This reveal made me remember a leak that came out prior to the last Hobby Next Phase online event some months ago. The leak mentions that we’ll be getting a new HG Layzner kit, something I’d really want. Unfortunately, that turned out to be false, but we are getting yet another 80s mecha as a modern HG kit with the HG Xabungle Type, and this isn’t the first time Xabungle mecha are getting modern kits.
Several years back the SMP [Shokugan Modeling Project] line, previously known as Super Minipla kicked off with a Xabungle Type set, to which I got two copies because of the parts-formation gimmick. Then earlier this year, we got Good Smile Company’s MODEROID Xabungle in 1/100 scale, which I obviously didn’t get. I guess the third time’s the charm as Bandai Spirits Hobby Division is taking a crack at Xabungle with this new HG 1/144 scale kit. They are making some good promises in this release so let’s check it out.
Bandai Spirits was pretty clear on the solicitation that their goal for this kit is to strike a good balance between color separation, transforming and combining gimmicks, articulation, and overall ease of handling. This gives me the impression that they are using this kit as a steppingstone on engineering kits with multiple gimmicks while maintaining the play pattern expected from a High Grade kit.
For starters, you are given multiple options when building the kit, as seen in the couple of images above. Additional parts are provided to replicate the Xabungle with one or both of its wing binders broken. You can also notice that in the bottom image, the forearms don’t have wheels attached to them. We’ll check out more of those replacement parts later.
Modern HG standards also maximize articulation, and from the images above, this Xabungle kit does handle dynamic movement with those wide bends on key joints. I also notice that they didn’t cheap out and actually fill up the bottom of the feet, instead of having hollow areas seen in modern HG Gunpla. They also mention excellent color separation, particularly in the head which comes in 4 separate colors.
Speaking of colors, all cockpit and canopy parts will use clear translucent plastic and the internal detail of those cockpit areas are also sculpted. For weapons, the Xabungle Type comes with a plethora, and it’s a good thing they didn’t go the route of more online exclusive weapon sets. Chief among its arsenal is the Xabungle Rifle that comes with a special weapon holding hand.
The other weapons are everything you see above. These include the shoulder-mounted 3-Barreled Bazooka and 9-Barreled Rocket Pod, as well as the 4 Hand Cannon that can be mounted on either left or right forearm. You can also see above all extra parts that come with the kit to facilitate the transformation or optional parts for building. And I don’t notice any that would require complete disassembly. I’m totally looking forward to just getting a single copy of this kit.
As alluded earlier, here’s how the Bundle Skipper and Bungle Rover look and outside a couple of extra parts, it does look like a seamless and fairly accurate transformation as seen in the anime. Granted it’s not as complex as the Zeta Gundam, but I appreciate that they placed emphasis on enjoying the transformation process while keeping the other aforementioned aspects in balance.
While I would definitely want a new HG Layzner as inaccurately reported in that leak, I totally wouldn’t mind getting another Xabungle kit knowing the engineering they placed in it. I hope more of what they’re doing here will bleed into future HG releases as there are designs that would benefit such engineering. And one day, we would actually get a legit HG Layzner that would feature these and more.
HG 1/144 Xabungle Type
March 2024 / ¥3,800
Premium Bandai Exclusive
