Catfish - Cargo Plane

[Cupcake...]

CRAFT FILE(s):

https://goo.gl/4pgxK9

Presenting the Catfish, a multi-role aircraft that has a few qualities not usually associated with cargo aircraft; namely fantastic handling and fun!  

The aircrafts fantastic handling isn't just for showing off, you've got enough control surface torque to handle water take-offs without a single reaction wheel on board.

 While compact by cargo plane standards the Catfish can still haul some pretty big loads such as a full size ISRU or Science Lab.

 

CONTROLS:

1 - Toggle Engines.

2 - Toggle Thrust Reversers.

8 - Toggle Rear Cargo Bay Door.

9 - Toggle Front Cargo Bay Door.

0 - Toggle Front/Rear Cargo Bay Door.

ABORT - Toggle Air Brake (Use With Caution).

 

OWNERS GUIDE:

The Catfish is controlled from a small probe core in the nose which has an RTG to keep it powered at all times. The design can easily be retrofitted with seats if need be.

The fuel tanks are designed to be removed in stages from the centre outwards to make room for bulkier cargo, obviously this needs to be done front and rear to preserve the balance point which is located between the cargo bays.

Speaking of balance any cargo should be placed as close to the centre of mass as possible (RCS Build Aid is highly recommended), failure to do so may result in instability. The outermost fuel tanks can be locked and fuel added/removed to help balance the cargo if need be.

By default the outer most control surfaces are purely for Roll, however is extra torque is needed for things such as water take-offs they can also be set to pitch. While this does make the craft stupidly manoeuvrable it can lead to some nasty spins, you have been warned!

In the normal flight envelope 40m/s - 400m/s you can be as rough with the controls as you want. However if you take the craft into a steep dive and yank back on the stick it's possible to shear the engines clean off the fuselage (not good). The same actions can also lead to the engines over speeding and exploding.

Recommended cruising altitude is 10,000m at Mach 1. While cruising you can disable all control surfaces except for the rudders and front control surfaces for a more gentle ride.

Stall speeds can be as low as 35m/s but care should be taken not to land at extreme angles of attack as the bottom set of tail fins can strike the ground.

 

Enjoy!  

 

Cupcake...

 

 

 

Edited July 24, 2018 by Cupcake...

[Flying dutchman]

Very nicely done!

 

i like your aproach to building a cargo plane. I usually tend to think too large and end up with a plane thats sluggish and very difficult to land in the field.

 

i Imagine that this plane (albeit with some minor modifications) would be very handy for transporting cargo on laythe!

 

Only getting it there would be difficult. Maybe with the use of retractable wings (stock hinges and docking ports) it would fit into a large fairing?

 

 

keep up the good work!

[Mephisto81]

You, Sir, have a fine nose for aesthetics.

What do you use for video editing and recording, if I may ask?

Mephisto.
(If we are going to crash, we crash with style.)

[Cupcake...]

18 hours ago, Flying dutchman said:

Very nicely done!

 

i like your aproach to building a cargo plane. I usually tend to think too large and end up with a plane thats sluggish and very difficult to land in the field.

 

i Imagine that this plane (albeit with some minor modifications) would be very handy for transporting cargo on laythe!

 

Only getting it there would be difficult. Maybe with the use of retractable wings (stock hinges and docking ports) it would fit into a large fairing?

 

 

keep up the good work!

I think if I was going to do it I'd use the attachment nodes on the Goliath engines to mount some very big rockets.

18 hours ago, Mephisto81 said:

You, Sir, have a fine nose for aesthetics.

What do you use for video editing and recording, if I may ask?

Mephisto.
(If we are going to crash, we crash with style.)

I use Bandicam for shooting and Adobe Premier for editing.

 

Cupcake...

[Foxster]

Flies real nice and a lovely looking craft.

Couple of comments if I may...

Having the floor of the cargo bay covered with fuel tanks seems less than optimal for loading/unloading. 

Having the engines stuffed with landing gear and winglets seems just a tad "cheaty". 

Oh...the fuel tanks are not enclosed in the cargo bays and produce drag. 

Edited July 25, 2018 by Foxster

[Cupcake...]

18 hours ago, Foxster said:

Flies real nice and a lovely looking craft.

Couple of comments if I may...

Having the floor of the cargo bay covered with fuel tanks seems less than optimal for loading/unloading. 

Having the engines stuffed with landing gear and winglets seems just a tad "cheaty". 

Oh...the fuel tanks are not enclosed in the cargo bays and produce drag. 

1) Thank you!  

2) As mentioned in the manual if you need more floor space just delete/re-position some of the tanks.

3) What's the point of having big engines if you can't slip things inside them? Seriously though I've never professed to building "realistic" craft. My priorities are performance, handling and aesthetics, the later of which is often achieved through clipping. I don't see this as cheating as the stats/flight properties are the same, it just doesn't look hideous!

4) Check again. While the aero debug menu may say parts aren't being occluded it's not correct, you need to look at the drag readings while the craft is in motion.

All the best.

Cupcake... 

Edited July 26, 2018 by Cupcake...

[Foxster]

1 hour ago, Cupcake... said:

1) Thank you!  

2) As mentioned in the manual if you need more floor space just delete/re-position some of the tanks.

3) What's the point of having big engines if you can't slip things inside them? Seriously though I've never professed to building "realistic" craft. My priorities are performance, handling and aesthetics, the later of which is often achieved through clipping. I don't see this as cheating as the stats/flight properties are the same, it just doesn't look hideous!

4) Check again. While the aero debug menu may say parts aren't being occluded it's not correct, you need to look at the drag readings while the craft is in motion.

All the best.

Cupcake... 

3)...Yes, I do appreciate that is a "feature" of your craft. It just felt a little more obvious with this craft because of the parts inside the fast spinny things

4)...That's what I did and they do indeed have a drag reading. 

[Cupcake...]

1 hour ago, Foxster said:

3)...Yes, I do appreciate that is a "feature" of your craft. It just felt a little more obvious with this craft because of the parts inside the fast spinny things

4)...That's what I did and they do indeed have a drag reading. 

Really? I double checked them earlier, can you give me a screenshot with the part/drag reading please.  

Cupcake...