Gundam's Flagship PG Unleashed RX-78-2 Gunpla Kit Joins Bandai's Gundam Winter Fest 2026

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One of Gundam’s most celebrated Gunpla kits has returned to the US, with Bandai bringing its hugely popular RX-78-2 Perfect Grade Unleashed back for an exclusive limited-time restock.

The “PG UNLEASHED 1/60 RX-78-2 GUNDAM” is among more than 200 Gunpla kits and related accessories returning as part of Premium Bandai US’s Gundam Winter Fest 2026, which also includes the temporary online availability of Gundam Base exclusive models.

The RX-78-2 Gundam originates from the original Mobile Suit Gundam anime, which aired in 1979 and introduced Amuro Ray as the young Earth Federation pilot who finds himself fighting against the Principality of Zeon during the One Year War.

Its distinctive red, white, blue, and yellow appearance established much of the visual identity that would define the Gundam franchise, with the RX-78-2 subsequently receiving countless model kits and collectible figures across more than four decades.

Bandai originally released the “PG UNLEASHED 1/60 RX-78-2 GUNDAM” in December 2020 as one of the flagship products celebrating Gunpla’s 40th anniversary, introducing an ambitious new interpretation of its established Perfect Grade model kit line.

The kit uses Bandai’s “GUNPLA EVOLUTION LINK SYSTEM,” which divides construction into five main stages covering assembly, articulation, mechanical structure, exterior armor, and final presentation.

This approach allows builders to assemble the internal skeleton before progressively adding the mechanical components, armor, and finishing details, recreating the process of constructing a functioning Mobile Suit from the inside out.

Standing approximately 30 cm tall, the completed Gundam incorporates more than 90 points of articulation, including an elaborate torso mechanism with 40 moving joints built around its Core Block structure.

The internal frame combines several metallic molding colors with silver, matte gold, and chrome-plated components, alongside genuine metal parts and etched detailing.

These finishes provide considerable visual detail throughout the construction process, with moving pistons and mechanical linkages helping to reproduce the Gundam’s complex internal engineering.

One of the kit’s biggest features is its extensive selection of opening armor hatches, allowing builders to expose mechanical details across the completed Mobile Suit without removing large sections of its exterior.

Bandai also includes an RGB LED lighting unit capable of illuminating the Gundam’s head and chest, alongside a separate miniature lighting system designed to fit inside one of its Beam Sabers.

The illuminated weapon recreates the appearance of a glowing blade, with the light traveling from the handle into the translucent plastic to create a graduated effect.

Additional equipment includes the RX-78-2’s Beam Rifle, shield, Beam Sabers, and a Core Fighter, alongside several miniature figures of Amuro Ray and Sayla Mass.

Bandai has also recently revealed a new version of the same kit, the “PG UNLEASHED 1/60 RX-78-2 Gundam [Gundam Base Color]”, which replaces the original design’s traditional coloring with a blue and white finish inspired by the official Gundam Base stores.

PG UNLEASHED 1 60 RX 78 2 Gundam [Gundam Base Color] 1

That upcoming kit retains the elaborate internal construction of the original and will initially be sold as a Gundam Base Japan exclusive, with a wider international release yet to be confirmed.

The PG Unleashed line has also expanded through the “PG UNLEASHED 1/60 ν Gundam”, which received another US restock in October 2026 after proving difficult for many collectors to secure during earlier sales windows.

Based on Amuro Ray’s Mobile Suit from Mobile Suit Gundam: Char’s Counterattack, that model introduced an even larger Perfect Grade Unleashed design with extensive mechanical detailing, opening armor sections, and an articulated Fin Funnel system.

Gundam Winter Fest 2026 runs from November 6 at 5:00 PM PST until November 30 at 11:59 PM PST, with Bandai temporarily making a substantial selection of Gunpla kits, Gundam Base limited models, and building accessories available through Premium Bandai US.

The “PG UNLEASHED 1/60 RX-78-2 GUNDAM” is now available through Premium Bandai US for $296, with quantities expected to be limited and availability potentially ending before Gundam Winter Fest concludes.

Premium Bandai US offers free shipping on qualifying orders over $99 independently of the promotion, meaning the returning Perfect Grade kit qualifies for the standard offer without any additional purchases.