[WIP-Very much so]Methalox variants of some stock engines

[juanml82]

I've been playing a bit with Rational Resources

Which adds methalox isru chains, which are interesting imho, but there are no methalox mods other than KSPI-E (which has its own isru chain). So with my limited understanding of module manager, I've decided to make copies of some stock engines, but with methalox instead of LFO. I've picked the Dart, Rapier, Poodle, Thud (for variety) and the Rhino. So far, this is just an simple replacement of isp values and fuel types. I was wondering about mass and thrust, but I didn't find data on methalox engines' thrust (mostly because none are in production yet). Elon Musk claims the Raptor engines will have more than twice the thrust than the Merlin 1D with a smaller increase in volume, but says nothing about the engine's mass. My first thought, at least regarding gameplay, is that the engines should have a bit less TWR than their LFO counterparts, or else they'd be overpowered (better isp, better twr in exchange of bigger tanks).

Beyond that, I'd like to give their exhaust a more blue hue, but is that possible without Real Plume? Also, it may also be cool to make the stock engine's fuel switchable instead of adding different, identical engines, but I don't know how to do that or if it's possible.

Anyway, if there is interest or someone wants to improve upon this, here's the MM patch. I'm open to suggestions.

Oh, also, the only methalox tanks that I know of come with Interstellar fuel switch
 

// MM Configs for changing various Engines to use Methalox.

// Dart (stock)
+PART[toroidalAerospike]
{
    @name = Methalox Dart
    @title = CH4 Dart
    @description = While developing advanced aerospikes, one engineer simply asked "wouldn't these engines work best with methalox instead of liquid fuel?". This is the result of that sudden realization

    @MODULE[ModuleEngines]   {
        @maxThrust = 175
        @PROPELLANT[LiquidFuel]
                {
            @name = LqdMethane
            @ratio = 1.25733634
            @DrawGauge = True
        }
        @PROPELLANT[Oxidizer]
                {
            @name = LqdOxygen
            @ratio = 1
        }

        !atmosphereCurve {}
        atmosphereCurve
        {
            key = 0 380 -50 -73.71224
            key = 1 320 -21.23404 -21.23404
            key = 5 250 -10.54119 -10.54119
            key = 10 185 -13.59091 -13.59091
            key = 20 0.001
        }
    }
}
//Methalox Thud
+PART[radialLiquidEngine1-2]
{
    @name = Methalox Thud
    @title = CH4 Mk-55
    @description = While developing advanced Thuds, one engineer simply asked "wouldn't these engines work best with methalox instead of liquid fuel?". This is the result of that sudden realization
    @MODULE[ModuleEngines]   {
        @maxThrust = 130 //This engine is hardly used, so maybe increase thrust a bit to make it more interesting
        @PROPELLANT[LiquidFuel]
                {
            @name = LqdMethane
            @ratio = 1.25733634
            @DrawGauge = True
        }
        @PROPELLANT[Oxidizer]
                {
            @name = LqdOxygen
            @ratio = 1
        }

        !atmosphereCurve {}
        atmosphereCurve
        {
            key = 0 330
            key = 1 300
            key = 9 0.001
        }
    }
    
}
+PART[liquidEngine2-2_v2]
{
    @name = Methalox Poodle
    @title = CH4 Poodle
    @description = While developing advanced Poodle, one engineer simply asked "wouldn't these engines work best with methalox instead of liquid fuel?". This is the result of that sudden realization
    @MODULE[ModuleEngines]   {
    @PROPELLANT[LiquidFuel]
                {
            @name = LqdMethane
            @ratio = 1.25733634
            @DrawGauge = True
        }
        @PROPELLANT[Oxidizer]
                {
            @name = LqdOxygen
            @ratio = 1
        }

        !atmosphereCurve {}
        atmosphereCurve
        {
            key = 0 380
            key = 1 120
            key = 9 0.001
        }
    }
}
+PART[Size3AdvancedEngine]
{
    @name = Methalox Rhino
    @title = CH4 Rhino
    @description = While developing advanced Rhino, one engineer simply asked "wouldn't these engines work best with methalox instead of liquid fuel?". This is the result of that sudden realization

