Cupcake's Dropship Dealership...

[speedboiae86]

There's good news and bad news, the good news is the ship got into orbit easily with the ion engines & 2 gigantor panels.

Bad news is that's about as far as I've got with the testing, you're on your own from here.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/v1pwprj5j1t1w94/Barracuda%20-%20SSTO%20VTOL%20CRUISER%20Model%20I.craft

3 Triggers Solar Pannels & Ion engines...

Are you serously going to take it to Laythe with Ion engines, it makes me feel old just thinking about it.

Cupcake...

Haha, cool!! I don't know if I would have the patience to take it all the way to Laythe like that though. I knew that the Xenon gas stores, ion drives, and solar panels would weigh less than those drop tanks.

I would've gone with at least 4 ion drives on a ship that size, maybe I'll do some testing.

Any ion crafts I have taken to Laythe have usually been very small, and usually on board a carrier powered by atomic engines.

Edited October 9, 2013 by speedboiae86

[The14th]

It's a strange feeling.

Seeing that screenshot sort of makes me want to try it, but at the same time there's a voice screaming in my head:

If anyone does do it, I hope the post some pics in this thread!

[inigma]

Cupcake, SSI thinks you might be interested in this:

from: http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/41898-Shuttlecraft-Systems-Inc-%28SSI%29-NOW-HIRING!?p=685838&viewfull=1#post685838

thoughts?

[speedboiae86]

It's a strange feeling.

Seeing that screenshot sort of makes me want to try it, but at the same time there's a voice screaming in my head:

If anyone does do it, I hope the post some pics in this thread!

I might have time over Thanksgiving to do it, but it'll only be one day as I work Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

You know she got rich off of just that one sentence?

[Cupcake...]

I might have time over Thanksgiving to do it, but it'll only be one day as I work Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

You know she got rich off of just that one sentence?

Good luck, as you say it probably needs more ion engines but I'll leave that bit of engineering in your capable hands, as my knowledge on ion propulsion is about as good as my knowledge on Austrian yodelling. That is to say not very good at all...

Cupcake, SSI thinks you might be interested in this:

from: http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/41898-Shuttlecraft-Systems-Inc-%28SSI%29-NOW-HIRING!?p=685838&viewfull=1#post685838

thoughts?

Hey Inigma, I had a look at the Bantam. It's a cute little thing to be sure but in my humble opinion there's quite a lot of room to optimise it. As it stands the performance is fine for a space plane, but without wings to slow us down we VTOL designers should be raising the bar a little higher, I'm talking Minmus and back at least.

With single engine SSTO VTOLs you've really got to go through the entire ship with a fine tooth nit comb and get rid of anything that doesn't have a very good reason to be there. With the Bantam for instance I'd halve the number of RCS thruster blocks from 8 to 4, or better yet stick them in detachable RCS drop pods so you can bin them if you don't need them. I'd also change to a standard reaction wheel as the one you have at the moment doesn't offer any extra benefit. You could even try and work in one of the larger and (strangely) lighter full size reaction wheels as a structural element. I couldn't work out what the blue de-couplers were for but if you don't need them, ditch em, and if you do need them switch to the lighter, small size white ones. Maybe change the big docking port for a junior one unless your station is specifically set up for the larger type.

Now I know this all this sounds pretty trivial but all those wieght savings add up to something quite substantial in the end. I also recommend a lot more intakes, spam as if nobodys watching, you want to hit at least 30,000m at full throttle before your jet even thinks about flaming out!

So yes, I'm sorry if this sounds over critical and I know from experience that it's not easy to have someone pick apart your design but it is with the best of intentions I can assure you. I really want this ship to come together as you've actually got a chance to create a single engine VTOL that will outperform my drop ship equivalents. You see with this design you've got an advantage in that you can use a lighter cockpit 0.6 vs 1 for the Scythe and you don't really need purely aesthetic elements like the NCS adaptor, that's another 0.3 saving, you see you've saved 0.7 ?tons? already!

I've put together a little prototype showing how I see a design like this working, I haven't spent a huge amount of time on it but it already goes like a scolded cat and has more then enough grunt for a return voyage to Minmus. So yeah, grab it if you want, rip it apart and if you want to adapt it feel free.

Cupcake...

http://goo.gl/jxV20e

Edited October 10, 2013 by Cupcake...

[The14th]

"Greased Whippet" -

[Cupcake...]

