Xabungle Soul of Chogokin GX-38R Iron Gear

Xabungle islikely one of Tomino’s more underrepresented mecha series, but Bandai has once again shown it some attention. Compared to classics like Dunbine, Xabungle may feel neglected, yet it has now received the premium Soul of Chogokin (SOC) treatment. This time, the spotlight is on the iconic transformable battleship, Iron Gear, scheduled for release as a P-Bandai item in August 2026 at 34,000 Yen. 

It’s unclear whether this is a completely new product or a re-release, but the product code GX-38R suggests it is likely an updated version of the mid-2000s release, with some minor improvements. As a full-fledged premium Bandai Chogokin item, the SOC Iron Gear features complete transformation gimmicks and even comes with miniature Xabungle and Walker Gallia figures. Standing 28 cm tall as a transformable mecha battleship, it is sure to appeal deeply to dedicated mecha collectors.

nterestingly, Iron Gear is one of the earliest large-scale transformable mecha, released around the same era as Macross, which also featured transformable motherships. My first exposure to Iron Gear was through Super Robot Wars Z, about fifteen years ago, long before I had watched the anime itself. While the characters of Xabungle didn’t immediately grab my attention, I was captivated by its setting and world-building.

Having a Hi-Metal Xabungle already, I’m particularly interested in obtaining a physical representation of Iron Gear myself, even if the P-Bandai release may be out of reach. For fans of Tomino and dedicated mecha collectors, SOC Iron Gear is a compelling addition to any collection.