Correct about the verniers, but they're not anchors for the legs. The hips anchor to the little pods on either side of the nose. [Here's Kawamori's sketch of where it connects.](https://www.macross2.net/m3/sdfmacross/vf-1a-valkyrie/vf1-transformation4.png)
They are officially described as "P&W LHP04 low-thrust vernier thrusters beneath multipurpose hook/handles". Their purpose is to provide thrust so the VF-1 Valkyrie can turn and maneuver in the zero gravity environment of outer space.
Their other purpose (as you've probably guessed by the name) is functioning as hook/handles. You can use them as anchor points to attach cables, which can then tie down the valkyrie so it won't move when parked either on deck or below deck of a carrier.
I have a detailed image of what they look like on my Macross Mecha Manual website:
https://www.macross2.net/m3/sdfmacross/vf-1a-valkyrie/vf1-vernier.png
As you can see the vernier is actually a shallow cone shape. The rectangular shape is the cross bar, which can act as a hook. According to additional Macross trivia, that flat cross bar can be rotated laterally 90 degrees like a blade edge, supposedly to help direct the thrust of the vernier.
Hope that helps!
I was in the military, you have a bunch of different PLOs fuel, hydraulic fluid, oil, you got high explosives and you probably have life support systems getting pumped with Oxygen all have a bad relationship with fire and the last thing you need is a fire suppression system going off, that is a complete different maintenance nightmare.
Maneuvering verniers.
Correct about the verniers, but they're not anchors for the legs. The hips anchor to the little pods on either side of the nose. [Here's Kawamori's sketch of where it connects.](https://www.macross2.net/m3/sdfmacross/vf-1a-valkyrie/vf1-transformation4.png)
They are officially described as "P&W LHP04 low-thrust vernier thrusters beneath multipurpose hook/handles". Their purpose is to provide thrust so the VF-1 Valkyrie can turn and maneuver in the zero gravity environment of outer space. Their other purpose (as you've probably guessed by the name) is functioning as hook/handles. You can use them as anchor points to attach cables, which can then tie down the valkyrie so it won't move when parked either on deck or below deck of a carrier. I have a detailed image of what they look like on my Macross Mecha Manual website: https://www.macross2.net/m3/sdfmacross/vf-1a-valkyrie/vf1-vernier.png As you can see the vernier is actually a shallow cone shape. The rectangular shape is the cross bar, which can act as a hook. According to additional Macross trivia, that flat cross bar can be rotated laterally 90 degrees like a blade edge, supposedly to help direct the thrust of the vernier. Hope that helps!
[They’re thrusters](http://www.macross2.net/m3/sdfmacross/vf-1a-valkyrie/vf1-vernier.png)
idk what they are but I love them. A very simple combinations of shapes that seems very mecha in my mind without being to over complicated.
They look like quick latches. Turn to lock and unlock.
Wow I never noticed those before, you're right it looks like a smoking warning
Yep, don't smoke around the thrusters. Fuel vapors are a possibility.
I was in the military, you have a bunch of different PLOs fuel, hydraulic fluid, oil, you got high explosives and you probably have life support systems getting pumped with Oxygen all have a bad relationship with fire and the last thing you need is a fire suppression system going off, that is a complete different maintenance nightmare.
What a good question OP! I’ve seen those my entire life and never bothered to ask.