"Greased Whippet" -

I'm trying to imagine the NASA lady saying "3... 2.... 1... We have lift off of the.... What the hell does that say? Greased Whipped?" No, can't quite see it myself.

Cupcake...

[Von Gobble]

Love your VTOL craft, so small and efficient. When you made your first VTOL, the Herbie I think it was, led to me making some of my own and boy did I make a few.

I know what you went through and I know these craft require quite a lot of trial and error to make something that operates smoothly.

Looking forward to seeing more of your work in the future.

[Cupcake...]

Love your VTOL craft, so small and efficient. When you made your first VTOL, the Herbie I think it was, led to me making some of my own and boy did I make a few.

I know what you went through and I know these craft require quite a lot of trial and error to make something that operates smoothly.

Looking forward to seeing more of your work in the future.

Thankyou! I find it's always the boring stuff that takes the longest like tuning and balancing. Right up to the Stratos I was still shooting my designs into orbit with a LV in order to balance them. I'd turn off the SAS set full throttle and see which way the ship moved, I'd then head back to the SPH and move the rear solar panel 5mm further back, the design would then be put into orbit again... And again... And again.... Until it held its course when I fired the rockets. I still do the same testing process today, only now I use hyper edit to get to the orbit part... Anyway, I hope you can post some of your creations as well it'll be cool to see them.

Cupcake...

[Von Gobble]

Anyway, I hope you can post some of your creations as well it'll be cool to see them. .

Might put some up tomorrow, just gotta take some screenies and try and make some descriptions as good as yours.

[Cupcake...]

IMP - MICRO ION DRONE (1.2 Ready)

http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/index.php?/topic/152767-imp-ultralight-ion-drone/

OWL - MICRO ION DROPSHIP (1.2 Ready)

http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/index.php?/topic/152649-owl-micro-ion-dropship/

SQUALL - LIGHT TRAINER (1.2 Ready)

http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/index.php?/topic/146080-squall-light-trainer-1112-recommended/

INDIGO - LIGHT CARGO SSTO (1.2 Ready)

http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/index.php?/topic/144198-violet-light-cargo-ssto-1112-only/

HARLEQUIN - MODULAR MOTHERSHIP (1.2 Ready)

http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/index.php?/topic/142516-harlequin-modular-mothership-pre-release/

SIREN - VTOL MINISUB (1.2 Ready)

http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/index.php?/topic/139120-siren-vtol-minisub-pre-release/

TUI - LIGHT ATHMO TRAINER (1.2 Ready)

http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/index.php?/topic/136559-tui-light-athmo-dropship-pre-release/

MORK & MINDY - ULTRALIGHT DROPSHIPS (1.2 Ready)

http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/index.php?/topic/128101-a-little-stocking-filler-from-cupcake-landers/

 

CYPHER - High Performance/Prospector Dropship (1.2 Ready)

http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/index.php?/topic/126428-cypher-high-performance-dropshipprospector/

 

GNAT - LIGHT ATHMO VTOL (1.2 Ready)

http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/index.php?/topic/127720-gnat-light-athmo-dropship/

CATALYST - LIGHT SSTO (1.2 Ready)

http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/index.php?/topic/150204-catalyst-light-ssto/

SHRIMP - ION MICRO DROPSHIP (1.2 Ready)

http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/index.php?/topic/131999-shrimp-ion-micro-lander-pre-release/

PUFF PUFF MK2 - Ultralight RCS Dropship (??)

http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/138165-Puff-Puff-Mk2-Ultralight-RCS-Dropship

INDIGO - MEDIUM CARGO SSTO (1.1.1/2 Only)

http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/index.php?/topic/143404-indigo-light-cargo-ssto-pre-release/&do=getNewComment

MANTIS - Medium Utility Dropship (1.05 Ready)

http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/index.php?/topic/25343-cupcakes-dropship-dealership/&do=findComment&comment=2240935

PICKAXE - Compact Mining Dropship (1.05 Ready)

http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/136582-Pickaxe-Compact-Mining-Dropship

MATADOR - Multi Role VTOL Lander (1.05 Ready)

http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/135207-MATADOR-Multi-Role-VTOL-Lander

MOTH MK2 - Ultralight Ion Dropship (1.05 Ready)

http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/123922-Moth-Mk2-Ultralight-Ion-Dropship

 

SCYTHE - Light VTOL Lander (1.05 Ready)

http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/136676-Scythe-Light-VTOL-Lander

PUFF PUFF - Ultralight RCS Dropship

http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/127796-Bulldog-Mk2-Heavy-VTOL-Lander-Puff-Puff-Ultralight-RCS-Dropship

