Castille7

Sector 7 Space Laboratories "Bridge Construction Set" In the early stages of this project the Suspension Bridge was not structurally sound for the reentry from saved games or when switching craft and as I strengthened the designed the part count climbed causing lag, this was a caused for design changes and new ideas. I then decided to try building the bridge on piers and this to was not working well because of reentry from a saved game on the water as mentioned before. The bridge is a far cry from what I would have liked but it's a functional Bridge that can be constructed. Often I used the Aqua Tram II for aligning the Bridge but in the end it was not necessary for the Bridge completion. Note: I am releasing the Pier section without knowing if it will actually work. I did notice during some testing that it can float free without the foundation mounted to the Ocean Floor and it survived reentry once during testing. Feel free to build these bridges on the water but as we know this game was not intended for water craft but it is still so much fun to build anything in KSP. I hope you enjoy the challenges as much as I did and have fun building bridges along with Rocketry. First Design This was looking really nice but not working in KSP More Photos Photos of Complications on the water Mobile Lift & Bridge Parts: 229 Mass: 38.656t Height: 16.1m Width: 21.4m Length: 48.2m Bridge Entrance Parts: 264 Mass: 27.113t Height: 10.3m Width: 13.3m Length: 31.8m Long Bridge Section Parts: 275 Mass: 30.574t Height: 10.3m Width: 17.5m Length: 52.6m Bridge Pier Section Parts: 231 Mass: 174.727t Height: 28.8m Width: 45.5m Length: 12.8m Aqua Tram II Parts: 122 Mass: 27.055t Height: 3.5m Width: 5.2m Length: 9.9m Operation: I first brought Rover 7 to the coastline and then constructed the bridge straight off the rear of the runway starting with a Bridge Entrance then adding the center sections and then the Bridge Exit (Bridge Entrance). When docking them together alignment is very critical, sometimes they connect easily sometimes not. Much like connecting in space connect them very gently. Next shutdown the two engines on the Bridge Entrance manually so that all remaining engines will be running in one direction. The Bridge Entrance is a little shaky I makes turns near 10 m/s the center sections are much easier to handle. The Rover I am using must climb on the Bridge ramps slowly. The Mobile Lift is slow to start and can't make tight turns but it is placing Bridges nicely. When the Mobile Lift releases the Bridge it will collapse, at this point just return to the tracking center and remove the debris unless you have a 0 debris setting then this is unnecessary. I may have left out some needed information, please feel free to ask questions if needed.

Suspension Bridge Update Plan D Can I get a Plan Z? ........ After many complications with stuff floating on the water I decided to leave floating alone and going with just the Suspension Bridge on Piers. The plan is to have two supporting Piers, after getting a good foundation I will then attach to the Piers. Also the Mobile Bridge Lift is complete and dropping small bridges all around Mission Control. Pier Idea for Plan D Pier Testing Floating Suspension Complications Still More Photos

I like that control setup you have on the bow of the launcher, thats some nice ingenuity!

Suspension Bridge Update Plan C The first span is not the distance I would have liked but it is coming together. Also I was able to make use of an Aqua Tram I built, Jeb used it for some construction adjustments and inspections. I added some lamps to the bridge which are working well and took Rover 7 for a ride down the bridge for testing and its working great. I think I can start a second span far enough away for the system not to generate both spans at the same time, so the part count will not be so high at one time in the playing field. This is in theory because I noticed when heading towards a large object the system seems to generate that object into the playing field as you approach it. Not sure if I am explaining this correctly but I think some of us understand how this works. Below is the first span nearly complete and not sure if there will be another until I prove my theory.

Thanks a bunch for all your hard work, I am sure there is a lot of unseen work that us Kerbonauts on the Forum never see. I've enjoyed all the helpful information you brought and I hope your new endeavors are exciting for you. See ya later................. In Kerbal Space! Castille7

Suspension Bridge Update Plan B Shut Down During the construction of the Bridge I figured as most of us probably did.System lag from so many parts being used is bringing me to the decision of shutting down Plan B. The first design was undergoing structural damages caused by the reentry from a save or from switching craft. I do realize this is not what the game is design for and the challenge is more difficult but yet more fun at the same time. I love KSP for this reason, it's more than Rocketry for me. Plan B was a new connector giving the Bridge better structural strength but also at the cost of having more parts causing system lag. My idea for Plan C will be to reduce the part count by going back to the first design, lower the Bridge height and add more structural strength to the design. Plan A The Systems Structural Testing Plan B New Connector System Structural Testing Plan B is Working!!! Plan B Shut Down With the Entrance and six sections both designs were failing

Mods no Mods? Looks all stock

"Kerman Krazy River" Lets have some fun, summer is almost done!!! The Kerman Krazy River is an idea that came to mind when I used the Round-8 Fuel Tank as a Life Ring on the Steamboat Crawfish Queen. Part: 485 Mass: 80.862t Height: 7.0m Width: 21.6m Length: 20.9m Krazy River Craft File Photo Album

Suspension Bridge Update First I would like to mention the previous Bridge and Mobile Lift will be completed as part of this project. The plans are to route this Floating Suspension Bridge as shown in the example below, this route is likely to change depending if the system lags too much. The foundations on each end along with the small land crossing of the bridge have not been constructed, these will be custom designed. I picked this location because of it's obvious short distance of travel for construction and also for a scenic route. Would this be the first Floating Bridge made in KSP? I would like to wear that T-Shirt Construction Begins Alignment Refueling The preferred Route

Suspension Bridge With Mobile Lift Project The video has some behind the scenes footage. I am still working on the Mobile Lift, steering is not working well at the moment along with a few other fixes needed.

