New discoveries about default resources...and more questions than answers

[MAFman]

So I was derping around in my config files, and I found ResourcesGeneric.cfg. I decided to edit it, and I found that the fuels are WAY too dense. However, I also found that the specific heats are EXACTLY correct! For example, the hsp for LiquidFuel is exactly equal to that of Kerosene! It is thousands of times denser, though...

Ok, so I got the densities under control with a bit of research. The problem is, I'm trying to make the costs more realistic. How should I do this, and does anyone have more info? I can't find most of this stuff online because they don't sell stuff this dangerous - understandably.

[Guest]

The densities are off because KSP doesn't have precise, or even defined, volumes. It is generally assumed that the volume of a "unit" is somewhere between 4.5 and 5 liters based on volume calculations from within Blender (IIRC). Also, the densities, I do believe, are in metric tons/unit.

The hsp of LiquidFuel should match Aerozine50 and Oxidizer should match dinitrogen tetroxide, unless I've been misinformed.

[NathanKell]

regex is correct. The densities broadly equate to 1 g/cc (tonne/m^3) if we assume 1 KSP fuel "unit" is ~5 liters. That's off for NTO and AZ50, but those densities are, shall we say, grandfathered in.

[MAFman]

So, if "LiquidFuel" is used for everything that isn't "Monoprop" or "xenonGas" powered, jet engines would not work on AZ50, would they?

[Streetwind]

I think you might be much happier installing RealFuels instead of changing things by hand.

In stock KSP, tank contents do not depend on the tank's volume, and even the volume "units" are inconsistent. For instance, 1 "unit" of liquid fuel may in some ways be comparable to 5 liters, but 1 "unit" of monopropellant is a different volume, and 1 "unit" of xenon gas is yet another different volume... and so on and so forth. That's why you won't find any unit of volume specified anywhere in the game - there simply is none. Volume is not a concept that KSP uses.

For that reason you'll go crazy trying to tweak everything into a consistent, realistic behavior without resorting to mods. Which would be a shame considering all that work and more has already been done with RealFuels, which is just waiting for you to find and download it Hint: try looking in NathanKell's signature...