Star Wars V-Wing Starfighter (Hyperdrive Ring Release!!)

[pTrevTrevs]

I figured it was time to release something, and I had this amazing idea to use airbrakes as S-Foils, so I built a V-Wing!

For any heathens who might not know, the V-Wing is a short range interceptor from Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith. It was the predecessor to the famous TIE Fighter, and, like its descendant, lacks features such as a hyperdrive, life support, heavy armor, and large weapons in order to achieve a higher speed, more maneuverability, and a lower manufacturing cost.

The V-Wing you see here has two ion engines for propulsion, so it is most practical to base these things either on an orbital station or a low gravity body such as Gilly, Bop, or an asteroid.

Don't be fooled by this picture of a V-Wing in Munar orbit, this thing is difficult to move anywhere. of course, it has lots of DeltaV, but it cannot generate enough power to sustain its engines for longer than a minute or two.

How did I get this magnificent creation all the way out to the Mun, you ask? Well... uh... Hyperedit... Please don't hurt me

Here, have some more screenshots, the more you look at them, the less you feel like hurting me. Is good deal.

You can pick up your own V-Wing right here!

NEW!!! Hyperdrive Ring

The V-Wing can now travel long distances, thanks to a new external hyperdrive!

Download Hyperdrive Ring

Make sure to give me some feedback on how it performs for you, and leave some rep if you enjoyed!

Edited September 24, 2015 by pTrevTrevs
Added Hyperdrive DL

[pTrevTrevs]

Hmm, this thread's pretty empty... Guess I had better build a hyperdrive ring for the V-Wing...

Edited September 20, 2015 by pTrevTrevs

[ghostbuzzer7]

Hmm, this thread's pretty empty... Guess I had better build a hyperdrive ring for the V-Wing...

I got something to say

That last pic RIP nose

But the use of airbrakes was a pretty neat idea! I dont think they'd be slowing you down in space.

And the back of the craft, the way you inverted the light to make it look like a different part was really neat.

Try offsetting those big batteries like 200 say, inside the cockpit, solved your electric issue.....not your lag

[pTrevTrevs]

The light is supposed to be the astromech droid, only later did I find out that the droids used on V-Wings were spherical to save room. I've already got two of the larger radial batteries clipped inside the spacecraft, the issue with electrical power is that the four RTGs can't generate power fast enough to run the ion engines constantly. I also kind of like the limited use, it demonstrates that the V-Wing is a short range fighter, but if it become a big enough problem to people, I can fix it.

Regarding lag... What lag? This thing is only 58 parts, I don't know of any that are notorious for lag.

Edited September 20, 2015 by pTrevTrevs

[Nik_601]

Oh, that's so neat! I like it has really easy design and low part count!

[ghostbuzzer7]

The light is supposed to be the astromech droid, only later did I find out that the droids used on V-Wings were spherical to save room. I've already got two of the larger radial batteries clipped inside the spacecraft, the issue with electrical power is that the four RTGs can't generate power fast enough to run the ion engines constantly. I also kind of like the limited use, it demonstrates that the V-Wing is a short range fighter, but if it become a big enough problem to people, I can fix it.

Regarding lag... What lag? This thing is only 58 parts, I don't know of any that are notorious for lag.

I meant lag if you added 200 batteries part clipped inside Whats the TWR like?

[pTrevTrevs]

I meant lag if you added 200 batteries part clipped inside Whats the TWR like?

The TWR is probably crap, I haven't measured it yet. It's powered by ion engines, what else would you expect? I considered using the little Rockomax engines instead for more power and a cool exhaust plume, but I went with ion engines in the end because they look more futuristic and are very efficient.

[pTrevTrevs]

Hyperdrive Ring Test Flight

I got the orbit down to Eve's altitude before running out of fuel. No intercept though, The planets' positions weren't right.

[ghostbuzzer7]

Looks neat! 6 x 60KN (On a small craft) and those efficient engines + undock-able . I like it

[pTrevTrevs]

Looks neat! 6 x 60KN (On a small craft) and those efficient engines + undock-able . I like it

It's a little hard to control right now due to the offset CoM, but the SAS can manage. It has about 2,00 m/s of DeltaV right now. Not quite enough to get to Duna, I don't think, but if you wait for a good transfer window, I wager the ring could take you to Eve.

I have no idea how to get either the V-Wing or the ring to orbit legitimately. The V-Wing should be easy, it's only 4 tons, but the ring weighs in at over 40 tons. I've just been using hyperedit to launch them separately, then connecting them with the V-Wing's newly installed RCS.

[pTrevTrevs]

Hyperdrive Ring Release

I'm fairly certain this hyperdrive ring can take you to Eve or Duna. Orbital insertion not guaranteed. Here's a sample mission to prove that it works, the only thing i didn't do legit was use Hyperedit to place the two ships in orbit.

A V-Wing meeting up with a Hyperdrive Ring in LKO. It's destination is Minmus, to scout the planet for a location for a new Republic base.

V-Wing connected to the ring, shortly before leaving orbit. Notice that the S-foils have been retracted to allow the fighter to fit.

These antennas are used to ensure near-perfect alignment with the ring, to keep the CoM and CoT as close together as possible. It also works wonders for OCD people such as myself.

I have no good photos of the ejection burn since it was at night, but here is a nice screenshot of the ring leaving Kerbin.

