Bandai Announces Re-Release After Gundam’s New RX-78-2 Gashapon Collection Immediately Sells Out
Image by Charlotte DavisBandai has announced a new wave of pre-orders will soon open for an exclusive Gundam Gashapon collection that sold out almost immediately after opening for reservations just over a week ago.
The new “EXCEED MODEL TRINITY RX-78-2 Gundam Cable + Light Unit Set” first opened for orders through Gashapon Online at 11:00 AM JST on August 31 before displaying as sold out within around an hour, with the speed of the sellout quickly becoming a talking point on Japanese social media.
The release introduces “EXCEED MODEL TRINITY,” a new generation of Bandai’s capsule-less model concept that traces its roots back to the “EXCEED MODEL ZAKU HEAD” first released in 2017.
The basic idea remains similar, with large model parts forming their own outer shell rather than being packed inside a conventional capsule, allowing Bandai to use considerably more space for the actual collectible.
This time, however, the finished model is much more ambitious, with three separate releases combining to create a detailed bust of the RX-78-2 Gundam standing around 20 cm tall.
The three parts are the “Exterior,” “Internal Structure” and “Core Fighter Cockpit,” with each able to be displayed independently before combining into the completed Gundam.
Once assembled, the bust can be shown with its exterior armor closed or opened to expose much of the mechanical structure underneath.
Sections around the head can also open individually, including panels surrounding the sensors and face, while the V-fin can move forward to reveal additional internal detailing around the Vulcan cannon area.
The Core Fighter cockpit adds another layer to the display, with the pilot seat able to move forward from inside the torso rather than remaining hidden behind the exterior armor.
What separated the immediately sold-out online version from the regular capsule release was the inclusion of extra lighting and cable parts.
The “Exterior” version includes a cable unit, the “Internal Structure” comes with the head light unit, and the “Core Fighter Cockpit” includes a separate cockpit light unit.
Collecting all three allows the completed Gundam to be fitted with visible cables running through the display while also illuminating the eyes, head sensors and cockpit.
Each randomly selected “EXCEED MODEL TRINITY RX-78-2 Gundam Cable + Light Unit Set” entry is priced at ¥1,850 (approx. $12 USD / £9 GBP), meaning a complete three-part set would cost at least ¥5,550 before accounting for any duplicate pulls.
The random format has raised questions over how difficult it might be to complete the full Gundam, but demand for the first wave ultimately proved strong enough that stock disappeared before most buyers had much time to worry about duplicates.
The original online sales period had been scheduled to continue until September 10, with shipping planned for late October 2026, but the complete allocation was exhausted on the opening day.
Luckily for fans who missed out on the first release, Bandai has now confirmed that a new round of pre-orders will soon begin, offering fans a second chance at getting hold of the full collection.
The second round of pre-orders for the “EXCEED MODEL TRINITY RX-78-2 Gundam Cable + Light Unit Set” will open on September 7, 2026, at 17:00 JST via Gashapon Online and given how quickly the first wave sold out, fans will need to be quick to place their orders once they go live.
A standard version without the cable and lighting units is also due to appear through Premium Gashapon 90 mm machines in Japan from September, priced at ¥1,500 per pull (approx. $9 USD / £7 GBP), providing another route to the same three-part RX-78-2 Gundam bust for anyone less concerned about the illuminated display features.
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