Gundam Base’s Exclusive MG Zaku Cannon Gets Rare Online Release for Gundam Winter Fest 2026
Image by Charlotte DavisBandai is giving US Gunpla builders a rare opportunity to purchase a Gundam Base-exclusive kit online, with pre-orders opening for a variant of the Zaku Cannon as part of a major limited-time promotional event.
The “MG 1/100 THE GUNDAM BASE LIMITED ZAKU CANNON (Z GUNDAM Ver.)” joins more than 200 Gunpla kits and related accessories returning through Premium Bandai US for Gundam Winter Fest 2026, including a selection of normally store-exclusive Gundam Base models.
The Zaku Cannon was originally introduced through Mobile Suit Variations (MSV), a series of mechanical designs that expanded the original Mobile Suit Gundam universe with additional machines, weapons, and experimental equipment.
Developed by the Principality of Zeon as an anti-aircraft variant of the Zaku II, the MS-06K Zaku Cannon eventually evolved into a heavily armed fire-support Mobile Suit equipped with a powerful 180mm cannon mounted on its backpack.
The machine later appeared in the 1985 anime Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam, where former Zeon Mobile Suits had been repurposed by the Earth Federation Forces, including Zaku Cannons sporting an alternative blue and purple color scheme.
Bandai originally released the Gundam Base-exclusive Master Grade kit in November 2023, recreating this appearance with specially molded colors and packaging inspired by classic Gunpla designs from the 1980s.
Based on the original “MG 1/100 Zaku Cannon” from 2008, the limited edition replaces its familiar desert-colored armor with the blue, purple, and gray coloring of the Earth Federation-operated version seen in Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam.
The kit retains the detailed internal frame of the “MG 1/100 Zaku II Ver.2.0,” including its articulated joints, movable mono-eye and opening cockpit hatch.
Its redesigned exterior incorporates the Zaku Cannon’s reinforced chest, enlarged legs, and specialized backpack, giving the completed model a considerably heavier appearance than the standard Zaku II.
The most prominent weapon is its shoulder-mounted 180mm cannon, which can be elevated for firing poses and is supported by a pair of additional Big Gun weapons mounted around the waist.
These weapons use adjustable mounting arms that allow builders to reposition them for different combat configurations, with additional mechanical details reproduced around their attachment points.
The Zaku Cannon also includes a Zaku Machine Gun, Zaku Bazooka, and Heat Hawk, providing several options for displaying the Mobile Suit with more conventional Zeon equipment.
Builders can choose between two antenna configurations for the head, including the twin-pronged Rabbit Type antenna associated with the Zaku Cannon’s original MSV design.
A dedicated sheet of water-slide decals is included, featuring original markings created for this Gundam Base edition to complement its alternative color scheme.
Gundam Winter Fest 2026 runs from November 6 at 5:00 PM PST until November 30 at 11:59 PM PST, temporarily bringing a large selection of Gunpla kits, Gundam Base limited models, and building accessories to Premium Bandai US.
Pre-orders for the “MG 1/100 THE GUNDAM BASE LIMITED ZAKU CANNON (Z GUNDAM Ver.),” priced at $79, open through Premium Bandai US on November 6 at 8:00 PM EST and are scheduled to close on December 1 at 2:59 AM EST, coinciding with the end of Gundam Winter Fest.
This limited pre-order window gives US builders less than a month to secure the Gundam Base-exclusive kit online, although orders may close earlier if the available allocation sells out.
Shipping is currently scheduled for January 2027.
Premium Bandai US also offers free shipping on qualifying orders over $99 independently of the promotion, so builders purchasing the Zaku Cannon can add other eligible kits or accessories to reach the required threshold.
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