If you follow the Gunpla scene at all, you already know that Shizuoka Hobby Show 2026 was an absolute goldmine for new kit announcements. Held in May 2026, the 64th edition of Japan’s biggest hobby trade show saw Bandai drop eight brand-new Gunpla reveals — spanning After War Gundam X, Iron-Blooded Orphans, G Gundam, Gundam SEED, and Gundam 00. For Malaysian Gunpla builders, this is seriously exciting news, especially with the MGSD Kshatriya stealing the spotlight as one of the most unexpected announcements in years. Let’s break down everything that was revealed and what it means for your build queue.
Shizuoka Hobby Show 2026 — Why It Matters for Gunpla Fans
Every year, Bandai uses the Shizuoka Hobby Show as a platform to tease and officially announce upcoming Gunpla releases. Think of it as a mini Bandai Gunpla expo — where prototype sculpts go on display for the first time and release windows get confirmed. This year’s show was especially packed, with a solid lineup of 8 new kits spanning a wide range of scales and series. Whether you’re a Universal Century collector, an Alternate Universe fan, or a hobbyist who just loves a beautifully engineered kit, there was something for everyone in 2026’s reveal lineup.
HGAW Gundam Virsago and Gundam Ashtaron — Gundam X Gets Its Flowers at Last
After decades of waiting, After War Gundam X fans finally have reason to celebrate. The HG 1/144 Gundam Virsago and HG 1/144 Gundam Ashtaron were both officially confirmed as part of the 30th anniversary celebration of Gundam X, with Virsago targeting an October 2026 release and Ashtaron following in November 2026, each priced at 3,190 yen.
Both kits are built on completely new molds. Gundam Virsago’s most exciting feature is its articulated arm extension gimmick — those massive shoulder binders can extend and the chest panel opens to expose the Megalaire triple sonic cannon. It’s exactly the kind of faithful gimmick engineering Bandai does well. Gundam Ashtaron, meanwhile, comes with a deployable Atomic Scissors mechanism that lets you recreate its signature grip-and-crush pose. The fact that Bandai chose to give both the Frost brothers’ machines proper HGAW treatment simultaneously, with interchangeable combined attack staging, makes this one of the more thoughtful kit pair launches in recent memory.
MGSD Kshatriya — The Most Surprising Announcement of 2026
Nobody saw this one coming. The MGSD NZ-666 Kshatriya was announced as the newest entry in the Master Grade SD lineup — and it makes history as the very first Universal Century non-Gundam mobile suit to join the MGSD series. Up until now, MGSD had exclusively featured named Gundams. Seeing the iconic four-winged beast of a Newtype mobile suit from Gundam Unicorn rendered in that chunky SD proportion with full MG engineering underneath? It’s genuinely something special.
The MGSD Kshatriya is scheduled for release in September 2026 at 7,700 yen. Despite its compact SD form, Bandai has faithfully recreated its four massive binder wings with multi-layered heavy armour, 24 individually detailed internal funnels, The Sleeves emblems on the chest and forearms, all the various thruster nozzles, and metallic-finish inner frame parts. The leg range of motion is reportedly impressive given the characteristic bulk of the design. Two beam sabers round out the accessories. If you’ve been on the fence about the MGSD line, this is the one that might just tip you over.
You can check out the MGSD Kshatriya listing on Gundam.my to keep an eye on availability as we get closer to the September release date.
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FULL MECHANICS Graze Ein — Iron-Blooded Orphans Gets Its 1/100 Moment
IBO fans, this one’s been a long time coming. The FULL MECHANICS 1/100 Graze Ein was one of the most enthusiastically received announcements at the show. The FULL MECHANICS line sits in a sweet spot between HG and MG — you get that 1/100 scale presence and inner-frame engineering without the price tag of a full Master Grade.
