gerwalk
GERWALK (Ground Effective Reinforcement of Winged Armament with Locomotive Knee-joint) is a VTOL transformation mode of the VF-1 variable fighter from MACROSS (and other related transformable mecha) where the nose and wings of the fighter jet are stuck on "chicken walker" legs with two arms. The legs are formed by the aircraft's engines and intakes, bent down and forward. The arms are stored between the engines in fighter mode and fold out to the sides, reaching around from behind the legs.
Legend tells that when Kawamori Shouji first designed the VF-1 Valkyrie, he did not include this mode initially at all. However, after receiving a prototype of a toy based in the VF-1 he noticed that the legs of the figure were very very loose and constantly fell down during transformation into jet mode, so it resembled a unused walker mecha design called "Gawalk" that he developed years before for another show. Thus he adopted the mode in the mecha and changed its name into "Gerwalk" afterwards.
Other mecha that feature this mode
- The Orguss from Choujikuu Seiki Orguss.
- The Legioss from Kikou Souseiki Mospeada.
- The Logan and the Spartas from Choujikuu Kidan Southern Cross.
- Opa-Opa from the Fantasy Zone video game series.
- The titular mecha helicopter from the Mr. HELI 1987 video game.
- The titular mecha from the TwinBee 1985 video game.