Trident. SSTO V/STOL Dropship!

[Rune]

Finally, I have a worthy successor for the Eagle. Specifically designed to drop any one of my base modules to the surface of any rock in the kerbol system (minus Eve and Tylo, as always). So, it does that, yeah, and that is kind of good. But the best part? It does so with style.

Some of you might have seen it already on my base thread, because this was built to work with it, mainly. See, I was looking for a new lander for the modules to provide the same service as the old Eagle, but the 1.0 changes certainly precluded the capabilities of that very cheaty ship (nuclear engines, VTOL, SSTO, capable of dropping a module on Duna and make it back to orbit...). Because that is impossible with the new, much more realistic atmospheric flight... right? Wrong! The mileage might be less, the payload may be just 10 mT, but this thing can SSTO kerbin like a conventional plane... or, refueled on the appropriate orbit, drop a module on Val like a rocket-powered VTOL, for example.

The rocket VTOL part might sound a bit overkill and unnecessary, but considering we don't yet have stock cargo bay doors that can be used on the ground, I kinda needed it to release the modules once landed. Still, with things with more clearance, I also did a nice trick, just because it didn't really cost me anything. I does wheelies!

Cool, right? I probably won't use it in the end, but hey, it's there. And another tiny thing I added very late in development (it's not there in most of the pics), was actually one of the most inspired ideas. See, the shape precluded this docking to the base like the Base Rocektcrane currently does, and I was worried about 100% stock refueling (I accept that some people don't want to install KAS and KIS, awesome as they are). So I was toying around with building a Klaw-equipped refueling rover when it hit me. Why not putting the Klaw on the ship instead? I had a perfect spot on the tail for it and everything! So yeah, in the end, the ship that made me worry about refueling from a base, ended up being the thing that I will use to refuel other vehicles. Because with a ISRU module, this makes one hell of a miner! And let me tell you, playing Lego with this thing is a lot of fun. Look at what I'm doing at Mun!

A small fuel tug takes off with a fresh load of Ore from Arch Research Station, where one Heinlein and a Rocketcrane are also docked, besides the Trident on the far left that brought down the last two nodes.

It has yet to go and fetch the Lab that will complete the picture, but that'll be the last piece. You can also see that I have set up a nice farm for the crew, courtesy of KAS, KIS, RoverDude's LS, and a bit of ingenuity.

A few engineering notes:

The unusual design makes it a bit draggy (the side rocket VTOL engines, basically), so it'll take some doing to break Mach. The basic idea is to never overload it over 10mT (even tough it has the dV and, theoretically, the thrust) on Kerbin, because then you won't have enough T/W to overcome the Mach barrier at 10,000m, and you will burn liquid fuel like there is no tomorrow inching your way into thinner atmosphere. However, once you go supersonic with a 10mT load or less, it has TWR out the wazoo, so don't worry. Oh, and another thing, the rocket VTOL system. That is meant to be used to land on airless bodies, or to reduce vertical speed on Duna prior to touchdown, but actually, if the thing is almost empty, it develops TWR over 1 on Kerbin. So yes, technically, you can drop modules on kerbin, refuel, and go back to orbit for more. At least landing is going to be cheap in dV wherever you have an atmosphere! Oh, and note that in order for the VTOL system to be balanced, the rearwards tank should be empty, and also have in mind that the Thuds cannot access the fuel on the outboard wing tanks. It really is meant to be a secondary system, and all mayor burns be done with the RAPIERs, where you have slightly more TWR and the same Isp. But really, if you do that, you shouldn't really notice, since by the time it has used less than half of its dV the thing self-adjusts for perfect VTOL balance until you empty the larger tanks, no matter which engines you use. Oh and I almost forgot! The cockpit is totally wrongly aligned, so make sure to select your point of control according to which propulsion system you use: probe core for horizontal flight, Jr. docking port for VTOL mode. They are handy to reach, just behind the cockpit.

With this baby, basically, you need nothing else to set up one of my base packs (ok, maybe the fuel depot to take it to the orbit of the rock you want to put the base one, but come on). With the ISRU module installed, it makes a decent miner. It can always work as a 10mT cargo SSTO. Did I mention the whole thing is a mere 80 parts? Setting colonies on, say, Laythe, must be a breeze, what with having a thinner atmosphere (less drag), and a lower gravity (even greater TWR, and more dV margin). Even Duna is doable! Though I wouldn't really really know, because it'll be some time before the Europa (my first ship to Jool in 1.0) or the Arrakeen (ditto for Duna) both finish assembly on Munar orbit and head out with two of these apiece. Maybe you guys will tell me how it does? In any case, I'm hugely satisfied with it, and I hope you guys like it too. Enjoy!

