Bring one of Zeon’s most heavily armed assault Mobile Suits to your collection with the Bandai MG 1/100 MS-18E Kämpfer from Mobile Suit Gundam 0080: War in the Pocket.
The MS-18E Kämpfer MG 1/100 recreates the distinctive blue assault Mobile Suit piloted by Mikhail Kaminsky of the Cyclops Team, complete with its enormous arsenal of Shotguns, Giant Bazookas, Sturm Fausts, Beam Sabers and the unforgettable Chain Mine.
Originally released as a Master Grade in January 2001, this is a classic MG that still stands out thanks to the Kämpfer’s unusual design and frankly ridiculous amount of weaponry.
MS-18E Kämpfer
The MS-18E Kämpfer appears in Mobile Suit Gundam 0080: War in the Pocket and was designed as a high-mobility heavy assault Mobile Suit for the Principality of Zeon.
Its appearance immediately separates it from machines such as the Zaku II, Gouf and Gelgoog.
The Kämpfer has a sleek, aggressive silhouette covered with thrusters and verniers, while its relatively lightweight armour prioritises mobility for rapid assault operations.
The result is one of the most distinctive Zeon Mobile Suits of the One Year War.
And that’s before you start attaching the weapons.
Piloted by Mikhail Kaminsky
In War in the Pocket, the Kämpfer is piloted by Mikhail Kaminsky, a member of Zeon’s Cyclops Team.
Its most memorable appearance comes during the operation at Side 6, where the Kämpfer tears through Federation forces before confronting the RX-78NT-1 Gundam NT-1 “Alex.”
That battle has become one of the defining sequences from War in the Pocket and makes the Kämpfer an obvious companion piece to an MG Gundam NT-1 display.
If you’ve already got Alex, you know exactly what needs to be standing on the other side of the shelf.
Built for High-Speed Assault
The Kämpfer isn’t designed like a conventional frontline Mobile Suit.
Instead, its design concentrates on speed, mobility and overwhelming short-range firepower.
Numerous thrusters are positioned across the machine, contributing to the heavily mechanical appearance of the backpack, shoulders and legs.
This makes the MG Kämpfer particularly interesting from behind.
While plenty of Gunpla look their best from the front, the Kämpfer’s rear armour, thrusters, weapon racks and stored equipment mean there’s almost as much happening around the back.
An Absolutely Ridiculous Arsenal
Let’s get to one of the biggest reasons to own the MG MS-18E Kämpfer.
The weapons.
There are a lot of them.
The Kämpfer is armed with two Shotguns, two Giant Bazookas, two Sturm Fausts, two Beam Sabers and a Chain Mine. The MG kit recreates this extensive arsenal and allows much of the equipment to be carried or stored around the Mobile Suit.
Apparently someone at Zeon looked at the phrase “heavily armed” and took it as a personal challenge.
Twin Shotguns
Among the Kämpfer’s most recognisable weapons are its Shotguns.
The MG includes two, providing several different display possibilities.
You can equip the Kämpfer with a Shotgun for its classic close-range assault appearance or incorporate the weapons into a fully loaded display alongside the rest of its equipment.
Their unconventional design also helps distinguish the Kämpfer from the Beam Rifle-equipped Mobile Suits more commonly associated with Gundam.
Twin Giant Bazookas
Because two Shotguns clearly weren’t enough, the Kämpfer also carries two Giant Bazookas.
The Giant Bazookas can be wielded by the model or mounted on the rear of the Kämpfer using the included attachment system.
With both Bazookas stored on the back, the finished model takes on the heavily armed appearance seen during the Kämpfer’s assault.
Put one in each hand and subtlety leaves the building entirely.
Sturm Fausts
The arsenal continues with two Sturm Fausts.
These disposable rocket weapons can be mounted to the Kämpfer’s legs using the supplied adapters, keeping them available without requiring the model to carry everything in its hands.
This weapon-storage system is a major part of the Kämpfer’s visual appeal.
Load everything onto the machine and it genuinely looks prepared to take on an entire Federation base by itself.
Which, to be fair, is pretty much the idea.
The Chain Mine
Then there’s the weapon everyone remembers.
The Chain Mine.
The Chain Mine consists of multiple explosive charges connected along a flexible line and is used by the Kämpfer during its confrontation with the Gundam NT-1 Alex.
The MG recreates this unusual weapon with a flexible construction that allows it to be posed around an opponent or arranged dynamically alongside the Kämpfer.
Pair this model with the MG Gundam NT-1 Alex and you’ve got everything needed to recreate one of the most memorable encounters from War in the Pocket.
Preferably without actually wrapping explosives around your Alex.
Twin Beam Sabers
For close combat without explosives involved, the Kämpfer also carries two Beam Sabers.
The Beam Saber hilts are associated with storage around the thigh armour and can be represented deployed when posing the model for melee combat.
They provide a cleaner alternative to the enormous ranged arsenal and look particularly effective in aggressive charging poses.
Detailed Master Grade Construction
The MG Kämpfer dates from an earlier generation of Master Grade engineering, but there’s still plenty going on beneath its distinctive blue exterior.
