Zeta Gundam’s Exclusive Gold-Plated MG Hyaku Shiki Kai Gunpla Kit Gets Official Re-Release
Image by Charlotte DavisBandai is bringing back an exclusive gold-plated Master Grade Gunpla kit based on Gundam’s Hyaku Shiki Kai, giving collectors another opportunity to obtain the upgraded Mobile Suit.
The returning “MG 1/100 Hyaku Shiki Kai” features a glossy gold-plated finish and interchangeable armor components, allowing builders to choose between the Hyaku Shiki Kai and the original Hyaku Shiki when assembling the model.
Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam premiered in 1985, continuing the story of the original Gundam anime through Kamille Bidan and the AEUG resistance movement’s conflict with the Earth Federation’s increasingly authoritarian Titans.
Char Aznable returns under the identity Quattro Bajeena, becoming one of the AEUG’s leading pilots and eventually taking control of the MSN-00100 Hyaku Shiki, a high-performance Mobile Suit distinguished by its gold-colored armor.
The Hyaku Shiki Kai was later introduced through the Zeta Gundam Mobile Suit Variations (Z-MSV) project as an improved version of the original machine, incorporating redesigned armor, increased firepower, and a more powerful backpack.
Bandai first released the “MG 1/100 Hyaku Shiki Kai” in August 2016, using the existing Master Grade Hyaku Shiki Ver.2.0 as its foundation alongside newly molded components for the upgraded design.
The kit recreates the Hyaku Shiki Kai’s unusual elongated head, revised shoulder armor, and modified chest, waist, and leg sections, with its extended feet and additional side thrusters giving the completed model a different silhouette from Quattro’s original machine.
One of its defining features is the large backpack, which replaces the standard Hyaku Shiki’s wing-like binders with a more elaborate assembly incorporating drum-shaped directional thrusters and high-mobility vernier stabilizers.
The backpack also provides storage for the included Clay Bazooka, allowing the weapon to be carried behind the Mobile Suit when it isn’t being used.
The kit’s glossy gold-plated armor extends across both build configurations, with Bandai using undergated parts to help conceal the marks left when individual pieces are removed from their runners.
Unlike conventional molded gold plastic, the plated components produce a reflective finish without requiring additional painting, giving both versions of the Mobile Suit a particularly striking appearance.
Bandai has also included the alternative parts needed to build the original Hyaku Shiki, allowing collectors to assemble a different version of the Mobile Suit using the same kit.
This configuration reproduces the standard Hyaku Shiki with a glossy gold finish that differs from the warmer metallic appearance of the regular “MG 1/100 Hyaku Shiki Ver.2.0”.
The included weapons consist of a Beam Rifle, Clay Bazooka, and Beam Sabers, with additional connection points allowing either version to use the separately sold Mega Bazooka Launcher and Ballute Pack accessories.
Water-slide decals provide mechanical markings and original emblems designed for both the Hyaku Shiki Kai and standard Hyaku Shiki configurations.
The wider Hyaku Shiki family has received several other Gunpla releases during 2026, including the return of the “MG 1/100 Mass Production Type Hyaku Shiki Kai” in September.
That version recreates the production-oriented variant with shoulder-mounted Beam Gatling Guns and an unplated gold exterior, making it a substantially different interpretation of the design.
Bandai has also recently revealed a new retro-style Hyaku Shiki Gunpla kit inspired by the original 1985 model, replacing the familiar metallic appearance with bright yellow armor reminiscent of the franchise’s earliest plastic kits.
The “MG 1/100 Hyaku Shiki Kai”, priced at ¥11,770 (approximately $74 / £56), is first scheduled for re-release through Premium Bandai Japan, with shipping planned for March 2027.
Pre-orders were originally scheduled to open on October 22, 2026, but Bandai postponed the launch after unexpected maintenance temporarily interrupted access to the Premium Bandai website.
A revised pre-order date has yet to be confirmed, with Bandai expected to announce the new schedule shortly.
No corresponding Premium Bandai US restock has been announced, although Japanese Gunpla re-releases are frequently followed by separate US listings several days or weeks later, so collectors should check back regularly to see whether pre-orders have opened.
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