Back when Battletech was Battledroids, the original 'Droids ('Mechs) were based on well-known images taken from several different anime series.  During the '90s, FASA became embroiled in a lawsuit with Playmates and Harmony Gold over the distribution rights of these images within the United States.  The original Playmates/ Harmony Gold lawsuit seems to have only covered Macross/Robotech mecha, but when the dust settled, FASA dropped all other borrowed/licensed images as well and went on to use only their own original 'Mech images.  Below is a table of the Unseen 'Mechs, their roots, and other systems that I have found them used in, if any.  Three aerospace fighters, one vehicle, and a dropship have become somewhat of an enigma to me.  Further explanation follows the table.

Tons
 Battletech Name Origin - Name Other Systems (Name) Misc. Info
20
 Locust Crusher Joe -
Ostall		    
20
 Stinger Macross -
VF-1A		    
20
 Wasp Macross -
VF-1S		 Revell Robotech Defenders (Vexar)  
25
 Locust IIc Crusher Joe -
Ostall		    
30
 Stinger LAM Macross -
VF-1A		    
30
 Wasp LAM Macross -
VF-1S		 Revell Robotech Defenders (Vexar)  
30
 Valkyrie Macross -
VF-1S		    
35
 Ostscout Macross -
Regult Scout Pod		   Heavily modified, but torso and legs are very similar.
40
 Griffin IIc Dougram -
H8 Roundfacer		    
45
 Phoenix Hawk Macross -
Super VF-1S		    
45
 Shadow Hawk IIc Dougram -
Dougram Combat Armor		    
50
 Phoenix Hawk LAM Macross -
Super VF-1S		    
55
 Griffin Dougram -
H8 Roundfacer		 Revell Robotech Defenders (Thoren) Also packaged in a Revell kit, Armored Combat Team.  Comes with several vehicles.
55
 Scorpion Dougram -
F35C 
Blizzard Gunner		 Revell Robotech Defenders ( ? ) Packaged in a Revell model kit, Assault Squad.  No name given… comes with an eight-wheeled ATV.
55
 Shadow Hawk Dougram -
Dougram Combat Armor		 Revell Robotech Defenders (Zoltek)  
55
 Wolverine Dougram -
T10B,C Blockhead		 Revell Robotech Defenders (Talos)  
60
 Ostroc Macross -
Regult (Heavy or Light) Missile Pod		   Heavily modified, but torso and legs are very similar.
60
 Ostsol Macross -
Regult Tactical 
Battle Pod		   Heavily modified, but torso and legs are very similar.
60
 Rifleman Macross -
Defender		 Robotech, Exo Squad 
(Raidar X)		 Apparently the original Macross names for the Destroids weren't good enough, because the Robotech RPG (and some model kits) went with a different set of names.
65
 Crusader Macross -
Armored VF-1A		    
65
 Thunderbolt Dougram -
F4X Ironfoot		 Revell Robotech Defenders (Gartan) Also packaged in a Revell kit Strike Force.  Comes with attack helicopter.
65
 Rifleman IIc Macross -
Defender		    
70
 Archer Macross -
Spartan		 Robotech, Exo Squad 
(Gladiator)		 The name Spartan is used for the Longbow / Phalanx as well.
70
 Warhammer Macross -
Tomahawk		 Robotech, Exo Squad 
(Excaliber Mk VI)		  
75
 Marauder Macross -
Glaug Officer's Tactical Pod		 Robotech, Exo Squad 
(Glaug Pod), 
Revell Robotech Defenders (Khyron’s Battle Pod)		 Pretty much the same name through all four series.  How original, no?
80
 Goliath Dougram -
F44A Crab Gunner		 Revell Robotech Defenders (Dromedin)  
80
 Phoenix Hawk IIc Macross -
Super VF-1S		    
80
 Warhammer IIc Macross -
Tomahawk		    
85
 Battlemaster Dougram -
HT128 Bigfoot		 Revell Robotech Defenders (Ziyon)  
85
 Longbow Macross -
Phalanx		 Robotech, Exo Squad (Spartan)  
85
 Marauder IIc Macross -
Glaug Officer's Tactical Pod		    
100
 Marauder II Macross -
Glaug Officer's Tactical Pod		    
The Corsair and Samurai aerospace fighters are near-exact copies of the Crusher Joe Siren and Harpy, while the Sparrowhawk appears to be a blend of the two.  The 3025 Galleon Tank is also an exact copy of the Crusher Joe Galleon tank, while the Leopard Class dropship is a heavily modified version of the Crusher Joe Minerva.  Although there is little doubt of the origins of these, there is some confusion as to whether or not they are considered Unseen.  Most of this confusion stems from the fact that Ral Partha (now Iron Wind Metals) ceased production of the miniatures.  I need only point to the revised Technical Readout: 3025 to show that only the Galleon tank was removed.  If the tech readouts were revised specifically to remove the Unseen images; why are the Sparrowhawk, Corsair, and Leopard dropship still present?  The Samurai's image was always scarce in publications and never appeared in an official Technical Readout.  Iron Wind currently sells a resculpted (but essentially unchanged) Corsair aerospace fighter mini.  Yes... vehicles/aeros are very confusing indeed.

Check out Dougram.com for a lot more information about the series, Fang of the Sun:  Dougram and Crusher Joe.

Questions, comments, additions? Email me.
 

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