Scrogdog

Toggle your GUI off and on with F2. Take Screenshots with F1. This one isn't about hardware. It is best if your GUI is off. Show us the wondrous universe!

Nice video! Off to build me one.

Program Milestone! Thunderbird 5 manned and operational! What a great day with KSP! I'm really starting to love the unmanned control rings. My heavy lifter was a little hard at making the turn, but finally, with the help of ASAS, I managed to develop a flight profile that allowed a near perfect inclination, altitude and eccentricity but with only an 8th of a tank of fuel remaining. However, I was able to leave the final ascent stage in a sub-orbital trajectory, so I am very pleased with that. Not all went well though, on my first success I looked and the guts for the command pod were missing! Argh! I'd forgotten that the cupola was the root part! I had to go back and rebuild it! Great times!

As far as circularization goes, what you want to do is change the altitude of a node at the opposite one. Both because it is fuel efficient, and because it won't have much effect on the node you are at. Depends. If you have a 30 second burn coming up, start the burn 15 seconds before you arrive. That way, things are balanced. See what I'm saying?

I'd like to thank everyone who posts their designs and such on these boards. I am learning so much from you guys! Two rookie mistakes with Thunderbird 3 hopefully corrected and updated image posted above. Firstly the fin placement was corrected. Secondly the RCS package was totally redesigned. By taking out the ugly circular tank and replacing it with two radials, I noted that the CoM was centered right upon the remote control ring, thus the new placement of the thrusters. Yep, n00bs learn well from the pros!

Great work! Love the capsule design! I am so stealing your idea to add lights to the launch clamps too!

With the failure of Thunderbird 4 in concept, I've decided to concentrate on the development of Thunderbirds 3 and 5 simply because I am itching to deploy something that works! IR now stands for International Recovery. Thunderbird 3 has been tested with the new "official" cockpit and is complete for the time being. Whoops looks like I forgot to move the fins down after adding to the mid tank! lol You'll note the lack of docking port. This is necessary because of the decision to use an "official" cockpit. Using radial chutes on it is problematical. Instead, it will use the KAS port on the back to conduct resource transfers. Crew will transfer via EVA. The other thing about that command pod is that it should sink like a rock, but hey, this is sci-fi, remember? Only the Thunderbirds get to use them so the "reality" of the space division will be unaffected. This is the core of Thunderbird 5. This station will stay true to original concept in the following way; it is not a refueling station. It is a one-man observation post. One man cupola means fairly luxurious accommodations for the occupant. The working day will be spent in the command pod, however. Future modules will add a remote sat control package and an advanced comm package. These modules are unmanned and their input/output systems routed through the command pod. It also has a remote control ring as does Thunderbird 3 because of the need for near rendezvous EVAs. It also allows me to continue work on my heavy lift package without endangering John or Alan's life!

Ok, Thunderbird 4 is going to need some work. You guys should check out this guy's Thunderbirds if you haven't already. Nice job, but mostly impractical for my purposes. Here's his Thunderbird 5; Awesome! But I'd never get it in to orbit. Also, check this puppy out! I think I've found the new official cockpit of the Thunderbirds program! Here's a link it; http://kerbalspaceprogram.com/sfr-command-pod/

Nice job! Looks like we are going Thunderbirds nuts today!

Here you go! One of my favorite mods. http://kerbalspaceprogram.com/subassembly-saver-loader/

I managed to grab it last night. I'm using it in various iterations of universes, including my new Sci-Fi universe called Thunderbirds Are Go (see below )! I absolutely love this thing! Brilliant and inspiring work!

*chuckle* I actually think Scott will be the most bored in my version. Like most fans I am fairly "meh" with regards to attempts to bring back the series after its initial TV run, but at least this was Thunderbird-like. The live action movie directed by Frakes was abysmal in my opinion. Well, even if it doesn't perform as you would like, that is still one heck of an effort in my opinion! Great job! Yeah, I love that thing! You're right it would be cool in KSP!

