Gundam SEED’s Shanghai Statue-Inspired Freedom Gundam Gunpla Kit Gets US Release for Winter Fest 2026

Image by Charlotte Davis

A Gundam Base-exclusive version of Gundam SEED’s Freedom Gundam is now available online for a limited time, with the Real Grade kit inspired by Shanghai’s life-size statue joining Bandai’s latest major promotional event.

The “RG 1/144 THE GUNDAM BASE LIMITED ZGMF-X10A FREEDOM GUNDAM Ver.GCP” is among more than 200 Gunpla kits and related accessories included in Gundam Winter Fest 2026, a Premium Bandai US promotion featuring a large selection of returning models and normally store-exclusive Gundam Base editions.

Freedom Gundam appeared in the original 2002 Mobile Suit Gundam SEED anime as one of ZAFT’s most powerful Mobile Suits, eventually becoming the personal machine of series protagonist Kira Yamato.

Developed alongside the Justice Gundam, the nuclear-powered Freedom was equipped with an extensive selection of weapons, allowing Kira to engage multiple opponents simultaneously using its Beam Rifle, Plasma Beam Cannons, and Railguns.

The machine became one of the most popular designs in the Gundam SEED franchise, eventually inspiring a life-size statue that was unveiled in Shanghai, China, in May 2021.

Standing approximately 18 meters tall outside the Mitsui Shopping Park LaLaport Shanghai Jinqiao shopping mall, the installation became the first life-size Gundam statue constructed outside Japan.

The statue introduced several modifications to Freedom Gundam’s original appearance, including redesigned armor sections, an alternative wing arrangement, and a landing gear system incorporated into its backpack.

Bandai recreated the installation with the “RG 1/144 ZGMF-X10A Freedom Gundam Ver.GCP,” which first appeared in China in 2021 before receiving a Gundam Base-exclusive release in Japan in December 2023.

The Ver.GCP designation refers to the Gundam China Project, with the model incorporating a selection of newly molded components that distinguish it from the standard Real Grade Freedom Gundam released in November 2011.

These include changes to the head, chest, waist, and shoulder sections, recreating the proportions and additional mechanical details of the Shanghai statue.

The backpack has also been revised, with redesigned wing components and a modified folding mechanism that reproduces the configuration used by the life-size installation.

Despite these changes, the model retains Freedom Gundam’s familiar white, blue, red, and yellow color scheme, with selected parts using alternative molding colors to match the statue’s appearance.

One of the kit’s main attractions is its specially designed landing gear, which is built into the backpack’s Balaena Plasma Beam Cannons.

The landing gear can be extended and retracted without replacing parts, allowing builders to recreate the statue’s standing configuration with the additional open hands included in the kit.

Bandai has also retained the original Real Grade’s Advanced MS Joint framework, providing articulation across the shoulders, arms, and legs for recreating Freedom Gundam’s airborne combat poses.

The backpack’s movable wings can be spread into the Gundam’s HiMAT configuration, while its built-in weapons can be deployed to recreate Full Burst Mode.

These include the two Balaena Plasma Beam Cannons mounted on the backpack and a pair of Xiphias Railguns attached to the Mobile Suit’s waist.

Additional equipment includes the Lupus Beam Rifle, laminated anti-beam shield, and two Lacerta Beam Sabers, which can be joined together to form the double-ended Ambidextrous Halberd.

Realistic Decals are also included, allowing builders to add markings and metallic-looking details to the completed model.

The same Gundam Winter Fest promotion also includes the “RG 1/144 The Gundam Base Limited ZGMF-X10A Freedom Gundam Ver.GCP [Clear Color],” an alternative edition of the Shanghai statue-inspired kit that replaces much of its solid-colored exterior with transparent armor.

Originally released in August 2026, the Clear Color version retains the Ver.GCP design and equipment while allowing sections of the internal frame to remain visible through its translucent components.

Gundam Winter Fest 2026 runs from November 6 at 5:00 PM PST until November 30 at 11:59 PM PST, temporarily offering more than 200 Gunpla kits, limited editions, and building accessories through Premium Bandai US.

The “RG 1/144 THE GUNDAM BASE LIMITED ZGMF-X10A FREEDOM GUNDAM Ver.GCP” is currently in stock through Premium Bandai US for $50, although quantities may be limited and the kit could sell out before the event concludes.

Premium Bandai US also offers free shipping on qualifying orders over $99 independently of Gundam Winter Fest, so builders purchasing the Freedom Gundam can add other eligible kits or accessories to reach the required threshold.

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