All-biome science hopper

[Foxster]

Here's a little stock craft to tour as many biomes as you like on one or more airless bodies. Tested on the Mun but should work fine at other places too...

 

I take along a scientist and engineer. 

Action group 1 toggles the solar panel, radiators and drill. Then use the drill and ISRU to refuel (warp helps a lot) before heading to the next biome. Rinse, repeat.  

Dump the junk before flying home for extra dV. 

Craft file: https://www.dropbox.com/s/lfulbn6j9pt1r8v/Mun science biome hopper 1.craft?dl=0

Edited January 14, 2017 by Foxster

[NSEP]

The bended fuel tank thing looks odd, but it still is a good idea! Looks nice!

[Foxster]

15 minutes ago, NSEP said:

The bended fuel tank thing looks odd, but it still is a good idea! Looks nice!

With the Bendy Tank(c) I was trying to get the COM down low to keep it stable. Putting a fat tank and some radial engines in the middle of the craft was making it top heavy.

Was trying out a few concepts. Still a WIP. The #2 is looking a tad different...

   

[fourfa]

My favorite high-density fuel storage - one Oscar-B with four Round-8s clipped over it.  About double the storage density of the usual tanks, and it's totally kosher in my headcanon (all 'empty' spaces are OK to clip into - adaptors, toroids, etc).  Might be interesting for your Mk2 bay there

[Foxster]

I think the #5 is my favourite. All science-fictiony...

Craft file: https://www.dropbox.com/s/6qodj915cj7ysqy/Mun science biome hopper 5.craft?dl=0

 

 

[hurdurdur]

Here is my hopper that i use on .... Eve ... landing the bird there was quite a task (had to use a rocket assisted descent), but eventually all worked out fine. The klaw in the nose is there so i could easily dock with the mobile science lab rover that i also have landed on Eve.

 

 

More pics at http://imgur.com/a/raMnz

As visible from pictures also incorporates ore drill and fuel refinery, so i can cover distances, fuel up and do more. Biplane design was purely chosen to have max wing are and yet survive Eve entry behind the rocket that helped me to get down. Fuel refinery and science is in the nose of the aircraft, giving it a beautiful balance (COM almost never changes) and keeps it dead easy to fly.

[Tex]

These hoppers are looking great- There's a ton you can do with stock parts with just a little ingenuity, which you appear to have. I've never seen an engine design like your #1, that's pretty cool.