Gundam Returns to Classic 1988 Manga for Its Latest Official Model Kit
Image by Charlotte DavisMegaHouse is returning to one of Gundam’s older manga stories for a new official model kit based on the heavily armored Dwadge G-Type.
The “VAKIT Mobile Suit Gundam The Rebirth of Zeon Dwadge G-Type” recreates Kazuhisa Kondo’s military-inspired redesign as a partially pre-painted plastic model standing approximately 15 cm tall.
VAKIT is a model kit series from MegaHouse built around detailed fixed poses rather than the extensive articulation normally associated with Gunpla, giving builders an assembled display piece while still allowing additional painting and customization.
The Dwadge G-Type is the second Gundam release in the series, following general and commander versions of the Geara Doga based on Kondo’s Mobile Suit Gundam New MS War manga.
MegaHouse has a much wider history with Gundam merchandise beyond VAKIT, with recent releases ranging from character figures to the full-size wearable replica of Char Aznable’s helmet.
Mobile Suit Gundam: The Rebirth of Zeon was originally published in 1988 and was written and illustrated by Kondo, whose interpretation of Gundam places a particularly strong emphasis on the military side of its Mobile Suits and battles.
The story follows Zeon forces remaining on Earth after the death of Haman Karn as deteriorating supplies and command structures force them into a difficult retreat from the planet.
It takes place around the same period of the Universal Century as Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ and Char’s Counterattack, with Kondo adapting familiar Mobile Suits into heavily militarized designs of his own.
The standard Dwadge comes from the Dom family of Mobile Suits and appeared in Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ, an anime that has also seen several of its older model kits return during its ongoing 40th anniversary celebrations, including new production runs for the Döven Wolf and Dreissen.
Kondo’s Dwadge G-Type pushes that military influence considerably further, covering the machine in thick armor and adding a large backpack, additional mechanical detailing, and a much more grounded battlefield appearance.
MegaHouse has recreated that design with the Dwadge posed holding its huge PzG44 anti-MS gun across its body, emphasizing the weight of both the weapon and the Mobile Suit itself.
The fixed pose allows the kit to concentrate on the contrast between the broad armor panels and the much finer mechanical detailing visible across the body, backpack, and weapon.
Several parts are already painted, allowing the Dwadge to be displayed after assembly without requiring a complete paint job, although the kit has also been designed to support further painting and weathering.
Water-slide decals are included for additional markings, while MegaHouse has also added a dedicated Zimmerit roller that allows builders to recreate the textured coating associated with the design.
Zimmerit was a textured coating used on German armored vehicles during World War II, making its inclusion another example of the real-world military influences found throughout Kondo’s interpretation of Gundam.
The Dwadge G-Type was first shown as a prototype earlier in 2026 before appearing again at the All Japan Model & Hobby Show in October, with MegaHouse now confirming its final price and release schedule.
Pre-orders for the new “VAKIT Mobile Suit Gundam The Rebirth of Zeon Dwadge G-Type,” priced at ¥8,800 (approximately $56 / £41), will open in Japan on November 5 at 10:00 AM JST through Premium Bandai, nationwide hobby stores, and participating online retailers.
The model kit is scheduled to release in late July 2027, with no corresponding US release through Premium Bandai US or other retailers announced at the time of writing.
If you enjoyed this article, you can see more from us directly in your Google feed by adding us as a preferred source.
This post may contain affiliate links, and Essential Japan may earn a commission if you purchase through them.