BULLDOG MK2 - Heavy VTOL Lander (Built for KSP 1.0, may have issues with 1.04)

http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/127796-Bulldog-Mk2-Heavy-VTOL-Lander-Puff-Puff-Ultralight-RCS-Dropship

TOAD - Heavy Duty VTOL Lander/TADPOLE MK II - Multirole VTOL Lander (Built for KSP 1.0, may have issues with 1.04. Replaced by Matador in service.)

http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/122234-Toad-Heavy-Duty-VTOL-Lander-Tadpole-Mk2-Multi-Role-VTOL-Lander

SPRITE - LIGHT SSTO DROPSHIP (.90 Compatible)

http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/107914-Quite-possibly-the-best-SSTO-I-ve-ever-made

 

 

GECKO - MULTI-PURPOSE DROPSHIP/TYLO LANDER (.90 Compatible)

http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/109736-Quite-possibly-everything-you-could-ever-want-from-a-dropship-lander-Oh-and-it-does-Tylo-too!

 

 

MOTH - ULTRALIGHT ION LANDER (.90 Compatible)

http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/85078-Moth-Ultralight-Ion-Lander-Dropship

WATER RAT - LIGHT WEIGHT ION BOAT (.90 Compatible)

http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/109066-Water-Rat-Light-Weight-Ion-Boat

SOVEREIGN - LONG RANGE VTOL CRUISER (.90 Compatible)

http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/108719-Sovereign-SSTO-Cruiser-Class-Dropship

 

 

PIXIE MK2 - LIGHT SSTO DROPSHIP (.90 Compatible)

http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/102264-Pixie-Mk2-Light-SSTO-Dropship-Now-Laythe-Capable!?p=1584193#post1584193

 

 

SPECTRE MK2 - GENERAL PURPOSE DROPSHIP (.90 Compatible)

http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/102021-Spectre-Mk2-General-Purpose-VTOL-Dropship-%28With-Tutorial%29

SCYTHE MK5 - LIGHT SSTO DROPSHIP (.90 Compatible)

http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/100489-Scythe-Mk5-Light-SSTO-Dropship

WRAITH - LIGHT VTOL GUNSHIP (Pending .90 Update)

http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/93130-Wraith-Light-VTOL-Gunship

TADPOLE - LIGHT VTOL LANDER (.90 Compatible)

http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/50125-Tadpole-Light-VTOL-Lander-LV-%28100-Parts%21%29

CARPATHIA - HEAVY SSTO CRUISER (Pending .90 Update)

http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/57653-I-hear-Laythe-is-just-lovely-this-time-of-year

OLYMPIAN : UTILITY DROP SHIP: (Pending .25 Update)

http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/83447-Olympian-Utility-Drop-Ship

PIXIE - LIGHT SSTO DROPSHIP

http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/57006-Pixie-Ultralight-SSTO-Drop-Ship

SPECTRE - HEAVY VTOL GUNSHIP

http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/83807-Spectre-Heavy-VTOL-Gunship

SCYTHE MK4 - LIGHT SSTO (.24 Compatible)

http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/78714-Back-In-Black

 

 

EQUINOX - ADVANCED LONG RANGE MEDIUM CRUISER

http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/65626-Equinox-Advanced-Long-Range-Dropship

SCARAB - UTILITY DROPSHIP

http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/64597-SCARAB-Light-Utility-Dropship

BANSHEE MK3 - LIGHT VTOL GUNSHIP

http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/79968-Banshee-Mk3-VTOL-Gunship

BULLDOG - HEAVY SSTO EXPLORER/LIFTER

http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/53654-A-dropship-for-the-working-man-%28or-woman%29

QUEEN BEE - SSTO HEAVY TRANSPORTER

http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/52297-The-Mother-Of-All-VTOLS

(About To Be Replaced By All New Mk2 Edition... Stay Tuned...)

BANSHEE - LIGHT ATTACK VTOL

http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/48749-Before-anyone-asks-no-I-didn-t-steal-it-from-the-bat-cave

HERBIE - OPEN TOP VTOL

http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/42602-Look-Mum-no-pit%21

CORGI - OPEN TOP SSTO VTOL

http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/43700-pits-who-needs-them-anyway

(Replaced By Scythe Mk4)

STRATOS - SSTO VTOL

http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/45153-Perhaps-Sir-Would-Care-For-A-VTOL

SUPER MINNOW - MULTI PURPOSE VTOL LANDER

http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/49042-Super-Minnow-Multi-Purpose-VTOL-Lander

(Replaced By Equinox)

BARRACUDA - SSTO LONG RANGE CRUISER

http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/50870-Barracuda-Interplanetary-SSTO-VTOL

(Replaced By SCARAB)

OX - UTILITY DROP SHIP

http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/46474-Delivery-drivers-wanted

Edited September 15, 2017 by Cupcake...

