Gundam Sentinel’s Exclusive S Gundam Gunpla Kit Officially Returns Following Fan Vote Success
Image by Charlotte DavisBandai is bringing back one of Gundam Sentinel’s most heavily equipped Mobile Suits, with the fan-favorite Master Grade S Gundam Booster Unit returning for another production run.
The “MG 1/100 S Gundam Booster Unit Equipped Type” transforms the already powerful S Gundam into a high-speed, high-mobility machine by mounting four enormous enhanced boosters across its back and lower body.
Its return follows another strong showing in Premium Bandai’s annual popularity vote, with the S Gundam Booster Unit Equipped Type finishing fifth in the 2026 Gunpla General Election after also placing 14th in the 2024 results.
Gundam Sentinel is a Universal Century side story originally serialized as a photo novel in Model Graphix magazine during the late 1980s, following the Earth Federation’s Task Force Alpha as it battles the rebel New Desides faction.
The S Gundam is one of the project’s signature machines, with the Booster Unit Equipped Type pushing its performance further by replacing much of the standard lower-body equipment with additional propulsion systems designed for extreme acceleration.
Four large booster units dominate the resulting design, dramatically increasing the machine’s width and length while giving it a very different silhouette from the standard S Gundam.
Bandai originally released the dedicated Master Grade interpretation in August 2014, creating new waist components specifically to support the additional booster equipment.
The kit also includes two large propellant tanks mounted at the rear, extending the already considerable length of the Booster Unit configuration.
Its Beam Smart Gun can be assembled in either its standard form or a rapid-fire configuration using an alternative barrel, giving builders two different versions of the S Gundam’s primary ranged weapon.
A removable Core Fighter is also included, while the detailed armor surfaces use the fine panel lines and mechanical molding associated with the Master Grade interpretation of Gundam Sentinel’s designs.
Because the booster-heavy configuration is designed around space combat rather than a conventional standing pose, Bandai includes an adjustable display stand capable of supporting the completed kit in an airborne position.
Master Grade-specific marking stickers are also supplied for adding additional identification and technical markings across the finished model.
The S Gundam later evolved into the more heavily armed Ex-S Gundam, with Bandai offering both machines through the MG 1/100 Ex-S Gundam/S Gundam (Task Force Alpha Ver.) that received new production runs after winning Premium Bandai’s Gunpla General Election in both 2025 and 2026.
Image by Charlotte DavisOther Gundam Sentinel releases during 2026 have included Bandai’s updated METAL ROBOT Spirits Ex-S Gundam [Re:Coordinate] and a new MG Gundam Mk-V in its original Federation colors.
Pre-orders for the returning Premium Bandai-exclusive “MG 1/100 S Gundam Booster Unit Equipped Type,” priced at ¥11,770 (approximately $75 / £55), opened exclusively through Premium Bandai Japan on November 5, 2026.
Orders are scheduled to ship in February 2027, with no corresponding new listing currently available through Premium Bandai US, though this is likely to change in the near future, as US re-releases often follow shortly after a new Japanese re-release.
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