The Graze Ein features entirely newly-moulded parts designed specifically to capture its stocky, heavily-armoured silhouette. One of the headline gimmicks is the engineering around its massive dedicated axe — the kit’s joints are specifically tuned to achieve the low-centre-of-gravity combat stances that the Graze Ein was notorious for in the show. For those who want to build the heavy-hitting Gjallarhorn mobile suit that gave Barbatos Lupus its toughest fight, this is exactly what you’ve been waiting for.
MG Liberty Astray Red Frame and HGFC Gundam Spiegel — More to Get Excited About
Two more kits rounded out the general lineup in very different ways. The MG 1/100 Gundam Liberty Astray Red Frame brings a new iteration of the beloved Astray Red Frame into the Master Grade line, this time based on updated design details from the SEED FREEDOM ASTRAY manga. If you loved the original Astray MGs, this one looks to push the articulation and detail even further with fresh engineering built specifically around the Liberty Astray’s unique features.
Meanwhile, HG 1/144 Gundam Spiegel gives G Gundam fans something to really cheer about. Schwarz Bruder’s Neo Germany mobile fighter has always had one of the most distinctive silhouettes in Gundam history — all sharp edges, ninja aesthetic, and brooding cool. The prototype on display at the show looked fantastic, capturing the sleek, angular form that made the Spiegel such a standout during the G Gundam era. Pre-order dates are yet to be confirmed, but it’s definitely one to watch.
The Gundam Base Exclusives — Clear and Metallic Treats
The Shizuoka reveal also included two Gundam Base Limited kits aimed at collectors who love a premium finish. The HG 1/144 Z’Gok (SEED FREEDOM Ver.) [Clear Color] gives the fan-favourite amphibious mobile suit a full transparent treatment, letting you see right through to the inner details of the kit’s construction. It’s an exclusive to official Gundam Base and SIDE-F locations, so if you’re planning a Japan trip, this might be worth hunting down.
The second exclusive is the MG 1/100 Gundam Kyrios (Trans-Am Mode) [Metallic Gloss Injection] — a shimmering metallic-finish version of the transformable Gundam 00 mobile suit locked in its high-energy Trans-Am state. If you’re a Gundam 00 fan who’s been waiting for a premium Kyrios, this is genuinely exciting, even if sourcing Gundam Base exclusives from Malaysia requires a bit of extra legwork (Japan proxy services can be your friend here).
When Can You Get These Kits in Malaysia?
Release timelines for Shizuoka Hobby Show announcements vary — some kits drop within months of the reveal, while others can take six months to a year to fully reach hobby shops. Based on what we know so far:
- MGSD Kshatriya — September 2026 (Japan), expect Malaysian availability Q4 2026
- HGAW Gundam Virsago — October 2026
- HGAW Gundam Ashtaron — November 2026
- FULL MECHANICS Graze Ein, MG Liberty Astray Red Frame, HGFC Gundam Spiegel — release dates TBA, likely late 2026 to early 2027
The best move right now is to keep an eye on Gundam.my for stock updates and pre-order listings. We stock a wide range of Bandai Gunpla kits and update regularly as new releases confirm their local availability. Malaysian builders tend to see new releases hit local shelves within 1–3 months of the Japan launch date, so the second half of 2026 is shaping up to be a very expensive few months — in the best possible way.
Final Thoughts: Shizuoka 2026 Was a Great Show for Builders
What made this year’s Shizuoka Hobby Show particularly satisfying is the sheer variety on display. You had major milestones like the MGSD Kshatriya breaking new ground for the SD series, long-awaited modern updates like the HGAW Virsago and Ashtaron, deep cuts like the FULL MECHANICS Graze Ein, and premium collector pieces for the Gundam Base crowd. Whether you’re a beginner who’s just getting into Gunpla or a seasoned builder looking for your next serious project, 2026’s second half is going to have something for you.
Our personal top pick from the reveal? The MGSD Kshatriya. It’s historic, it’s ambitious, and those four binder wings in SD form look absolutely glorious. Start saving your ringgit now.