    @MODULE[ModuleEnginesFX]   {
        @PROPELLANT[LiquidFuel]
                {
            @name = LqdMethane
            @ratio = 1.25733634
            @DrawGauge = True
        }
        @PROPELLANT[Oxidizer]
                {
            @name = LqdOxygen
            @ratio = 1
        }

        !atmosphereCurve {}
        atmosphereCurve
        {
            key = 0 375
            key = 1 230
            key = 9 0.001
        }
    }
}
// Rapier LH
// Juanml82, based on Nertea's Cutlass engine

+PART[RAPIER]
{
    @mass = 1.8
    @name = CH4Rapier
    @title = CH4 Rapier
    @description = In an attempt to match fuels to the advanced nuclear thermal engines, C7 Aerospace and Rockomax Conglomerates redisigned their famed "Rapier" engine to work with liquid methane instead. They just hope it works.


@MODULE[ModuleEnginesFX]:HAS[!PROPELLANT[Oxidizer]]   {
        @PROPELLANT[LiquidFuel]
        {
            @name = LqdMethane
            @ratio = 1.25733634
        }
        @PROPELLANT[IntakeAir]
        {
            @ratio = 0.35
        }
         !atmosphereCurve {}
     atmosphereCurve
         {
             key = 0 3600 0 0
         }
    }
    @MODULE[ModuleEnginesFX]:HAS[@PROPELLANT[Oxidizer]]   {
    @maxThrust = 170
        @PROPELLANT[LiquidFuel]
        {
            @name = LqdMethane
            @ratio = 1.25733634
        }
        @PROPELLANT[Oxidizer]
        {
            @name = LqdOxygen
            @ratio = 1
        }
        !atmosphereCurve {}
        atmosphereCurve
        {
            key = 0 360
            key = 1 300
            key = 9 0.001
        }
    }
}

 

[KerbalKore]

I’ve been waiting for something like this! Please add real plume and b9 part switch tank types though, as I cannot live without realplume.

[FreeThinker]

@juanml82  instead of a ratio of 1.25733634 , I would recommend a ratio of 0.557:0.443 for Methalox, at least that what I use for IFS.

Also what I like to do is add you stock MM  script as an optional Patch to IFS Patchmanager.

Edited July 15, 2019 by FreeThinker

[juanml82]

On 7/14/2019 at 5:22 PM, KerbalKore said:

I’ve been waiting for something like this! Please add real plume and b9 part switch tank types though, as I cannot live without realplume.

I'm not sure how to add realplume configurations. I've been looking at it, and  may give it a go in a few days, but I don't promise anything. I guess, for starters, that the patch will have to specify "final", as the parts are created by an MM patch

9 hours ago, FreeThinker said:

@juanml82  instead of a ratio of 1.25733634 , I would recommend a ratio of 0.557:0.443 for Methalox, at least that what I use for IFS.

Also what I like to do is add you stock MM  script as an optional Patch to IFS Patchmanager.

I corrected the ratio and lowered the thrust of the engines a bit to compensate for the increased isp, except in the rapier (so it doesn't affect atmospheric twr. I guess the closed cycle mode could have a bit reduced thrust, though) and the Thud (so make it somewhat useful, as most advanced players would rather use radially mounted Terriers or Darts). By all means add it to IFS Patchmanager
 

// MM Configs for changing various Engines to use Methalox.

// Dart (stock)
+PART[toroidalAerospike]
{
    @name = Methalox Dart
    @title = CH4 Dart
    @description = While developing advanced aerospikes, one engineer simply asked "wouldn't these engines work best with methalox instead of liquid fuel?". This is the result of that sudden realization

    @MODULE[ModuleEngines]   {
        @maxThrust = 175
        @PROPELLANT[LiquidFuel]
                {
            @name = LqdMethane
            @ratio = 0.557
            @DrawGauge = True
        }
        @PROPELLANT[Oxidizer]
                {
            @name = LqdOxygen
            @ratio = 0.443
        }

