The Kerbal Dakar 2017 entry vehicles thread

[Madrias]

The Jumping Spider will be ready.  I'll be dragging some spare parts in those KIS containers, just to be safe because otherwise I'll have a big wreck and lose all my progress.

[HebaruSan]

In the olden days of 0.23, I drove a jalopy called the "Megabus 1.1" from the equator of Minmus to the north pole (so, a quarter-Elcano, if I understand that challenge properly), essentially because I unlocked the rover parts at the point when Minmus was the next place to go. The massive RCS supply was used to keep the wheels in contact with the ground during the long treks from biome to biome. F5 and F9 were used liberally due to constant flipping, despite the wide wheel span.

To provide a baseline for how a badly designed, poorly piloted (not to mention hideous!) craft can fare, the newly redesigned "Megabus 1.1D" (for Dakar) clears Stage 1 of this challenge in just under twelve minutes, at speeds ranging up to 80 m/s with jet power and 35 m/s without. The handling is so much better now (though the "Tough Love" mod's 3x wheel durability probably gave it an unfair edge; might be worth ruling that one in or out explicitly). I may attempt the whole course with it on the day-of, but I will be transitioning to the role of spectator after the first wreck.

[mrmcp1]

Finished my main entry (now just need to do the Dakar with it)

[DrunkenKerbalnaut]

41 minutes ago, mrmcp1 said:

Finished my main entry (now just need to do the Dakar with it)

Val: "Ooh, nitrous. Jeb, who are you trying to impress with your old Mustang?"

Jeb: "No, that's jet fuel."

Val: "........"

 

EDIT @HebaruSan

is that a PorkJet fuel tank? I gotta get on that. 

Edited December 31, 2016 by DrunkenKerbalnaut

[HebaruSan]

4 minutes ago, DrunkenKerbalnaut said:

EDIT @HebaruSan

is that a PorkJet fuel tank? I gotta get on that. 

It is indeed, good eye. The racing edition has no need for science experiments, so that became the perfect place to put fuel for the fuel cells (which themselves are in the service bay).

[SasquatchM]

I think I have finally settled on a vehicle.  I scrapped the idea of a manually created suspension, but stuck with a 6 wheel design.  The goal is to make it the entire distance without refueling or needing repairs to continue.

Here is a brief clip:

 

 

Edited December 31, 2016 by SasquatchM

[Redshift OTF]

I think I'll run with this bad boy. Ignore the name, it's called the Ute!

It's not a serious contender, just a laugh really. This should be like the wacky races.

Edited December 31, 2016 by Redshift OTF

[Triop]

4 minutes ago, Redshift OTF said:

I think I'll run with this bad boy. Ignore the name, it's called the Ute!

 

 

 

It's not a serious contender, just a laugh really. This should be like the wacky races.

Nice, btw, I like Drover as a name, Ute, is that scandinavian ?

[Redshift OTF]

Ute, as in Utility vehicle, the Australian name for a pickup. Although I am from the UK I love the name.

[Azimech]

36 minutes ago, Redshift OTF said:

I think I'll run with this bad boy. Ignore the name, it's called the Ute!

It's not a serious contender, just a laugh really. This should be like the wacky races.

 

Good to have you on board, Redshift!

[Redshift OTF]

Just now, Azimech said:

 

Good to have you on board, Redshift!

Thank you! I figured you would be entering this crazy competition. What beast of a machine are you running with? It probably burrows through the earth or is powered by temporal anomalies or something. Or includes a house!

[Azimech]

5 minutes ago, Redshift OTF said:

Thank you! I figured you would be entering this crazy competition. What beast of a machine are you running with? It probably burrows through the earth or is powered by temporal anomalies or something. Or includes a house!

Well ... from the rear it looks like a demon but it's a different Dodge ;-)

[Redshift OTF]

7 minutes ago, Azimech said:

Well ... from the rear it looks like a demon but it's a different Dodge ;-)

Woah. That's just showing off.

[katateochi]

2 hours ago, SasquatchM said:

Here is a brief clip:

Jumping over the admin building is my standard rover test too! (that and scrambling around the launch pad and tracks leading up to it).
Nice righting mechanism. 

[0111narwhalz]

4 hours ago, Triop said:

Drones are not allowed.

Eh whaaa?

Welp, Bob's getting strapped to the top of the Thingamaflop now.

 

(Also, does it count if the kerbal is ragdolled in a little box?)

[Triop]

3 minutes ago, 0111narwhalz said:

(Also, does it count if the kerbal is ragdolled in a little box?)

As long as he is in the seat,yes.

[0111narwhalz]

1 hour ago, Triop said:

As long as he is in the seat,yes.

