Horizon Aeronautics - Development Thread

[YANFRET]

Energia is on my list to do, yeah. A few other things before then. Though I'm not sure what to do if it requires new functionality as I'm not a coder/scripter.

I've always thought Energia was an impressive system on it's own merit but it also has a certain futuristic charm, of course entirely by design as those soviet systems tap into the propaganda values of rocket design as if their life depended on it... which of course it did since that was a greater proportion of their purpose. I think another result of that environment is that soviet hardware tends to be more artistic. Their systems look great on posters, even though when you walk up and put your hand on it you are face to face with something that looks genuinely Victorian in many ways. Lots of opportunity there for art to guide the textures.

Don't worry about getting drawn into a snowstorm of reusable space plane development, in the Kerbal way we'l find something neat to put on it. Kerbin mini shuttle anyone?? Polyus??

Edited February 18, 2014 by YANFRET

[Guest]

Energia is on my list to do, yeah. A few other things before then. Though I'm not sure what to do if it requires new functionality as I'm not a coder/scripter.

If you need a config guy, I'll have time next week. I can do balancing and stuff, I've worked with Dtobi's gimbal plugin, which is pretty much all you'll need for a fully functional Energia.

[SkyHook]

Yeah, the more I look at it, the less I like it, haha. I'll reduce them.

*edit* Better?

It looks great, maybe spread the logos vertically? I mean this will still become my main launcher regardless.

EDIT: In regards to Energia, I have to say that a scratchbuilt shuttle would be fantastic. It would allow for the ultimate in creative freedom.

Edited February 18, 2014 by SkyHook

[stubbles]

Finished up the RD-120. All art is pretty much down now, save for a few minor tweaks. Now it's on to config/collision tweaks and particle FX.

[GavinZac]

That looks excellent! Would be it be possible to supply a source file for the skin, so that for example we can change or remove 'Zenith' - for sad pedantics like myself

[Daemoria]

This project is what inspired me to get into creating content for KSP. It's awesome to see more new art from you, the detail in the texture (specular map in particular) is crazy.

[specs]

Sweet mother of heavy rocket propulsion, Batman! I'm literally dancing with joy as I type this (making it all rather difficult I might add)...

And since reaction images are against forum rules, I'll just employ my usual workaround, and address this with a popular meme presented in manifestation oriented prose:

*holds up camera*

"neat."

[Helix935]

*holds up camera*

"neat."

when you do that i envision bender from futurama

also awesome looking textures

[Stevincent]

OMG dude, I havent been on the forums in a while been busy with school but this looks freaking amazing, wish I had the time to continue with my SLS mod!! Man this looks amazing!

[Stevincent]

What are the renders done in?

[Captain Sierra]

What are the renders done in?

I think he said earlier they were done in Cinema4D, but don't quote me on that. I've been lurking in add-on dev hardcore today so I might be confusing it with SRI.

[Stevincent]

oh ok was going to see if it was marmoset toolbag 2... was looking at getting that...

[stubbles]

Thanks all! Glad there's some interest in it.

The renders are actually just screen grabs from the Unity editor. I just made a simple 3-point light rig.

Edited February 22, 2014 by stubbles

[Stevincent]

oh wow sexy ****, I really need to learn unity... we did a unity game for a game jam we did a few weeks back but the lighting sucked lol.

[BLUAV8R]

Can't wait for release

[MennoLente]

Hey, didn't see this thread before. Magnificent! Looks like ksp has a new B9! Nice work. Too bad it all looks a bit too real, like the anvil pack, but more realistic. I rather like the stock look. So please forgive my bad taste.

Stubbles, just an idea. With talents like yours, wouldn't it be more satisfying to create something innovating? Something that get people from A to B on the surface, but without chutes, skycranes or airbags. Base building is fun too. And everyone likes large IVA's with lots of blinking lights and a big red button for Jeb. I'm quite curious what some one with your skills would come up with.

[Guest]

I'd rather see a complete Vostok and the R7 rocket, or the Energia.

[stubbles]

Menno, I'm an artist, not a coder. So unless someone else makes it and I just make art for it, that won't happen. I'm not going to deal with all of the coding/plugin kind of stuff.

[stubbles]

Think I still might go with default particles for the initial release. Can't get good results with the setup from the Rapier engine, nor do I know how to create my own particle mu files (no info exists on how to do so). So it may not take much longer to release.

Are there things you all are looking for a in a lifter? Such as what kind of max payload size and what orbit are you looking to achieve?

[NathanKell]

13.5 tons to 185x185 at 52 degrees

[Taki117]

13.5 tons to 185x185 at 52 degrees

What in Gods name are you launching and why?

[NoMrBond]

What in Gods name are you launching and why?

Given NathanKell's idiom, I would guess that they're the real world launch capabilities for the LLS (Zenit-3SLB)

Edited February 25, 2014 by NoMrBond
Blok-D + Land Launch = 3SLB

[stubbles]

I would guess that they're the real world launch capabilities for the LLS (Zenit-3SLB)

Pretty close, haha. Real stats are about 14.8tons to LEO, 6.2tons to MEO, 6.6tons to GTO and 4tons to GEO.

I'll have to track down what all of the comparable orbit distances are for Kerbin.

[SkyHook]

Think I still might go with default particles for the initial release. Can't get good results with the setup from the Rapier engine, nor do I know how to create my own particle mu files (no info exists on how to do so). So it may not take much longer to release.

Are there things you all are looking for a in a lifter? Such as what kind of max payload size and what orbit are you looking to achieve?

I think that a (modded) lifter should be 15 parts or less and be able to lift up to 10 tons to Keosynchronous orbit (or something close). Since the initial release won't have SRBs, I think that's a good goal. My standard 2.5m lifter has 1.25m SRBs and can take my payloads anywhere in the Kerbin SOI, with room to spare. About 5500 delta-v (with FAR) will achieve this. Without SRBs, Keosynch is a good goal (imo).

That looks excellent! Would be it be possible to supply a source file for the skin, so that for example we can change or remove 'Zenith' - for sad pedantics like myself

The rocket is a Russian rocket, whose name happens to be Zenit, and NOT the English word "Zenith."

Edited February 25, 2014 by SkyHook

[GavinZac]

The rocket is a Russian rocket, whose name happens to be Zenit, and NOT the English word "Zenith."

I'm aware of that, thanks, though it is just a translation. I meant that we may remove it entirely or replace it with something a little less out-of-universe.