[LaydeeDem]

I'M COMING FOR YOU CUPCAKE.

[Cupcake...]

I'M COMING FOR YOU CUPCAKE.

Eeeeeeek....Er, I mean... If anyone needs me I'll be in the bunker...

Cupcake...

Edited November 6, 2013 by Cupcake...

[BigD145]

Nicely done, Cupcake. I love the aesthetics of your designs as well as the use of part clipping.

[Cupcake...]

Nicely done, Cupcake. I love the aesthetics of your designs as well as the use of part clipping.

Thanks very much!

Cupcake...

[Speeding Mullet]

Hi Cupcake, Inigma thinks that you may be interested in this, although having read through your thread just now it looks like you could be looking for way more efficiency than this is capable of. Let me know if you want to cut the post down.

After much toiling with the original designs and millions spent in R+D it was decided to scrap the original designs. A new approach was bought to the table by a young upstart named Harwise who had previously done a stint on the Duna Navigator missions. While returning to the orbital hub from the surface of Duna it struck him the design was too clumsy to use on the Laythe if the budget was ever approved, and a smaller Shuttlepod / Shuttlecraft was required, initially for use on Kerbin. Harwise got doodling on the return trip so he didn't have to watch Neillorf's incessant nodding, and this formed the inspiration for the Nucleus Class One Man Pod:

(Precision landing on roof of VAB)

Flight Profile:

Vertical until about 10km

45 degrees to 18km

10-20 degrees to space

Engage rocket motors at about 24km / 1400 m/s and 20 degrees. Vary pitch to achieve desired flight profile.

Cut off jet engines and close intakes when starved of air

Reach desired height and circularise

Commands:

1) Toggle jet engines

2) Toggle rockets

3) Toggle intakes

9) Toggle legs

8) Toggle ladder

7) Toggle front light

6) Toggle rear light

5) Toggle solar panels

4) Toggle docking port cover

Hints:

Fuel is designed to flow towards the rockets. Moving fuel to the central tank may be required if you plan on using the jet engines for extended atmospheric flight, or if you are going Kerbin orbit Kerbin.

The Nucleus class pod is extremely stable. No RCS is required unless you are docking, but you can keep SAS on throughout flight and orbital maneuvers.

The pod is capable of both Kerbin orbit Kerbin, and orbit kerbin orbit. Starting in LKO it can also make a return trip around the Mun.

Screenshots:

Craft File: Nucleus Class one man pod

[Cupcake...]

Hi Cupcake, Inigma thinks that you may be interested in this, although having read through your thread just now it looks like you could be looking for way more efficiency than this is capable of. Let me know if you want to cut the post down.

After much toiling with the original designs and millions spent in R+D it was decided to scrap the original designs. A new approach was bought to the table by a young upstart named Harwise who had previously done a stint on the Duna Navigator missions. While returning to the orbital hub from the surface of Duna it struck him the design was too clumsy to use on the Laythe if the budget was ever approved, and a smaller Shuttlepod / Shuttlecraft was required, initially for use on Kerbin. Harwise got doodling on the return trip so he didn't have to watch Neillorf's incessant nodding, and this formed the inspiration for the Nucleus Class One Man Pod:

(Precision landing on roof of VAB)

Flight Profile:

Vertical until about 10km

45 degrees to 18km

10-20 degrees to space

Engage rocket motors at about 24km / 1400 m/s and 20 degrees. Vary pitch to achieve desired flight profile.

Cut off jet engines and close intakes when starved of air

Reach desired height and circularise

Commands:

1) Toggle jet engines

2) Toggle rockets

3) Toggle intakes

9) Toggle legs

8) Toggle ladder

7) Toggle front light

6) Toggle rear light

5) Toggle solar panels

4) Toggle docking port cover

Hints:

Fuel is designed to flow towards the rockets. Moving fuel to the central tank may be required if you plan on using the jet engines for extended atmospheric flight, or if you are going Kerbin orbit Kerbin.

