Roybea's walking gun platform from After War Gundam X
The Bandai 1/144 HGAW GT-9600 Gundam Leopard is the heavy firepower Gundam flown by Roybea Loy, the mercenary pilot who travels with the Freeden in After War Gundam X. It is a ground-combat suit packed with built-in guns and missiles, and its signature weapon is the huge Inner Arm Gatling that the left arm slides into.
This is a completely new HG kit released by Bandai in August 2026, and the first High Grade of the original Leopard. It is not the Build Fighters Gundam Leopard Da Vinci. It suits Gundam X fans finishing the Freeden's original Gundam line-up, and anyone who loves a suit covered in hatches that actually open.
Build difficulty
This is a snap-fit High Grade with only 6 runners and no glue needed. Bandai rates it for ages 8 and over, and builders found it quick to put together. The joints are hard plastic with no polycaps. The part that needs the most care is fitting the Inner Arm Gatling, covered in What to watch for below.
Technical highlights
The armour is moulded in dark green with white, grey, yellow and red details, and the red and yellow round details on the chest are separate parts. Colour separation is close to complete, so the stickers only cover the sensors and the small triangle marks on the knees. No paint is needed. The hatches open without swapping parts: the chest Gatlings, the 8-tube shoulder missile pod, the leg Hornet missiles and the separate missile pod on the left leg. The right forearm grenade launcher slides back and forth, and a beam knife with a clear blade effect pulls out of the right leg. The whole backpack slides sideways so the left arm can drop into the Inner Arm Gatling.
What makes this kit special
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Inner Arm Gatling: the left arm slides into the giant Gatling for the Leopard's classic heavy-fire pose.
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Hatches that open everywhere: chest Gatlings, shoulder missiles, leg Hornet missiles and the leg missile pod all open with no part swaps.
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Beam knife with clear effect: stored in the right leg and ready to pull out for close range.
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Sliding grenade launcher: the right forearm launcher slides back and forth.
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Purgeable missile pod: the left leg missile pod comes off, with parts to tidy up the leg afterwards.
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First modern HG of the Leopard: it finally completes the Freeden's original three Gundams in High Grade alongside the Gundam X and Airmaster.
What's in the box
- 6 plastic runners
- 1 foil sticker sheet
- Instruction manual
- Inner Arm Gatling
- Beam knife with clear blade effect
- 8-tube shoulder missile pod
- Separate missile pod for the left leg, plus replacement parts for after it is purged
- Right forearm grenade launcher and shield
- Hand parts
Compatible accessories
No display base is included with the kit. There is a 3 mm stand port under the crotch, and Bandai's own action photos show the Leopard on an Action Base, sold separately. For jumping and firing poses, pair the Bandai 1/144 HGAW GT-9600 Gundam Leopard with the Bandai Action Base 2 - Display Stand for 1/144 Scale Gunpla, the standard 1/144 display stand. Note the backpack does not use the standard twin-hole mount, so other backpacks will not swap on without modification.
Build your Gundam X collection
Build specifications
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Series: After War Gundam X
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Grade: High Grade After War (HGAW)
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Scale: 1/144
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Mobile suit: GT-9600 Gundam Leopard
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Pilot: Roybea Loy
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Manufacturer: Bandai
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Released: August 2026
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Retail box weight: 319 g, retail box approx. 30.5 x 19.5 x 7.5 cm
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Barcode: 4573102720528
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Skill level: 2 (Bandai age rating 8+)
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Assembly method: snap-fit, no glue, polycap-free joints
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Paint required: No
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Special features: Inner Arm Gatling, opening weapon hatches, 3 mm stand port
Perfect for
- Gundam X fans completing the Freeden's original Gundam trio.
- Builders who love heavy-weapons suits and full "everything open" firing displays.
- Newer builders, with Bandai's 8+ rating, only 6 runners and very few stickers.
- Build series fans who know the Leopard from its custom versions and want the original suit.
- Builders who like a kit that rewards a bit of seam work, since the shins have visible seams.
Fast Australian shipping
Dispatched same day from Brisbane if ordered before 2pm AEST on weekdays. Free shipping Australia-wide on orders over $199. Packed securely in a sturdy outer box with water-soluble cornstarch void fill that dissolves cleanly in the sink.
The Bandai 1/144 HGAW GT-9600 Gundam Leopard comes with its Inner Arm Gatling, beam knife effect and a full set of opening missile hatches.
What to watch for
Drawing on builder reviews and community threads (YouTube build reviews and Japanese hobby blogs):
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Fitting the Inner Arm Gatling takes care: one reviewer found it a little fiddly to fit, and another found the joint between the arm and backpack gets tight. Following the manual's tip of unpinning the Gatling, setting the angle, then pinning it back makes posing easier. One reviewer also reported that Bandai flagged an error in the manual step for fitting the arm into the Gatling, so check the arm faces the right way.
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Limited movement with the Gatling fitted: one reviewer found the shoulders lose most of their range once the Gatling is on, and the barrel only swings slightly.
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Seams on the legs: a couple of builders pointed out seam lines down the shins and near the wrists, unusual for a modern kit.
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Hips and ankles: one reviewer found the ball-jointed hips have limited range and can pop out, and another found the ankles make it hard to plant the feet flat in wide stances.
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Backpack locks in: one reviewer noted the backpack has a stopper and is very hard to remove once pushed fully home, so take care if you like to test-fit and pull parts apart.
Builder tips: leave the backpack until you are happy with the body, then push it in once. Use an Action Base or the Gatling itself as a prop for heavy-fire poses. A little seam work on the shins makes a big difference if you plan to paint.
Build notes
No glue needed. A pair of nippers, a hobby knife for cleaning up nub marks and a pair of tweezers for the few small stickers are all you need. Painting is optional, since the kit is moulded in colour. Bandai rates it for ages 8 and over.
Last updated: 21 October 2026 (AEST)
