The 64th Shizuoka Hobby Show, a model exhibition (organized by the Shizuoka Model and Educational Materials Cooperative Association), was held from May 13th to 17th at Twin Messe Shizuoka (Suruga Ward, Shizuoka City). Bandai Spirits' booth announced and displayed new Gunpla products. This article will explain some of the noteworthy Gunpla.
◇The Gundam Virsago and Gundam Ashtaron working together
With "After War Gundam X" celebrating its 30th anniversary, many fans have been anticipating new merchandise, and the announcements include the "HG 1/144 Gundam Virsago" (3190 yen, October release) and the "HG 1/144 Gundam Ashtaron" (3960 yen, November release). The Gundam Virsago and Gundam Ashtaron, the mobile suits piloted by the twin brothers Shagia Frost and Olba Frost, will be made into three-dimensional models in the "HG" series.
Both are completely new Gunpla kits. The "HG 1/144 Gundam Virsago" features extendable arms and a deployable abdomen gimmick. The "HG 1/144 Gundam Ashtaron" recreates the massive backpack and atomic scissors. The two are said to work together.
◇Also related to "SEED"
The Gunpla model kit of the Gundam Liberty Astray Red Frame, which appears in "Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Freedom Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Freedom Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Freedom ASTRAY" is a manga that began serialization in "Monthly Gundam Ace" (KADOKAWA) in September 2024. The model kit was displayed holding the Gerbera Straight.
As part of the "SEED" related lineup, the "HG 1/144 Z'Gok (SEED FREEDOM Ver.) [Clear Color]" (3630 yen, on sale in July) was also unveiled. The Gunpla "HG 1/144 Z'Gok (SEED FREEDOM Ver.)" of the Z'Gok from "Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Freedom" is now available in clear color. It will be sold at Gundam Base, a comprehensive Gunpla facility.
It has also been revealed that the Graze Ein from "Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans" will be released as "FULL MECHANICS 1/100 Graze Ein" (scheduled for release in January 2027) as part of the "FULL MECHANICS" series. The model will reproduce the Graze Ein's body, which is larger than that of a normal MS (Mobile Suit). Some parts will be newly sculpted to reproduce the close-quarters combat poses seen in the series.
◇Plastic pose plastic model kit
Besides Gunpla, another topic of discussion was the unveiling of "VAKIT Mobile Suit Gundam: Zeon's Rebirth Dwadge," a plastic model kit of the Dwadge from Kazuhisa Kondo's manga "Mobile Suit Gundam: Zeon's Rebirth," as a new product in the "VAKIT" series from MegaHouse, which is part of the same Bandai Namco Group as Bandai Spirits.
The "VAKIT" series consists of partially pre-painted, fixed-pose plastic model kits, and this will be the second release in the series, following "VAKIT Mobile Suit Gundam MS Chronicles Geara Doga." It was also announced that The O II will be released as the third release in the series.
I cover the Shizuoka Hobby Show every year, but I can't deny that this year's new Gunpla products seemed a bit more subdued than usual. This year, with the release of the second chapter of "Mobile Suit Gundam: Hathaway's Flash," the first new installment in about five years, new products were expected, but there were no new announcements, as popular models such as the "HG 1/144 Allyzeus" have already been released. The "Gundam" series has various projects underway leading up to its 50th anniversary, so there should still be many new Gunpla products in the works. I look forward to future announcements. (Manami Anima/MANTANWEB)
