Overall, this kit is fair at best. Its proportions are good, and it offers impressive poseability for a pre-high grade model. However, it has a major flaw, and if you’re not willing to put in the effort to fix it, this kit may not be for you. Bandai’s decision to produce this model still puzzles me. If you own this kit, you’re likely familiar with the head-hitting-the-cannons issue. For those who don’t have it, the F-71 has very limited head movement due to the cannons on either side.
The key fix was spacing out the cannons to give the head more motion. I cut off the backpack supports and rebuilt them using plastic sheet. The original design had the backpack fitting into grooves over the shoulders, so I filled these with epoxy putty and repositioned the backpack. This allowed the head more freedom. Originally, the cannons were attached using pegs and poly caps, which looked unrealistic and wasn’t practical for my modifications. I scratch-built a base for the cannons and secured them with brass rods, giving them an axis to elevate.
To add realism, I made hydraulic supports for the cannons using aluminum rod and sprue, attaching them with smaller brass rods. I added Wave G-Tanks to both cannons and drilled ventilation holes. Thin yellow wiring was added to the backpack and connected to the cannons. A Wave G-Tank was halved and fitted to the backpack to give the MS more range and firepower, with a rod frame for support.
The head was modified by filling the sensor hole for a more “classic” look and drilling gun holes. I ground down the back of the head by 2mm to allow it to look skyward. A ball joint was added to the neck for full movement.
The shoulders were plain, so I filled the gaps with plastic sheet and added Wave vents and support bars made from 24-gauge wire. The chest is mostly stock, except for two added sensors. The forearm guns were hollow underneath, so I filled them with epoxy putty and sanded them flush.
The torso, skirt armor, and upper legs are stock. However, the lower legs had a visible gap, which I covered with plastic sheet for a solid appearance. I added pouches from McFarlane Metal Gear figures to the bottom of the legs for realism.
The feet were stock, but I added panel lines and drilled holes to simulate rivets.
For the paint job, I used classic red Guncannon colors with a white head. I applied the Max technique heavily for a subtle effect, then sprayed a light coat of black for a grimy look. Finally, I washed the model with pastel powder mixed with water for a flat, dirty finish. The bull’s head is my custom decal, but the emblem was painted on with a stencil and airbrush.
In the end, this kit was disappointing. With all its issues, it’s more trouble than it’s worth.
