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The expansive Mobile Suit Gundam franchise, renowned for its compelling anime and manga, has also spawned various spinoff novels over the years. Among these literary offshoots is a story that diverges from a beloved installment, featuring a mecha that has recently seen a resurgence in popularity. This year, fans were treated to a reissue of its Master Grade model kit.
The MG 1/100 Gundam Astraea model kit, inspired by the Mobile Suit Gundam OOP novel, offers enthusiasts a variety of weapons and accessories for endless customization. This kit is equipped with an impressive array of features, including a massive blade and a stand designed to showcase dynamic poses. Scheduled for rerelease in the coming months, this unique mobile suit promises to hold its own among the franchise’s most cherished designs.
The MG 1/100 Gundam Astraea model kit is derived from the Mobile Suit Gundam OOP novel, and it includes several weapons and accessories for customization. These include a gigantic blade, plus a stand for dynamic poses. Coming out again in a matter of months, this somewhat obscure mobile suit looks more than worthy of standing alongside fan favorites.
Gundam 00’s Most Obscure Mobile Suit Is Reborn as a Master Grade Gunpla
Designed by mecha guru Kanetake Ebikawa, the MG 1/100 Gundam Astraea model kit is one of the only such collectibles of this size for the mecha featured in Mobile Suit Gundam OOP. The mobile suit itself is actually the predecessor to the Gundam Exia seen in Gundam 00, with that mecha being the anime’s equivalent to the iconic RX-78-2 Gundam from the original anime. The Astraea has a similar design, albeit with more grey in its color scheme, meaning that it fits in perfectly with other Gunpla. Where it really stands out, however, is the weapons, with these easily being some of the coolest seen in a Master Grade kit. The biggest of these would be the Proto GN Twin Broad Blade, with this being just about as long as the figure itself. There’s also a Proto GN Long Blade and Short Blade, not to mention a Proto GN Shield, with the Astraea having no shortage of close-range weapons. In terms of long range weapons, there’s also a Proto GN Launcher, a GN Beam Rifle and a GN Beam Saber.
This gives the MG Astraea several of the usual Gundam armaments, along with several of its own. There’s even a pilot mini-figure that’s meant to represent an operative for the group Celestial Being. Along with the articulation needed to make use of these items and a stand to pose with, the Master Grade model kit is brimming with stunning detail. Thus, it’s quite easy to position the figure in action scenes, whether it’s meant to be flying into space or slashing enemies with its blades. This is all more than worthy of a mobile suit that’s also referred to as the Goddess of Justice. As noted, the model kit was originally released in January 2025, with the reissue coming out in February 2026. According to Gundam Kits Collection, it will once again be sold for 7,150 yen, which is about US$47. Running from 2007 to 2009, Mobile Suit Gundam 00 was widely praised and seen by many as a sort of spiritual remake of the iconic New Mobile Report Gundam Wing.