I decided to put this in general because it is not really a challenge, per se, as there are no real goals. Recently in another topic we spoke of different universes that we might have in game. For example, I run both a test universe and a reality universe that have completely different standards. In an effort to dispel the unfair notion that those of us who seek additional reality features in KSP are some sort of humorless sticks-in-the-mud who don’t know how to have fun, I present to you my latest idea for a science fiction universe called Thunderbirds Are Go! Yes, it is loosely based on Gerry Anderson’s famous work. Here is the basic concept; regardless of how you run your space division, you will now also conduct ground operations with a fully realized, but quite impossible reality-wise, ground division called The Thunderbirds. Thunderbird operations are wholly unrelated to your space division, so feel free to run that as you please and as real as you wish. Feel free to take this concept anywhere you like. There are no rules other than to have fun! So, I’ll tell you what I plan to do, and you can either do something similar or modify and change anything you like about it. In my version of this universe, The Thunderbirds have two primary tasks (so far); post-mission vehicle recovery and removal of debris on the ground. All debris is unlimited in its persistence and may not be removed, ever, by “end missionâ€Â. The Thunderbirds do have limited space assets such as a space station and a rocket based vehicle to rotate crew. There are also several satellites in orbit meant to support ground-based operations. However, The Thunderbirds do not conduct space operations outside of supporting ground elements via LKO observation. In other words, debris in space is the responsibility of the space division. My version of The Thunderbirds has five vehicles similar in capability to Gerry’s universe. These descriptions are what Gerry’s vision was, and then I show what I am using as a similar vehicle. Not exact replacement; for example, my Thunderbird 4 is amphibious, not submersible. Thunderbird 1 – Hypersonic variable-sweep wing rocket plane used for fast response, rescue zone reconnaissance, and as a mobile control base. Currently: stock Aeris 3A Thunderbird 2 – Heavy supersonic VTOL carrier lifting body aircraft used for the transport of major rescue equipment and vehicles, including Thunderbird 4. Currently WIP: Large Airship with winch and pod that contains rover. Rover equipped with landing legs on the front (thanks to whoever I stole that idea from!) to destroy debris on the ground. Thunderbird 4 does NOT launch from a Thunderbird 2 pod. Thunderbird 3 – Re-usable, vertically-launched SSTO (Single-stage-to-orbit) spacecraft used for space rescue and maintenance of Thunderbird 5. Currently: My own Kerbal design that is not SSTO or re-usable. Thunderbird 4 – Small utility submersible for underwater rescue. Currently: modified Dropship One reimagined as an amphibious vehicle. Thunderbird 5 – Space station in geostationary Earth orbit monitoring broadcasts around the globe for transmissions calling for help; also manages communications within International Rescue. WIP: Average run of the mill station. Before I continue, I’d like to give all the due credit in the world to the designer of the brilliant Dropship One Vehicle; Levelord. Marvelous design good sir! My apologies for abusing this fine vehicle in this way, but I promise you that this vehicle will be used properly in my reality universe! Thunderbird 4 in the water with gear retracted; RCS elements removed. Front docking port removed and replaced with cone. Top docking port removed. What’s that you say? You still see a docking port there? You are forgiven; it’s an easy mistake to make as a shielded docking port just happens to look exactly like a shielded radar array! Part of the fun is whipping out your trusty bag of technobabble! The mission of Thunderbird 4 is primarily crew recovery. Well, I think you folks get the idea! So now, do whatever you like with it! Take it for a ride as stated! Totally mash it up! Design new Thunderbirds for the community! And yes, airships and the like means mods, but again, you need not use them for your space division just because they are there! Or maybe you decide to come up with a totally stock version of this universe! But whatever you decide to do, make it fun! EDIT: Astute observers will note the pilot of Thunderbird 4's name.

Take a look at the mod called Sub-Assembly Loader. That's what I use. It's useful as a time saver even when not switching universes. You can save lifting packages and then just build the payload you want and pull the save.

Heh, I do that too. I have The Test Universe, and The Reality Universe. Anything goes in test. In reality, whatever happens, happens. No going back.

Yep, good stuff. I'd say the only thing that still is a bit annoying is trying to make fine adjustments to already attached parts. When things need to be just so, and you might want to move something just slightly. Well, the way placed parts are re-picked back up is not very helpful. Unless I am missing some tip or trick to it. When everything is by eyeball, and you aren't even sure of the item's original placement after being picked up again, it is very hard to fine tune stuff.

The problem with this discussion is that it's going to be a differing standard for everyone. There is no standard that we all follow and agree on. Personally, I'd like to see resources, for example, because it is easier to have the game model it than to have me try and decide what is and isn't possible on my own, and then to emulate what I think the correct action is. Also, when the game models that sort of thing, a lot of eyes and points of view are on it. A correction might be made that I didn't have the knowledge to come up with on my own. Having these items out in the open for discussion and review is far preferable to my estimation on how things should go. That said, if people want this as a toggle I'd have a hard time understanding why that can't happen. It's your game, play it the way you like.

I'm certainly no expert, but of it were me, I'd say that this problem calls for a total redesign of the stack. Starting with the larger diameter tanks and the more powerful engines for them.

Under the new structure, mods will be organized under the GameData folder. The old folders are now referred to as "Legacy" folders and will cease to exist at some point in the future. What this means for you is that each mod will now have its own folder. Which, by extension, means that EACH mod will have its own Parts folder, and its own PluginData folder. Most mods are constructed in such a way that if you follow the instructions precisely, all the necessary folders will be created automatically. So, basically, your PluginData stuff goes in the folder for that particular mod. The Legacy folders continue for mods that have not been updated to .20.

Not sure if this is a bug or what, so I'll try here first. So, I started my new Reality Universe, and the first order of business was to launch a satellite in to orbit which was successful. The second order of business is to launch an unmanned sub-orbital, and I figure it would be reasonable to wait 30 days. Actually it would be reasonable to wait 90 days, but I only have one pad, so 30 will do. So I go 10,0000 x time warp and count the days going by until I reach 30. I exit the launch pad and end the session. Upon restart, it says that I am on game day 8. What the heck? This could greatly affect launch window timing, but since no one is complaining about it, I must be doing something wrong.

Heh. This reminds me of the time that some guy claimed he was playing a campaign of Silent Hunter III in real time. Not sure many believed him, including myself, but the stories were great! The guy was obviously RPing the thing to the max. Go for it!

Thanks for the tips! Even if I don't make a recovery chopper at some point I'd like to build one just to do it.

I'm honored!

I do my best to keep them safe, but at the end of the day they knew the risks and at least went out doing what they loved to do!

Nice idea! I'll check out Hooligan right away! Thanks!