Asparagus or just srb ? the cheaper option

[Alshain]

1 minute ago, Scotius said:

Agreed, but Mainsails and Jumbo tanks come much earlier in Tech Tree than Mammoth and big tanks. So, either you wait for them or use what you have

True, but I've never had a need to lift 70 ton payloads prior to unlocking them.  I suppose that is all up to gameplay style.  I can't imagine needing a 70 ton payload before tier 8 personally.  My Tier 6 lifters go up to this 50 ton lifter for only 52k.  I could probably squeeze a little more mass capability out of tier 6, but I didn't see the need.

 

[Scotius]

Playstyle, yes I came up with this design way before we got Mammoths and big tanks. Back in the day Mainsail + Jumbo combo was strongest combination possible. I guess i'm sticking to the tested and trusted design because i'm lazy

[Alshain]

9 minutes ago, Scotius said:

Playstyle, yes I came up with this design way before we got Mammoths and big tanks. Back in the day Mainsail + Jumbo combo was strongest combination possible. I guess i'm sticking to the tested and trusted design because i'm lazy

That used to be the best method too, lifters like the ones in the screenshot wouldn't get you out of the atmosphere.  However, once the aerodynamics changed in 1.0 we quickly realized asparagus was more costly and realistic rockets were the way to go.

Edited October 11, 2016 by Alshain

[Plusck]

2 hours ago, Alshain said:

Sorry but no.  That's not possible.  The cost of 7 tanks, 7 mainsails, and 8 decouplers (including the payload/upper stage decoupler) is 137,000.  I priced that out before I even posted.  That's not even including fuel lines or nosecones for those huge radial stages.

Here it is right here.  I don't know how I could meet his description and strip the cost any more than that.

Well, that is certainly a more expensive option, but there is absolutely no need to use 7 Mainsails... it is pure overkill.

So while the post you quoted was certainly inefficient to do that, a Mainsail core, a couple of asparagused Skippers, then a couple of asparagused tanks with Thuds and SRBs, would end up significantly cheaper than vertically staged Mammoth + Rhino with SRB support.

It isn't "doing asparagus" that is expensive (and that suggestion is essentially what I disagreed with in your post). It's how you do asparagus that can get expensive.

 

edit: Here is a pared-down version of your 70t lifter. No struts or anything, with cheapest nosecones. Cost 111,500 funds. With a 70t payload added, that gives a total cost of 126,600 (the payload therefore costs 15,100 funds).

Starting TWR 1.57 (vac). At the time of staging, TWR goes from 2.44 to 1.7, then from 2.34 to 1.45. Total dv: 3800 m/s.

Spoiler

This is a poor man's asparagus. Not yet fully strutted (needs another 4, I think) but it does have fins.

Starting TWR 1.57. Then with each stage TWR goes from 1.98 to 1.8, 2.09 to 1.6 ... and so on and so forth until the final stage which, I admit, drops down to 1.35 (so in that sense is a bit less convenient than your lifter).

Total cost (after deducting payload): 85,900 funds.

Spoiler

In reverse order, that is: orange core with Mainsail // 2x orange tanks with Skippers // 2x Orange + Rocko 16s + adapter tanks with Reliant+2 thuds on each //  2x Kickbacks // 2x Thumpers with Thuds and fuel. All asparagused.

It's ugly but it's 25% cheaper.

 

Edited October 11, 2016 by Plusck