The kit features internal mechanical detailing, articulated hands and an opening cockpit containing a seated Mikhail Kaminsky pilot figure. A separate standing 1/100 Mikhail figure is also included.
Sections of the exterior can also be removed to reveal mechanical detailing beneath, making the kit particularly suitable for builders who enjoy painting internal components and adding metallic finishes.
Movable Mono-Eye
No proper Zeon machine would be complete without a mono-eye.
The MG Kämpfer features a movable mono-eye, allowing the direction of the sensor to be adjusted to complement your chosen pose.
It’s a relatively small feature, but moving the mono-eye towards the direction of a weapon or opponent adds considerably more character to the finished model.
Especially when that opponent happens to be Alex.
Weapon Storage Across the Mobile Suit
One of the most satisfying aspects of the Kämpfer is that its huge arsenal isn’t simply a pile of accessories left beside the model.
Weapons can be mounted around the machine.
The Giant Bazookas can be stored on the back, while the Sturm Fausts attach to the legs.
This allows you to create the classic fully armed Kämpfer appearance, with weapons distributed around the body ready to be deployed.
It’s one of those rare Gunpla where adding more equipment actually makes the design look even better.
Perfect for Painting & Weathering
The Kämpfer’s large blue armour surfaces make this MG an excellent project for additional modelling work.
Panel lining can bring out the armour separation, while metallic paints work particularly well around the numerous thrusters and exposed mechanical areas.
You could create a clean anime-inspired finish.
Add subtle shading to emphasise the curves.
Build a heavily weathered combat machine.
Or recreate damage from the Kämpfer’s final confrontation.
The design offers plenty of opportunities without requiring you to completely repaint the model.
Pair It with Gundam NT-1 Alex
If there’s one Mobile Suit that belongs next to the Kämpfer, it’s the RX-78NT-1 Gundam NT-1 “Alex.”
Their battle is central to the Kämpfer’s appearance in Mobile Suit Gundam 0080: War in the Pocket, with the Chain Mine used directly against the NT-1’s Chobham Armor.
Put the MG Kämpfer alongside the MG Gundam NT-1 Alex Ver.2.0 and you’ve got the foundations for an outstanding War in the Pocket display.
Add the Chain Mine between them and anyone who knows the series will immediately recognise what you’re recreating.
Product Features
- Manufacturer: Bandai / Bandai Spirits
- Grade: MG / Master Grade
- Scale: 1/100
- Model Number: MS-18E
- Mobile Suit: Kämpfer
- Series: Mobile Suit Gundam 0080: War in the Pocket
- Faction: Principality of Zeon
- Pilot: Mikhail Kaminsky
- Unit Type: Heavy Assault Mobile Suit
- Distinctive blue armour and high-mobility design
- Features detailed Master Grade construction
- Movable mono-eye
- Opening cockpit
- Includes seated 1/100 Mikhail Kaminsky pilot figure
- Includes standing 1/100 Mikhail Kaminsky figure
- Includes 2 Shotguns
- Includes 2 Giant Bazookas
- Includes 2 Sturm Fausts
- Includes 2 Beam Sabers
- Includes Chain Mine
- Giant Bazookas can be stored on the backpack
- Sturm Fausts can be mounted to the legs
- Chain Mine can be dynamically posed
- Articulated manipulators plus additional hand options
- Colour-moulded snap-fit construction
- Painting optional
- Markings included for additional detailing
- Excellent for painting, weathering and diorama projects
- Original Master Grade release: January 2001
- Original JAN: 4543112003669
Build Your War in the Pocket Collection
Despite its relatively brief appearance, the MS-18E Kämpfer has become one of the most recognisable Mobile Suits from Mobile Suit Gundam 0080: War in the Pocket.
The combination of the distinctive blue armour, enormous arsenal and memorable confrontation with Gundam NT-1 gives it an identity very different from more conventional Zeon machines.
Display it alongside Gundam NT-1 Alex, or add it to a wider collection of One Year War Zeon machines.
Either way, the Kämpfer doesn’t exactly disappear into the background.
Especially when you’ve strapped two Bazookas, two Sturm Fausts and everything else Zeon could find onto it.
Why Add the MS-18E Kämpfer MG 1/100 to Your Collection?
The Bandai MG 1/100 MS-18E Kämpfer is an old-school Master Grade packed with character, mechanical detail and one of the most entertaining weapon selections found on a Zeon Mobile Suit.
With its twin Shotguns, twin Giant Bazookas, Sturm Fausts, Beam Sabers, flexible Chain Mine, weapon-storage options and unmistakable blue assault armour, there are plenty of ways to build and display this classic War in the Pocket machine.
For anyone searching for an MS-18E Kämpfer MG 1/100, Master Grade Kampfer, War in the Pocket Gunpla, Mikhail Kaminsky Mobile Suit, Zeon Kämpfer model kit or MG Kampfer Gunpla, this remains a standout Universal Century kit.
Add the MS-18E Kämpfer MG 1/100 to your Gunpla collection, load it with everything Zeon could bolt onto it, and recreate one of the most memorable assault Mobile Suits of the One Year War.
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