MGUniversal Century

RX-78TB-4[PF] Gundam Stormbringer P.F. (Phantom Fang)

A GM's slow climb into a war machine, told through a gatling arm and a head you can swap on a whim.

MechaGrade Score

3.9/5

[PF] Gundam Stormbringer P.F. (Phantom Fang) · 1/100 · 2024

GradeMG

Scale1/100

Released2024

Runnersn/a

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The verdict

This is the best version of a good idea that keeps getting better with every re-release.

The Stormbringer P.F. is the final upgrade pass on Gimm's GM-turned-Gundam from the Build Divers side story, and Bandai used that excuse to hand it a huge new gatling gun, a reworked torso and shoulders, and the option to swap back to the plain GM Turbulence head. If you already like the Turbulence to Stormbringer story, this is the version to own. If you don't know it, the kit still stands on its own as a heavily armed, GM-shaped brawler with real presence on a shelf.

Best for: Build Divers fans and GM-lineage collectors who want the fully loaded, final-form Stormbringer with the gatling arm and the head-swap gimmick

The full review

What it is

The P.F. is the third pass on this suit's frame, following the GM Turbulence and the Stormbringer F.A. before it, and it shows. The core engineering is proven MG-grade GM architecture, so the hips, knees, and shoulders move the way you expect a good MG to move, and the new parts on top of that frame (redesigned abdominal armor, reworked shoulder guards, a fresh antenna) actually change the silhouette instead of just recoloring it. The headline addition is the left forearm gatling gun, alongside the double beam cannon and a 360mm rocket cannon option, which turns this from a nimble GM derivative into something that reads as an artillery piece with legs. Being able to swap in the GM Turbulence head for a plainer look is a small touch that adds real replay value to the build.

The catch

This is a P-Bandai exclusive, which means Premium Bandai pricing and no guarantee of a reissue once it sells out, so secondhand prices can run well above the roughly 7,590 yen original tag. It's also, structurally, a remold and recolor of an existing MG rather than an all-new kit from scratch, so a chunk of the frame is the same GM/Turbulence tooling you've seen before under new armor. Some of the color separation on the shared frame parts doesn't perfectly match the new molded colors, so builders who want a fully accurate finish will end up doing some panel lining and spot painting rather than relying on the runners alone.

Who it's for

Buy this if you've followed the Stormbringer's story from GM Dominance to GM Turbulence to Fatal Ash and want the definitive, most heavily armed version sitting next to the earlier releases, or if you just want an MG-scale GM-shaped suit that looks like it's ready for a siege. Skip it if you have no attachment to the Build Divers side story and just want a clean, all-new MG experience, since a decent amount of this kit's appeal is nostalgia and completionism rather than fresh engineering. New builders should also budget for P-Bandai aftermarket pricing before committing.

The build story

What the build is actually like, and the engineering worth knowing about.

Because the core frame traces back through the GM Turbulence and Stormbringer F.A. releases, assembly feels familiar if you've built either of those, with joints that clip together confidently and gates placed where cleanup is quick and forgiving. The new abdominal, shoulder, and antenna parts slot onto that base without any awkward extra steps, so the added bulk doesn't come with added fuss.

Articulation inherits the GM lineage's strong range, with hips and shoulders that hold poses under the weight of the gatling gun without drooping. The accessory set is the real value driver here: gatling gun, double beam cannon, a 360mm rocket cannon build option, and the swappable Turbulence head all in one box, which is a lot of posing variety for a single kit.

Lore & trivia

01The Stormbringer is a custom Gunpla built by the character Gimm (real name Tim) in the Gundam Build Divers Gimm & Ball's World Challenge side story, evolving from a GM Dominance into a GM Turbulence and finally into the Gundam Stormbringer.
02The P.F. (Phantom Fang) release is billed as the final form of the Stormbringer line, following the earlier F.A. (Fatal Ash) version.
03The kit includes parts to build the plainer RGM-79TB-1[T] GM Turbulence head as an alternate option alongside the Stormbringer's own head.
04It was a Premium Bandai exclusive released in August 2024 at a list price of 7,590 yen.