        !atmosphereCurve {}
        atmosphereCurve
        {
            key = 0 380 -50 -73.71224
            key = 1 320 -21.23404 -21.23404
            key = 5 250 -10.54119 -10.54119
            key = 10 185 -13.59091 -13.59091
            key = 20 0.001
        }
    }
}
//Methalox Thud
+PART[radialLiquidEngine1-2]
{
    @name = Methalox Thud
    @title = CH4 Mk-55
    @description = While developing advanced Thuds, one engineer simply asked "wouldn't these engines work best with methalox instead of liquid fuel?". This is the result of that sudden realization
    @MODULE[ModuleEngines]   {
        @maxThrust = 130 //This engine is hardly used, so maybe increase thrust a bit to make it more interesting
        @PROPELLANT[LiquidFuel]
                {
            @name = LqdMethane
            @ratio = 0.557
            @DrawGauge = True
        }
        @PROPELLANT[Oxidizer]
                {
            @name = LqdOxygen
            @ratio = 0.443
        }

        !atmosphereCurve {}
        atmosphereCurve
        {
            key = 0 330
            key = 1 300
            key = 9 0.001
        }
    }
    
}
+PART[liquidEngine2-2_v2]
{
    @name = Methalox Poodle
    @title = CH4 Poodle
    @description = While developing advanced Poodle, one engineer simply asked "wouldn't these engines work best with methalox instead of liquid fuel?". This is the result of that sudden realization
    @MODULE[ModuleEngines]   {
    @maxThrust = 230
    @PROPELLANT[LiquidFuel]
                {
            @name = LqdMethane
            @ratio = 0.557
            @DrawGauge = True
        }
        @PROPELLANT[Oxidizer]
                {
            @name = LqdOxygen
            @ratio = 0.443
        }

        !atmosphereCurve {}
        atmosphereCurve
        {
            key = 0 380
            key = 1 120
            key = 9 0.001
        }
    }
}
+PART[Size3AdvancedEngine]
{
    @name = Methalox Rhino
    @title = CH4 Rhino
    @description = While developing advanced Rhino, one engineer simply asked "wouldn't these engines work best with methalox instead of liquid fuel?". This is the result of that sudden realization

    @MODULE[ModuleEnginesFX]   {
    @maxThrust = 1800
        @PROPELLANT[LiquidFuel]
                {
            @name = LqdMethane
            @ratio = 0.557
            @DrawGauge = True
        }
        @PROPELLANT[Oxidizer]
                {
            @name = LqdOxygen
            @ratio = 0.443
        }

        !atmosphereCurve {}
        atmosphereCurve
        {
            key = 0 375
            key = 1 230
            key = 9 0.001
        }
    }
}
// Rapier LH
// Juanml82, based on Nertea's Cutlass engine

+PART[RAPIER]
{
    @mass = 1.8
    @name = CH4Rapier
    @title = CH4 Rapier
    @description = In an attempt to match fuels to the advanced nuclear thermal engines, C7 Aerospace and Rockomax Conglomerates redisigned their famed "Rapier" engine to work with liquid methane instead. They just hope it works.


@MODULE[ModuleEnginesFX]:HAS[!PROPELLANT[Oxidizer]]   {
        @PROPELLANT[LiquidFuel]
        {
            @name = LqdMethane
            @ratio = 1.25733634
        }
        @PROPELLANT[IntakeAir]
        {
            @ratio = 0.35
        }
         !atmosphereCurve {}
     atmosphereCurve
         {
             key = 0 3600 0 0
         }
    }
    @MODULE[ModuleEnginesFX]:HAS[@PROPELLANT[Oxidizer]]   {
    @maxThrust = 170
        @PROPELLANT[LiquidFuel]
        {
            @name = LqdMethane
            @ratio = 0.557
        }
        @PROPELLANT[Oxidizer]
        {
            @name = LqdOxygen
            @ratio = 0.443
        }
        !atmosphereCurve {}
        atmosphereCurve
        {
            key = 0 360
            key = 1 300
            key = 9 0.001
        }
    }
}