I mean just stuffed in a box.
Like so:

There's no external command seat. I think the advantage of being able to repair wheels on the go is balanced by the possibility of spaghettification and awkward accelerations caused by the unsecured payload.

If that's not okay, I can strap a kerbal to the top or the front or something, like I've done for all of my vehicles, but I'd rather not for this one.

[Triop]

8 minutes ago, 0111narwhalz said:

I mean just stuffed in a box.
Like so:

There's no external command seat. I think the advantage of being able to repair wheels on the go is balanced by the possibility of spaghettification and awkward accelerations caused by the unsecured payload.

If that's not okay, I can strap a kerbal to the top or the front or something, like I've done for all of my vehicles, but I'd rather not for this one.

Very creative I must say, a drone that can move a Kerbal.

For now I'm just flabbergasted, don't know how to reply to be honest...

 

Edited January 1, 2017 by Triop

[Triop]

I just tried driving stage 1 in cockpit view...

[0111narwhalz]

1 hour ago, Triop said:

For now I'm just flabbergasted, don't know how to reply to be honest...

 

What can I say? I like doing things in unconventional ways.

[Triop]

4 minutes ago, 0111narwhalz said:

What can I say? I like doing things in unconventional ways.

Hehe, I like that so it may compete, but if you win the challenge you may expect some protests from the other racers..

It's all about the ride dude.

Edited January 1, 2017 by Triop

[0111narwhalz]

What I'm doing for refueling:

Using Allista's hangar mod. I'm not replacing the vehicle, just putting it in a box empty and taking it out full. I don't wanna deal with claws or docking ports.

[SpannerMonkey(smce)]

Hey gang, a  review of my vehicle having completed the Dakar 2017 in a time of 1 hour 1 minute and 7 seconds.

The stats 
 

Parts 106
Weight 2.064t
Height 1.6m
Length 4.2m
Width 3.2m
Fuel 81 units
Max wheel Speed 68ms
Max theoretical vehicle speed on boost 150ms 

The wheel specs and torque curve
 
	MODULE
	{
		name = ModuleWheelSuspension
		baseModuleIndex = 0
		suspensionTransformName = SuspensionPivot
		suspensionDistance = 0.2
		targetPosition = 0.09			
		springRatio = 8
		damperRatio = 3.0
	}	
	MODULE
	{
		name = ModuleWheelSteering
		baseModuleIndex = 0
		caliperTransformName = SteeringPivot
		steeringResponse = 2
		steeringCurve
		{
			key = 0 20
			key = 10 9//6
			key = 30 3.0//1.5
		}
	}
	MODULE
	{
		name = ModuleWheelMotor
		baseModuleIndex = 0
		wheelSpeedMax = 89//37 208 kph
		driveResponse = 2
		torqueCurve
		{
			key = 0 2.0 0 0 //  Note this curve is not suitable for light or short rovers, best suited for vehicles in excess of 1000kg
			key = 10 15 0 0//2.5 2.0 0 0
			key = 40 15 0 0//2.5 2.0 0 0
			key = 60 6 0 0//36 0.5 0 0
			key = 68 0 0 0//38 0 0 0 MAXIMUM SPEED
		}
		RESOURCE
		{
			name = ElectricCharge
			rate = 3.5//Thirsty wheels, all that power doesn't come cheap
		}		
		idleDrain = 0.0//0.1////0.5
	}	
	MODULE
	{
		name = ModuleWheelBrakes
		baseModuleIndex = 0
		maxBrakeTorque = 6   // Very strong brakes will hold vehicle on full thrust with no boost flaps active
		brakeResponse = 3
	}

 

Engines

2 x Juno scaled to 20% for use as active downforce
1 X Juno Scaled to 85% as main propulsion

1X Snatch Boost engine, the nitrous effect, a reworked twitch with same power output as a juno but no spool time and horrible thirsty

Parts, 3 part roll cage, single part chassis brace, custom made for event wheels,  body panels from SM Marine, high intensity lights from SM Marine, custom race command seat, various tubes from the dev version of DK's structural tubes mod,  colored stock parts by virtue of MM and an fs texture switch 2 module applied to stock parts, all control surfaces tweakscaled smaller ( and either locked or slaved to boost flap control)   Action groups for engine toggle, Intake toggle, boost toggle

The arty bit

Exploded views, nothing to hide

Note to self, needs thinner and new shapes for struct panels,  low friction (unity phys materials) sump guards and belly plates, taller race seat, maybe self contained survival cage seat combo, same wheel but flat rather than cranked arm for lower roll center (maybe inverted for tarmac smooth racing) Lower profile cage system for high speed vehicles

 

[DarkOwl57]

Let the Dakar games.... BEGIN!

[Madrias]

I suppose I should go get the Jumping Spider warmed up.  Not good to start on a cold engine!