports.  Lately, I have found that I'm gathering up their Bridge & Building sets to go along with my Tomitec buildings as well.

30mm is a reference to the socket hole on the kits that makes most accessories and add ons universal across Bandai's model kit brands as well as some other company's like Kotobukiya and Max Factory as well as the kits being relatively quick and easy to build hence the name 30 Minute Missions.

 

It absolutely 100% has nothing to do with the 30mm scale wargaming hobby.

 

That being said there is a relatively new game called MechaTop that integrates 1/144, 1/72, and 1/100 kits into a table top game that was inspired by Gundam Build Fighters a little while back.

[Big s]

53 minutes ago, renegadeleader1 said:

30mm is a reference to the socket hole on the kits that makes most accessories and add ons universal across Bandai's model kit brands as well as some other company's like Kotobukiya and Max Factory as well as the kits being relatively quick and easy to build hence the name 30 Minute Missions.

 

It absolutely 100% has nothing to do with the 30mm scale wargaming hobby.

 

That being said there is a relatively new game called MechaTop that integrates 1/144, 1/72, and 1/100 kits into a table top game that was inspired by Gundam Build Fighters a little while back.

I always just assumed that with the simple construction that it meant that it would only take 30 minutes to build. I guess I was wrong on that one

[Wolf-1]

14 hours ago, renegadeleader1 said:

30mm is a reference to the socket hole on the kits that makes most accessories and add ons universal across Bandai's model kit brands as well as some other company's like Kotobukiya and Max Factory as well as the kits being relatively quick and easy to build hence the name 30 Minute Missions.

 

It absolutely 100% has nothing to do with the 30mm scale wargaming hobby.

 

That being said there is a relatively new game called MechaTop that integrates 1/144, 1/72, and 1/100 kits into a table top game that was inspired by Gundam Build Fighters a little while back.

I didn't mean to imply that they were intended to go along with 30mm wargaming; only that I've seen people at gaming shops with the kits and running games.  I presumed that the games were designed to run about 30 minutes, hence the name.  This town has one shop that dabbles in Bandai's various model lines, 30MM included; in another shop in town, dedicated to tabletop gaming, the kids are getting together with these kits and doing things; whether or not it's official or some fad that has taken hold here locally I can't say, only that they are indeed being incorporated into tabletop gaming.  

[Big s]

The socket is only 3mm. I don’t know why that didn’t hit me earlier. 

[kajnrig]

Aw yeah, some more prototype shots of Kotobukiya's 30MM... Armored... Core... wait a minute!!!

Yes, that's Kotobukiya's (presumably 1/72 scale) model kit also of the Steel Haze, Rusty's AC from Armored Core 6. I imagine it'll be a size class bigger than the 30MM and feature a more involved build because of it. I wonder if it'll have blade effects parts as well...

[Valkyrie Hunter D]

Time for some necromancy.  I've been recently gifted with a tall stack of 30mm kits; a friend is reducing his backlog and is in turn increasing mine.  The 30mm line has been steadily growing for the past few years and some of the custom designs I've seen from the huge selection of available parts look outstanding.  I opened up a couple of kits and started playing around with them:

The head is from the Kotobukiya Modeling Goods line, and I still have to paint it.  I had to do some mods to make it work though, Koto's heads attach differently than the stock 30mm heads.  I totally dig this head, it looks like something from a 90's arcade game.  I think I'm a 30mm fan now .

Edited January 19 by Valkyrie Hunter D

[Bolt]

That looks pretty cool. I've been noticing those 30mm kits as of late , in my ongoing "quest for cool kits".

[Big s]

3 hours ago, Valkyrie Hunter D said:

Time for some necromancy.  I've been recently gifted with a tall stack of 30mm kits; a friend is reducing his backlog and is in turn increasing mine.  The 30mm line has been steadily growing for the past few years and some of the custom designs I've seen from the huge selection of available parts look outstanding.  I opened up a couple of kits and started playing around with them:

The head is from the Kotobukiya Modeling Goods line, and I still have to paint it.  I had to do some mods to make it work though, Koto's heads attach differently than the stock 30mm heads.  I totally dig this head, it looks like something from a 90's arcade game.  I think I'm a 30mm fan now .

That seems like a pretty cool kitbash and still within the spirit of the line

[Valkyrie Hunter D]

Thanks gents! And Bolt, in your quest for cool kits, also check out an offshoot of the 30MM line, the 30 Minutes Fantasy kits.  Instead of mecha, 30MF kits use classes of fantasy characters like warriors, knights, and mages.  I didn't pay much attention to them until I saw one on sale and bought it on a lark:

This guy is whole head taller than the completed 30MM mech at around 6 inches, and would be in good company with the average 1/12 scale action figure. I had fun building this "Rosan Fighter", and it's given me good practice with panel lining.  Gotta love the dad bod on this guy.

Edited January 20 by Valkyrie Hunter D

[Big s]

8 hours ago, Valkyrie Hunter D said:

Thanks gents! And Bolt, in your quest for cool kits, also check out an offshoot of the 30MM line, the 30 Minutes Fantasy kits.  Instead of mecha, 30MF kits use classes of fantasy characters like warriors, knights, and mages.  I didn't pay much attention to them until I saw one on sale and bought it on a lark:

This guy is whole head taller than the completed 30MM mech at around 6 inches, and would be in good company with the average 1/12 scale action figure. I had fun building this "Rosan Fighter", and it's given me good practice with panel lining.  Gotta love the dad bod on this guy.