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http://www./download/znql3koizphazka/SSTO+Mk+LXVII+-+Trident.craft

Rune. Best used with my Base-In-A-Box pack. Check that out!

Edited August 27, 2015 by Rune

[Columbia]

Cleverly done! I'm quite amazed at that VTOL capability.

Columbia. It's not every day that you see such a heavy machine lifting off like that! (Sorry, I had to:sealed:)

[Rune]

Cleverly done! I'm quite amazed at that VTOL capability.

Columbia. It's not every day that you see such a heavy machine lifting off like that! (Sorry, I had to:sealed:)

Well, with full tanks it's only VTOL on Duna-like gravities and less. And it's rocket power so I didn't spend too much weight on it, of course. But yeah, almost empty it does go over 1.0 on Kerbin-like gravity, in order to clear the module it has dropped.

Rune. The buzzwords for this design in R-SUV during the sale pitch were 'versatile' and 'multitask'. It's supposed to save tons of √ by fulfilling different roles...

Edited August 27, 2015 by Rune

[Jett_Quasar]

I really like the rocket VTOL capabilities... I think I might borrow that idea! LOL

JR

[Rune]

I really like the rocket VTOL capabilities... I think I might borrow that idea! LOL

JR

Borrow away! And since I know you and you will make it bigger, try the spikes for the VTOL system, with a similar configuration. Better stats, and it'll allow a design 50% heavier in every aspect (six RAPIERs, and somewhere around 20mT in payload) with, probably slightly better performance... except in part count, of course.

I was very close to look into putting the VTOL rocket on bays, on account of drag... maybe on the wingtips. But then the outboards tanks looked so right, merging with the wings in such a nice way, that I was afraid of changing things and ruining the looks, frankly.

Rune. Maybe that helps too?

[Azimech]

Nice! I like the design. Doing wheelies is something my BUFF2 does as well but it needs it's 6 reversing turboramjets to do so.

[Jett_Quasar]

Borrow away! And since I know you and you will make it bigger, try the spikes for the VTOL system, with a similar configuration. Better stats, and it'll allow a design 50% heavier in every aspect (six RAPIERs, and somewhere around 20mT in payload) with, probably slightly better performance... except in part count, of course.

I was very close to look into putting the VTOL rocket on bays, on account of drag... maybe on the wingtips. But then the outboards tanks looked so right, merging with the wings in such a nice way, that I was afraid of changing things and ruining the looks, frankly.

Rune. Maybe that helps too?

I'm not going to mangle any more of your sweet designs, I like this one the way it is. The only thing I would do is add some mining equipment into the bay (since it has a 10T cargo capacity), and take it on a grand tour!

JR

Edit: I liked the Longsword the way it was too, I just couldn't fit my Reliant craft into the cargo bay

[Rune]

I'm not going to mangle any more of your sweet designs, I like this one the way it is. The only thing I would do is add some mining equipment into the bay (since it has a 10T cargo capacity), and take it on a grand tour!

JR

Edit: I liked the Longsword the way it was too, I just couldn't fit my Reliant craft into the cargo bay

Actually, if you grab the ISRU module from my base pack, that is designed to fit the bay perfectly and it turns it into a self-sufficient ship, with 2xDrills, 2xFuell cells, and the converter (the reason it has a crew cabin is mostly to put the engineer inside). Then again, it wouldn't make orbit with enough dV to make Minmus that way, it makes orbit with about half a km/s loaded with cargo (in Kerbin).

Nice! I like the design. Doing wheelies is something my BUFF2 does as well but it needs it's 6 reversing turboramjets to do so.

Glad you like it! In Kerbin, you actually need a bit of help from the forward VTOL engines, but once you reach the tipping point, it actually become stable with the ass on the runway, just like it is stable on three wheels when horizontal. Levers and fulcrums! In other smaller moons, the RCS system (based on Vernors and quite powerful, incidentally, no monoprop required) would be enough to get things going.

Rune. I love how I have to note which planet I'm referring to.

[Rune]

Doing the testing of this thing gave me some very, very cool screenies. I want to share them!

Liftoff! Let's go get that last module.

Watch out Dumy! There's an Arch in front of you! (No kidding, the base pilot is called Dumy... )

And I was doing the ascent with Kerbin's crescent in front of me. Priceless.

I you look closely, you can see that the Lab module is not yet docked to the Universal Portâ„¢. And that I left some garbage floating around. Actually, I found a bug here that, while unrelated to the Trident, I should fix.

To handle the slight imbalance from lugging the corridors behind me, I just used the RAPIERs for everything. It's not like it can't handle it, I just found it more convenient.

