Hex - Medium Dropship

[Cupcake...]

CRAFT FILES:

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/rd3kw0dapbjl5t2/AADQRqqTp4wApvfkz4eSZ1yoa?dl=0

Presenting the Hex; a medium dropship that's as powerful as it is adaptable.

There are three models available; one designed for deep space, one designed for use on Kerbin/Laythe and one designed to blow things up.

Thanks to a modular design the drive sections can be swapped over in seconds. The craft also comes with a launch vehicle with provision to build your own if you so desire.

The standard deep space variant puts out just over 4k of DV which can easily be extended with drop tanks.

 

CONTROLS:

See craft file.

 

OWNERS MANUAL:

A joystick is highly recommended and SAS should be left on at all times.

Rocket assist is designed to counteract the lag of the jet engines, it should be used for emergency power, fine control or bursts of speed.

Mechjeb is highly recommended as for some reason it's the only way to get accurate DV readings!

Due to a KSP bug quick-loading with a Kerbal in the command seat can result in the landing gear getting mangled. To fix this exit your Kerbal from the craft and quick-save/load or remove the landing gear completely.

The craft comes with mono-propellent and RCS thruster blocks for docking.

During re-entry position the craft 90* relative to the airstream to maximise drag and spread the heat load.

The deep space version can make a powered landing on Kerbin at the end of a mission.

The cockpit doors must be open to allow the solar panels to charge.

If you're using the atmospheric model on Kerbin it's recommended to remove the top docking port and solar panels.

ASCENT PROFILE:

Ascend vertically until the solid rocket boosters are expended and detached.

Gently pitch over to 45* and stay on this heading until your apoapsis hits 40-50k at which point set the craft to point prograde.

Once the main ascent engines stop working detach the stage and coast out the atmosphere.

Unlock the fuel supply for the upper stage engines and circularize/raise your orbit.

Enjoy!

 

Cupcake...

Edited February 26, 2019 by Cupcake...

[Dafni]

Very nice! I cant wait to give them a spin tonight. Been far too long without a new Cupcake dropship.

I'm curious to have a look under the hood. Havn't spotted the jets yet.

Nice method of handing them out as a kit. The parts assembly even looks a bit like a part tree of an old plastic airplane model. Pretty cool.

BTW: I think you forgot to mention the mods for the military version.

[Cupcake...]

20 minutes ago, Dafni said:

Very nice! I cant wait to give them a spin tonight. Been far too long without a new Cupcake dropship.

I'm curious to have a look under the hood. Havn't spotted the jets yet.

Nice method of handing them out as a kit. The parts assembly even looks a bit like a part tree of an old plastic airplane model. Pretty cool.

BTW: I think you forgot to mention the mods for the military version.

Yeah, I'll get the military version uploaded tomorrow, it's past my bedtime here.

 

Cupcake...

[SG Aero]

Oooh military version!

[Cupcake...]

19 hours ago, ShadowGoat said:

Oooh military version!

...is now available to DL for all you warmongers out there (BD Armoury Required).

Rocket pods added because, well... they just are. They're mounted to the side docking ports so can be jettisoned easily if need-be.

Enjoy!

 

Cupcake...

[SG Aero]

I was expecting a tank turret but rocket pods will do!

[Dafni]

Testing in progress  

Assembling the kits was a snap. I tip my hat to your part hierarchy kung-fu.

Thanks for sharing what feels like a return to the classics now.

 

cheers

[Cupcake...]

10 hours ago, Dafni said:

Testing in progress  

Assembling the kits was a snap. I tip my hat to your part hierarchy kung-fu.

Thanks for sharing what feels like a return to the classics now.

 

cheers

Thanks Daf.  I think I may have found a fix for the landing gear bug which will be very cool if it works.

 

Cupcake...

[Dafni]

On 2/28/2019 at 2:03 AM, Cupcake... said:

Thanks Daf.  I think I may have found a fix for the landing gear bug which will be very cool if it works.

 

Cupcake...

 

Oh, please share this when it is ready! Maybe it could also remedy some headaches I get from other craft.

On the Hex testing front things are going well. I have some stick time on the atmo version now and it feels really smooth. The thrust/runtime balance is very good on this dropship, I enjoy it a lot. Same goes for the weight/reaction torque ratio, pretty spot on, even on full tanks.

I will incorporate the Vacuum version in one of my next real missions too. Feels like they can haul some serious mass around on low grav bodies. Cant wait to use it for some base building etc.

Overall you found a super neat way to mitigate/avoid the drag/lift issues of the classic Cupcake H-shape dropship chassis that some KSP update introduced on Mk2 parts. I still enjoy this aesthetic a lot. Cheers. I also want to drop a positive comment on the layout and equipment of the different versions, again it is spot on, with the RCS and everything. Very well done.