One rather long trip to Minmus later, another possible desktop background emerges!

Minmus orbital insertion burn, just to prove I did use the engines on this mission.

The V-Wing leaving the hyperdrive ring in orbit to perform its scouting mission. The ring has a probe core and RCS to operate itself if it has to, but it lacks a method of power generation.

Hmm, this desktop background or one of the other ones... decisions, decisions...

Swooping in low over a flat. Good base building country, here.

Oh... That hill looks really close... And the electric charge is at zero... And this fighter is ion powered...

Patzon's not gonna die today! PUNCH OUT!!

Curse you, ion engines, I should have went with a chemical engine!

With his ship destroyed, with no shelter against the harsh environment of Minmus, and unable to reach his orbiting hyperdrive Ring, Patzon sets up a Distress Beacon made out of his complimentary exploration flag.

Will he survive?

Let me know what you think of the hyperdrive ring! Any suggestions will be appreciated, any problems will be investigated. The DL will be posted shortly.

[Majorjim!]

Hyperdrive Ring Release

I'm fairly certain this hyperdrive ring can take you to Eve or Duna. Orbital insertion not guaranteed. Here's a sample mission to prove that it works, the only thing i didn't do legit was use Hyperedit to place the two ships in orbit.

http://i.imgur.com/fXt0h1g.png

A V-Wing meeting up with a Hyperdrive Ring in LKO. It's destination is Minmus, to scout the planet for a location for a new Republic base.

http://i.imgur.com/XeV5fo4.png

V-Wing connected to the ring, shortly before leaving orbit. Notice that the S-foils have been retracted to allow the fighter to fit.

http://i.imgur.com/EQPfWA1.png

These antennas are used to ensure near-perfect alignment with the ring, to keep the CoM and CoT as close together as possible. It also works wonders for OCD people such as myself.

http://i.imgur.com/NtchQVD.png

I have no good photos of the ejection burn since it was at night, but here is a nice screenshot of the ring leaving Kerbin.

http://i.imgur.com/Ak8XNUU.png

One rather long trip to Minmus later, another possible desktop background emerges!

http://i.imgur.com/TJ2q2Pz.png

Minmus orbital insertion burn, just to prove I did use the engines on this mission.

http://i.imgur.com/tcq9MTy.png

The V-Wing leaving the hyperdrive ring in orbit to perform its scouting mission. The ring has a probe core and RCS to operate itself if it has to, but it lacks a method of power generation.

http://i.imgur.com/H7epOjZ.png

Hmm, this desktop background or one of the other ones... decisions, decisions...

http://i.imgur.com/4etirOi.png

Swooping in low over a flat. Good base building country, here.

http://i.imgur.com/irXoNi1.png

Oh... That hill looks really close... And the electric charge is at zero... And this fighter is ion powered...

http://i.imgur.com/ozLW7w2.png

Patzon's not gonna die today! PUNCH OUT!!

http://i.imgur.com/fd8kFlX.png

Curse you, ion engines, I should have went with a chemical engine!

http://i.imgur.com/yy63gYr.png

With his ship destroyed, with no shelter against the harsh environment of Minmus, and unable to reach his orbiting hyperdrive Ring, Patzon sets up a Distress Beacon made out of his complimentary exploration flag.

Will he survive?

Let me know what you think of the hyperdrive ring! Any suggestions will be appreciated, any problems will be investigated. The DL will be posted shortly.

It looks spectacular! Like something from Star Wars.

How many of them there delta vees does it have?

[pTrevTrevs]

It looks spectacular! Like something from Star Wars.

How many of them there delta vees does it have?

Not sure if sarcasm...

I haven't checked the exact DeltaV, but my estimates from test flights say about 2,000m/s. Of course, that was before I added those extra Oscar-B pods...

[Majorjim!]

Not sure if sarcasm...

I haven't checked the exact DeltaV, but my estimates from test flights say about 2,000m/s. Of course, that was before I added those extra Oscar-B pods...

Your sarcasm detectors are faulty. I really like the look of it.

EDIT,

I'm an idiot... I misread the title. I didn't see Star Wars written there. LOL.

Sorry I see what you mean now!

Edited September 25, 2015 by Majorjim

[pTrevTrevs]

Your sarcasm detectors are faulty. I really like the look of it.

EDIT,

I'm an idiot... I misread the title. I didn't see Star Wars written there. LOL.

Sorry I see what you mean now!

Thanks! I added Star Wars to the title because I realized that some people might not know what a V-Wing is without having Star Wars mentioned to them. I now see I was wise in making this change.

Maybe I'll do an ARC-170 one of these days, I need an extra seat to rescue Patzon from Minmus.

[shanetrain81]

for the v-wing an mods?

[pTrevTrevs]

23 minutes ago, shanetrain81 said:

for the v-wing an mods?

I'm not entirely sure I understand your question. If you're asking what mods I used, the answer is none. This ship and its hyperdrive ring are both completely stock. Unfortunately, this ship is several months old and therefore can't be guaranteed to work in KSP 1.1.2. I can't think of or see any reason why it wouldn't work, but if you try this craft you should keep in mind how old it is.

Wait, did you find this thread through my signature? Maybe I should have thought twice about changing the links on it...

Edited June 7, 2016 by pTrevTrevs