Hodo

I actually fixed the SABREs for .23, and the heating problems found in .23 also. I posted the fix several dozen pages back now in the B9 thread. I have a couple of designs with the RAPIER, but I don't like the look of the RAPIER so I don't use them much.

I play a semi-realistic way in Career mode. I have built my program up to where I have everything in the tech tree unlocked but I still push for more. I mostly concentrate on spaceplane SSTOs and VTOL spaceplane SSTOs. I am still working on designing one that can do most of what I need it to including going to Duna or any other planet in the Kerbin system. Right now most of my SSTOs have around 3-5k d/V which isn't enough for my goals. And finding that 2-3k d/V and still maintain the mission goals is prooving difficult in my current program with the mods I run. But I am a person who also likes to make things look decent, not like a massive spam of intakes, or anything like that to exploit a game flaw to achieve a goal. Dont get me wrong, some of those faults are a blast to mess with but just not my idea of fun in playing the game.

I would first build a station around Kerbin, just to refuel your Duna ship. It would make life considerably easier. And the Rockomax parts are almost a must, but it can be done without them, it is just alot harder. I myself have only been to Duna once with a space plane SSTO I built before .23. It was the last thing I did in .22 and it only managed to land on Ike because my orbit of Duna was unfavorable for landing where I needed to, to refuel the ship.

That I do. And when I restart my career mode, probably around .24, I will add two more. Looking to add intersteller mod, just for the precoolers that work, and a life support mod.

I would if I were on my home computer, I backed up KSP before I installed any mods. This gives me a fallback so I don't have to redownload and install if something goes wrong... except when I had that nasty virus a few months back and lost the backup, and half of my other files too...........To say I was less than thrilled would be an understatement.

Just add that line to the cfg file for the part missing. It takes 30seconds and wont break anything.

Same here, running B9+KJR, and a few other mods (see sig for complete list). I don't have a problem with B9 stuff falling apart. But I also quit using B9 wing parts after I discovered P-wings. I needed to reduce the parts count, and it gives me more artistic freedom.

I have one for the "who needs a runway" I will post a more updated set of pics later. But here is the VSR-8. It went to Minimus and back without refueling at a station, it did however refuel itself on Minimus with the Kethane mining gear onboard. Then there is the SVO-21, which is the smallest of my cargo lifting VTOLs, it can take 7 tons into orbit as a VTOL. Total weight of the craft is around 31 tons. Again these are old pictures, I haven't gone and bothered to do anything new in weeks. But I have tested it in .23 and it still performs the same. And my favorite looking design, but still mostly untested. It has passed all my trials, which means it can take off as a VTOL and land vertically, achieve a 100km x 100km orbit and is controllable. VTOLs and Spaceplane SSTOs are my thing. If I can find the time to load up KSP again I will actually do these challenges.

In the third picture you can clearly see the CoM moves behind the CoL, which is a BIG problem, and your CoL also becomes tilted forward which means you are getting your lift further forward of your CoL ball marker. My suggestion on fixing this is move your dry CoM further back, which will affect your loaded CoM. The design may not work as designed right now, you may have to move your wings or reduce the size of them to move your CoL back further.

Good looking craft there, a couple of questions. Does it have matching engines under the wings to match the top mounted ones? And are you using FAR and DRE?

My only suggestion is FAR. The stock KSP aerodynamic model is like flying through thick and chunky potato soup. Unfortunatly the craft you designed also would not work in FAR. It creates to much drag on the front of the craft and would fly like pushing a barn door through the air.

All I have to say is Rodyle is exactly right. On top of this I also suggest getting the FAR plugin, it helps with all aspects of KSP and should honestly be in the base game. But spaceplanes are my speciality. You want to make sure your dry COM and wet COM are still ahead of the CoL. And that your CoT is inline with the CoM. The best thing to do is to start simple, not small, but simple. Build an aircraft that does not break the atmosphere. Test how it works in atmo, then work on improving that design to get it to space.

Not sure what you are trying to show us, but that red X is amazing!

Right click on them and disable brakes, or set it in the actions group.

Wow, and I thought I was a bit full of myself. Thank you for making me feel like a saint. Honestly I tried shuttles when I first started, and then I realized they were pointless. So I made SSTO space planes and never looked back. And to repeat what Maccollo said, "Not everyone is good at this game."

Deadly Re-entry Continued.

The easiest solution to the heating problems if you are running DRE-C is to reduce the cfg file heat production for the SABRE and RAPIER to half of the original value. This brings them more inline with other stock parts. They still run hot but they dont burn and explode.

That's a great looking design. I have something yours looks a lot like. I love the first design picture you have. If you need any help with fixing it just let me know, I have built a fair number of wingless SSTOs that take off that way.

Trust me I know a bit about SSTOs, and I was not debating your fix, I was offering an additional fix or suggestion. I have built all matter of SSTOs from space plane designs to lifting body designs, all worked, all had their own unique challenges.

Hmm... I guess I know what I am doing soon... I have several craft that can do most of these challenges. Like this one if I ever find the craft file again. Or my massive SP-406VA [imgur[Tk4n69L[/imgur] Or my Yak-141 replica or anything out of this..lol So many choices... so great of a challenge.

For me it would be my SP-314 design, I don't have any pictures of it, but it had a tendancy to flip backwards and lose all control on re-entry if you were off by as much as a degree from its optimal profile. It has killed to date, 9 kerbals, but it also has an excellent crash safety rating, out of the 10 crashes it has had before it was retired it only lost those 9 out of the 30 who had crashed in it.

I have to agree 150% with Taki. In FAR you can do more realistic launch profiles and perform your gravity turn at a much lower altitude. That and canards are horrible for rockets.

Claw is right. But here is a simple solution. Add larger yaw stabilizers, also known as tail fins. The ones you currently have are to close to your center of mass which would be like putting your steering in the center of your car or riding a unicycle. So try replacing your current rudder system with a taller tail section that is further back on the craft.

I actually have been to busy in real life to play much. I haven't made anything new in months. When things slow down again I plan on getting back to designing a few new things.

I have to say Cruzan I love this one. I am not one for many stock designs but you made a great looking craft here.