And this is how the finished base looks. The views from inside are amazing! And only 400 parts with the support vehicles included. Actually, more on that on the base thread, soonâ„¢.

Rune. And a couple of KAS bugs with the greenhouses, too. It was a FUN build...

Edited September 5, 2015 by Rune

[ryan234abc]

*Sees Eagle 1.4 version*

Covers mouth with hand

*Sees .... design*

Tears come to eyes

*Sees the sexiest clipped cockpit in the history of life, the universe and everything*

Also, poppin sum weelees m9

Also, I can't rep you because I have to spread it around. But nobody gets my rep besides Runee-Senpai. I will go full Yandere for the Trident. Google Yandere btw, you'll understand what I mean then.

Also, it bleeped ....! Why would you do that forum? xD

Edited September 10, 2015 by ryan234abc

[Rune]

*Sees Eagle 1.4 version*

Covers mouth with hand

*Sees .... design*

Tears come to eyes

*Sees the sexiest clipped cockpit in the history of life, the universe and everything*

http://i.imgur.com/EAmyfhv.jpg

Also, poppin sum weelees m9

Also, I can't rep you because I have to spread it around. But nobody gets my rep besides Runee-Senpai. I will go full Yandere for the Trident. Google Yandere btw, you'll understand what I mean then.

Hahaha thanks for the kind words! I'm glad you like it as much as I do, I feel like this is a worthy successor to the Eagle. I fact, considering the wide range of situations I built it for (SSTO in Kerbin and Duna with 10mT payload, basically), it handles a bit too good: such a design has no right to handle like a jet fighter. I mean, it's draggy and it has low TWR full on kerbin, but still: I reckon I could do aerobatics with it, and if you turn on the RCS system, it turns on a freaking dime whether there is atmosphere or not. Plus, I don't know why, but the plane-like shape makes figuring out RCS orientations easier under weird camera angles (actually I do, it's not radially symmetrical like rockets so your brain always knows which way is up).

Rune. And it's realistic and stuff even!

[Rune]

Update! I only have this two crappy pics ATM, but I have stealth-updated the DL in the OP with an updated version that ditches the previously awesome Mk1 cockpit and replaces it with a cockpit that actually... looks very nice and weights less. The march of progress, I guess. :rolleyes:

[img]http://i.imgur.com/zYrd8uq.png[/img]
[img]http://i.imgur.com/tdkwtVI.png[/img]


Rune. The Thuds look better, though.

[ibanix]

I don't quite get what the module in the bay is for... the one with landing legs and probe body.

[Rune]

4 hours ago, ibanix said:

I don't quite get what the module in the bay is for... the one with landing legs and probe body.

You will have to be a bit more specific and/or point me to a screenshot, sorry. Off the top of my head, I have no idea what you are talking about.

 

Rune. The DL comes with something inside other than fuel?

[ibanix]

Yes, the attached .craft file has some sort of extra body inside the bay.

[Rune]

1 minute ago, ibanix said:

Yes, the attached .craft file has some sort of extra body inside the bay.

Hum. That might be an endcap for the old style of modules that were cylinders on their side, if memory serves. Mostly aesthetics, with some solar power IIRC. Meaning it is now obsolete, since now the form factor of all base modules are vertical cylinders.

 

Rune. Feel free to rip it out!

[ibanix]

Not sure if due to new aero in 1.1, but getting this thing to orbit with a -16 fuel tank inside is essentially impossible.

[Rune]

23 hours ago, ibanix said:

Not sure if due to new aero in 1.1, but getting this thing to orbit with a -16 fuel tank inside is essentially impossible.

It is advertised as 10mT payload on kerbin, so that makes perfect sense.

 

Rune. If you want an overperformer, try the Orca.

[ibanix]

The game lists the weight of the -16 as 9t? 

Oh hang on, is that /dry/ weight? Doh...

[ibanix]

Where's the Orca? I don't see it listed under your Slightly Used Vehicle thread...

[Rune]

4 hours ago, ibanix said:

Where's the Orca? I don't see it listed under your Slightly Used Vehicle thread...

Because that is still unupdated since 1.0, and the Orca is pretty new, sorry. I didn't even write a thread for it, I think, but you can find it on my KerbalX page, or if you prefer a direct link, here.

 

Rune. The writeup is in page 18 of RSUV, BTW.

 

[CrashTestDanny]

On 5/16/2016 at 5:50 PM, ibanix said:

 

Not sure if due to new aero in 1.1, but getting this thing to orbit with a -16 fuel tank inside is essentially impossible.

 

Honestly, if you slap a pair of kickbacks on her wingtips, there's no problem getting any size payload to orbit!

Danny

Edited May 18, 2016 by CrashTestDanny