Oddly, it’s like some race of robots found a world that was more fantasy based and they armored up and learned magic. Some interesting extras like treasure chests and dragons and enough stuff to set up a shop diorama with all the extra armor and weapons and stuff

[Big s]

Looks like some Hobby Town locations are doing a builders workshop and you get to build the basic rookie soldier kit from 30m Fantasy for free. Just got the email from hobby town this morning. Not sure if it’s every location or just certain ones

[Valkyrie Hunter D]

On 1/20/2026 at 5:27 AM, Big s said:

Oddly, it’s like some race of robots found a world that was more fantasy based and they armored up and learned magic. Some interesting extras like treasure chests and dragons and enough stuff to set up a shop diorama with all the extra armor and weapons and stuff

Yep, and apparently robots like to guzzle down tankards of ale:

On 1/27/2026 at 12:16 PM, Big s said:

Looks like some Hobby Town locations are doing a builders workshop and you get to build the basic rookie soldier kit from 30m Fantasy for free. Just got the email from hobby town this morning. Not sure if it’s every location or just certain ones

That's a very cool promotion.  I would totally bring my kids there if the nearest Hobbytown was within striking distance.

My fighter got a promotion to a Warrior from a cheap option kit:

 

With some panel lining and a couple coats of matte finish, these 30MF kits look pretty dang cool.  They're relatively cheaper than other build-a-figure kits and the line doesn't seem to be slowing down - I'll definitely be keeping an eye on them.

Edited January 29 by Valkyrie Hunter D

[Big s]

8 minutes ago, Valkyrie Hunter D said:

That's a very cool promotion.  I would totally bring my kids there if the nearest Hobbytown was within striking distance.

Yeah, unfortunately for me the nearest one is about an hour away. I used to be only 15 minutes from one back at my old place. And of course after I move is when they started partnering somewhat with Bandai and doing the GBWC competitions and now this kind of promo

 

11 minutes ago, Valkyrie Hunter D said:

My fighter got a promotion to a Warrior from a cheap option kit:

He looks like a tough fighter now for sure

 

12 minutes ago, Valkyrie Hunter D said:

Yep, and apparently robots like to guzzle down tankards of ale:

Must be related to the robots from futurama 

[Hikuro]

1 hour ago, Valkyrie Hunter D said:

Yep, and apparently robots like to guzzle down tankards of ale:

That's a very cool promotion.  I would totally bring my kids there if the nearest Hobbytown was within striking distance.

My fighter got a promotion to a Warrior from a cheap option kit:

With some panel lining and a couple coats of matte finish, these 30MF kits look pretty dang cool.  They're relatively cheaper than other build-a-figure kits and the line doesn't seem to be slowing down - I'll definitely be keeping an eye on them.

Dude lookin like he's aboutu to go goblin slayin. 

[Big s]

1 hour ago, Hikuro said:

Dude lookin like he's aboutu to go goblin slayin. 

Goblin slaying, troll slaying, Giant slaying and dragon slaying all in the same day 

[Valkyrie Hunter D]

On 1/28/2026 at 3:21 PM, Hikuro said:

Dude lookin like he's aboutu to go goblin slayin. 

Incidentally, there are 1/12 scale goblin sets out there that would go along well with my warrior and also the 30 Minutes Sisters line.

The sun actually broke through the fog today, so I used the precious window of sunlight to take a couple of pics of my completed 30MM mech:

I still have a grip of kits and parts, so I'm gonna put together a more generic/militaristic looking one next.

[Big s]

1 hour ago, Valkyrie Hunter D said:

Incidentally, there are 1/12 scale goblin sets out there that would go along well with my warrior and also the 30 Minutes Sisters line.

The sun actually broke through the fog today, so I used the precious window of sunlight to take a couple of pics of my completed 30MM mech:

I still have a grip of kits and parts, so I'm gonna put together a more generic/militaristic looking one next.

Glad to see you’re having fun with the line.  This guy turned out pretty cool 

[Big s]

It has a name, but I dare not speak it, so I’ll just post it instead 

[Big s]

Some other odd upcoming kits ranging from cool to silly, but at least their names won’t be forbidden.

The last one made me laugh. A little robot pilots a slightly slightly bigger robot 

[Valkyrie Hunter D]

That EXM-000 looks very cool, it definitely has a different vibe than the rest of the line.

[rsvictor1976]

I keep seeing these 30 minutes mission things at the store I go to. I always thought it was a game or something. Are they supposed to be super easy models that take 30 minutes to build?

[Big s]

1 hour ago, Valkyrie Hunter D said:

That EXM-000 looks very cool, it definitely has a different vibe than the rest of the line.

Yeah, was thinking about picking it up

 

29 minutes ago, rsvictor1976 said:

I keep seeing these 30 minutes mission things at the store I go to. I always thought it was a game or something. Are they supposed to be super easy models that take 30 minutes to build?

Might take a little longer depending on what you do with them, but very customizable and simple. No game or real big story or anything for the basic line. There are some items based off other franchises like Samurai Troopers and Armored core.

[Valkyrie Hunter D]

29 minutes ago, rsvictor1976 said:

I keep seeing these 30 minutes mission things at the store I go to. I always thought it was a game or something. Are they supposed to be super easy models that take 30 minutes to build?

Pretty much, yep.  I'd say they're right on par with the average HG Gundam kit.  The big difference being a few optional parts for customization included with the 30MM kits.

[Big s]

Guess there even more for Samurai Troopers and fantasy stuff 

Can’t forget the 30mm town drunk with Keg for super wasted action

[Big s]

For anyone building these. Seems to count for any label from the sisters, fantasy, Aromred Core and whatever has the label.