The Nucleus class pod is extremely stable. No RCS is required unless you are docking, but you can keep SAS on throughout flight and orbital maneuvers.

The pod is capable of both Kerbin orbit Kerbin, and orbit kerbin orbit. Starting in LKO it can also make a return trip around the Mun.

Screenshots:

Craft File: Nucleus Class one man pod

That's a cool looking ship, thanks for posting it. I guess in terms of performance you can push it a lot further then you have. Personally I'd be inclined to double the jet fuel allowance to 320 units. You can get away with the equivalent of a couple of T800 tanks for your rocket fuel. I think the real potential for this sort of design is to combine it with LV-Ns as the shape of the ship will let you mount them in a way that's not hideous! With two turbo jets and a single LV-N you may even be able to do a return journey to Laythe. Even one jet engine combined with an LV-N will still give some pretty impressive performance. Moar intakes too! Feel free to post more pics, I'd be interested to see how this craft develops.

Cupcake...

[sparty48]

Picks jaw up off floor

[Speeding Mullet]

That's a cool looking ship, thanks for posting it.

Cupcake...

Thanks Cupcake. I've taken your advice on board and am currently reworking the design. I've managed to do a partial LV-N conversion which allows you to reach and land on Mun but not return which is useless but big progress, so I'll keep working on the efficiency and re post once it's truly capable of an amazing feat. I'm thinking of including it as part of my ultimate Jool 5 entry (why oh why did I sign up for another massive architecture mission) as a Laythe specific lander so that will force me to carry through the development.

[Cupcake...]

Thanks Cupcake. I've taken your advice on board and am currently reworking the design. I've managed to do a partial LV-N conversion which allows you to reach and land on Mun but not return which is useless but big progress, so I'll keep working on the efficiency and re post once it's truly capable of an amazing feat. I'm thinking of including it as part of my ultimate Jool 5 entry (why oh why did I sign up for another massive architecture mission) as a Laythe specific lander so that will force me to carry through the development.

Oh well, good luck. Sounds like your craft is developing nicely, I'd like to see more of it as it comes together.

Cupcake...

[Cupcake...]

Hi all,

I've just got the dropships back from the garage, they've all been tuned up and had new tax discs fitted for .23. Change list is as follows...

SCYTHE MK3

Landing Gear Starts Deployed.

RCS Fuel Drained From Cockpit (Done To Ensure Ship Remains Balanced)

Suspension Locked

Fuel Tanker Compatibility

PIXIE

Landing Gear Starts Deployed.

RCS Fuel Drained From Cockpit

Suspension Locked

Takeoff Gantry Deleted

CARPATHIA (All Models)

RCS Fuel Drained From Cockpit

Steering Unlocked

Rear Steering Inverted

BULLDOG (All Models)

RCS Fuel Drained From Cockpit

Steering Unlocked

Rear Steering Inverted

BARACCUDA

Landing Gear Starts Deployed.

RCS Fuel Drained From Cockpit

Suspension Locked

Fuel Tanker Compatibility

MINNOW/TADPOLE (Stand Alone Models And LVs)

RCS Fuel Drained From Cockpit

Suspension Locked

HERBIE/CORGI

No Changes Needed

Still to do...

BANSHEE

So there you have it nothing too major really, as you were...

Cupcake...

Edited January 3, 2014 by Cupcake...

[inigma]

What purpose to lock suspension? Does it mean it will break more easily, or does suspension play any roll currently impact tolerance? I know it prevents sagging gear into the ground.

[DisarmingBaton5]

What purpose to lock suspension? Does it mean it will break more easily, or does suspension play any roll currently impact tolerance? I know it prevents sagging gear into the ground.

Probably makes it easier to land in terms of the dropships; the suspension probably induces a lot of rolls upon landing.

That or it makes it easier to "daisy chain" the dropships.

[Cupcake...]

What purpose to lock suspension? Does it mean it will break more easily, or does suspension play any roll currently impact tolerance? I know it prevents sagging gear into the ground.

Probably makes it easier to land in terms of the dropships; the suspension probably induces a lot of rolls upon landing.

That or it makes it easier to "daisy chain" the dropships.

The main reason I did it is that the day the suspension got all floppy was the day all my tankers stopped working! A lot of my dropships also use 3 landing legs instead of 4 so never seemed to sit terribly well once the shocks started to flex.

Cupcake...

[Comrade Jenkens]

How do your ships have such impressive range and yet still have VTOL? I find that adding VTOL to my ships drastically reduces their dV.