@Azimech Another congratulations for making a Thread of the Month for September too cool man!

Now that you explained this I can see the difficulties. If I think of something that might help I will let you know,

SSTO Energy Source Update Mission Complete Energy Source is probably my greatest achievement in KSP, It is also the most difficult craft for reentry that I have designed. The wings were overheating and were fixed with Radiators, the Vector Engines were giving lots of trouble on reentry because of their weight. I reduced the Engines from 12 to 8 and the Rapiers were swapped with them going from 8 to 12. I also added FL-R1 RCS Fuel Tanks in the Cargo Bays to act as a counterbalance for the weight of the Vectors. During reentry the craft was twisting, this twisting was caused by the remaining fuel in the rear of the craft, this was fixed by a fuel transfer during reentry to the forward fuel tank nearest the cockpit. With all these changes, many flight test and design tweaks I have made a successful landing with minor damage.

The Mini Enterprise WIP Complete, see it here

The Star Fleet Mini Collection Sector 7 Space Laboratories These craft have been very challenging for such small craft, each have their unique launcher and difficult but yet fun challenging ways of control. Please note, none have a nav ball that is reading correctly, some if not all have opposite controls much like a real aircraft, down is up and up is down. The launchers are not my best work but they can get you off to a really good orbit for space travel and the two space craft pack a punch, I don't know for sure but these could be the smallest Interplanetary craft built in KSP. I had know idea that these craft were going to travel the distance they are going. None have been in any orbit other than Kerbin and I am not sure if they can achieve any other Mun or Planet's orbit, mainly because of the difficulties with the navigation ball because of the way the craft was built. All require much patience. Photo Album The Mini Enterprise AC-1 Parts: 46 Mass: 1.704t Height: 1.8m Width: 2.1m Length: 4.0m The Mini Enterprise AC-2 Parts: 78 Mass: 2.774t Height: 14.8m Width: 2.9m Length: 2.3m The Mini Enterprise Parts: 176 Mass: 315.108t Height: 41.6m Width: 11.2m Length: 11.2m The Mini Enterprise I. C. E. Parts: 75 Mass: 39.060t Height: 20.4m Width: 4.0m Length: 5.9m Flight Operations The Mini Enterprise AC-1 launches in a very unique way, from a cart. Launch with full throttle and decouple at near 40 m/s tapping the W key and your off. The Mini Enterprise AC-2 launches in it's unique way by engaging the Juno Engines and waiting about 7 or so seconds for them to build thrust and then release and your in flight. The Mini Enterprise launches with full throttle & SAS, use RCS to stop the gravity turn, you might want to slow the engines down for better control during the gravity turn but no necessary. The Mini Enterprise I. C. E. launches the same way as The Mini Enterprise with full throttle & SAS, slow the engines down for better control during the gravity turn and enjoy the solar system.

@Gman_builder I am near completion with my Mini Enterprise I've been working on, I was trying to complete my SSTO Energy Source before moving on with this project but it's been giving me ten kinds of headaches trying to complete. The weight of the Vector Engines are not letting me do a good reentry so now I jumped back to what I am calling "The Star Fleet Mini Collection" and I am going to complete it tonight.

I have a suggestion for the hangars. When someone used a craft from my hangar I don't know which craft or if the hangars is being used. Maybe add a status for the hangars to indicate their usage?

Still a WIP, working on reentry, it's been difficult with the Vectors, they weight so much!

SSTO Energy Source Update I've been getting back to work on Energy Source to complete it and I am really loving the cleaner look, the triple split wings, the forward double wings and the quad tails were bothering me. A few other changes were made along with these. I like the strength and thick look of these large wings and I didn't want to get away from using them. I was able to make single wings that are working well. In the early stages of testing the new wings they were interfering with the Cargo Bay. The cargo being tested are Mobile Fuel Tanks, these are a new concept for adding fuel tanks to a Fuel Station, with a attached to them a pilot can shuttle the tank back a forth to the station and craft. I fixed the problem I was having with the wings by swapping the Bays to the inside of the craft and the fuel tanks to the outside of the craft. I am still working on action groups and on making a successful transfer to a space station.

Very nice work, I have to say Wow you could have had a V8!

Na! Another Sector 7 project, I only have the Mini Enterprise for that. I am thinking about making that badge.

I've been playing for a long time now and I still haven't worked on a project like this yet. Nice work He_162

SpaceDock-7 Another refuel station without all the elaborate and useless components like Omega 7. My goal is to have something with only necessary equipment needed for refueling craft. I like the looks of a Spacedock and docking into one should be exciting, I like the precision maneuvers involved. I had to reduce it's part count because it was too large to launch or was taking much too long to get on the launch pad. I decided to take a few pictures before it fell back to Kerbin, I don't have it in Orbit yet. Also considering something more oval shaped instead of the octagon shape because it still looks too circular. I will also add fuel tanks with a transport craft after the project is complete. Photo Album

Mini Enterprise Project Update Mini Enterprise AC-2 Plans are to release four stock Mini Enterprise Craft, two will be Aircraft and the other two will be Spacecraft. This is one of the Aircraft Mini Enterprise AC-2

@Castille7 What are you going to build in there!? If you wind up continuing the project, I'd love to see more. @Cunjo Carl My goal is for it to be another refuel station without all the elaborate components like Omega 7, something with only necessary equipment needed for refueling craft. I like the looks of a spacedock and docking into one should be exciting, I like the precision maneuvers involved. I plan to reduce the size, anything over 1,500 parts is really unnecessary to enjoy KSP. I was planning size reduction I just have not got back to that project yet.