HG 1/144 Messer F02 Type [Mine-Layer Equipment] in red and tan, front three-quarter with rifle and shield on a black studio backdrop.

Premium Bandai reopens HG Messer F02 mine-layer; November ship

By Juan Carlos Orellana | Artrovo Gundam | Aug. 26, 2025

SANTA CLARITA, Calif. — Premium Bandai reopened reservations in Japan today for the HG 1/144 Messer F02 Type (Mine-Layer Equipment) from Mobile Suit Gundam Hathaway. Orders went live at 11 a.m. JST, priced at ¥3,740, with delivery slated for November in Japan.

This run brings back Mafty’s heavy mobile suit in a configuration built around its rear-skirt mine-layer. Bandai’s product notes highlight a newly engineered skirt assembly that opens across multiple axes, letting the “vectored tail stabilizers” move with the pose instead of fighting it. The package keeps the HG loadout—long beam rifle, beam sabers and shield—on top of the mine-laying hardware.

Underside view with rear-skirt mine-layer open and vectored tail stabilizers extended, showing multi-axis articulation in a flight pose.
Skirt and tail-stabilizer deployment demonstrates the multi-axis mine-layer mechanism.

Modelers get a few quality-of-life touches. The skirt can angle outward and aft for wider stances and airborne displays, and Bandai calls out a bonus commander-type head as in prior releases. Color separation is carried by multi-color molding and detail stickers; paint remains optional rather than mandatory.

Close-up of commander-type head and upper torso; antenna and chest vents visible, with matte red panels and tan armor surface detail.
Detail view; the package also includes a bonus commander-type head as in prior releases.

On timing, Japan’s Premium Bandai page lists November shipment for this second batch. A separate Premium Bandai U.S. listing shows an October ship window at $45, which fits the pattern of staggered regional calendars. As usual with PB, availability is limited and order windows tend to close once allocations fill.

Beam saber stance with shield raised, knees bent and angled ankle guards, demonstrating wider motion and pose stability of the HG frame.
Beam-saber pose underscores articulation while you note staggered regional calendars.

For builders who missed the first offering, this is a straightforward second chance at the mine-layer variant—useful for rounding out a Hathaway shelf alongside Xi/Penelope era suits without chasing secondary-market pricing. If you want the earliest fulfillment, the Japan storefront remains the quickest route, with regional portals following on their own schedules.

Rear three-quarter view showing twin mine cassettes on the skirt, backpack thrusters, and shield while the long beam rifle is carried.
Rear view highlights the mine-layer unit that defines this configuration.

Fact box:

  • Line/grade/scale: Gunpla HG, 1/144

  • Subject: Messer F02 Type (Mine-Layer Equipment) — Mobile Suit Gundam Hathaway

  • Price (JP): ¥3,740 (tax incl.)

  • Preorder time (JP): Aug. 26, 11 a.m. JST

  • Ship window: November 2025 (Japan); PB USA lists October 2025

  • In-box equipment: long beam rifle; beam sabers; shield; mine-layer unit

  • Engineering notes: multi-axis rear-skirt deployment; movable vectored tail stabilizers; bonus commander-type head

  • Exclusivity: Premium Bandai (limited allocation; regional calendars vary)

Sources (accessed Aug. 26, 2025):

  • Bandai Hobby (official product page) — feature list, equipment set and articulation notes; price reference. bandai-hobby.net+1

  • Premium Bandai Japan — second-run listing with November 2025 delivery, ¥3,740 price and limited-quantity note. P-Bandai+1

  • HOBBY Watch — Aug. 26 roundup confirming 11 a.m. JST preorder start and HG Messer F02 (second shipment) in the PB wave. HOBBY Watch

  • Gundam.info — “additional reservations start at 11 a.m.” notice covering the PB wave including Messer F02 mine-layer. GUNDAM.INFO | 公式ガンダム情報ポータルサイト

  • Premium Bandai USA — regional page showing an October 2025 ship window and $45 price. PREMIUM BANDAI

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