BBG - A Bigtrak Transport Plane (0.17 + Bigtrak + ISA mapper module)

[Unistrut]

The debut craft from O,TAB - the BBG. You want to go driving a Bigtrak around certain places on Kerbin, but don't feel like doing the 10,000+Km road trip? We've got you covered!

Operation is simple: do everything you possibly can to make KSP run smoothly, up to and including sacrificing a chicken to the dark gods of overclocking - set the throttle to 2/3rds power and fire off the JATO rockets. After a few seconds gently pull back on the stick and you'll be airborne! Eject the empty rocket bottles and set the throttle to 90-95% and gently climb to 10-12K. If it's night-time, you should turn on the BBG's headlights before takeoff.

Before flight it is vitally important that the tie-downs on the Bigtrak be secure. Otherwise it rocks back and forth in an annoying fashion, and sometimes the transporter unit snaps clean in half when you try and turn. It is delivered secure, just make sure that if you change anything, that the Bigtrak is secured.

The test pilots have noted that while the BBG is basically two busses lashed to an RV it handles fairly well. However, they do note that if you attempt to climb too sharply it will begin to flip end over end. If this happens, immediately pull back the throttle to about 1/2 - 1/3 power until you've sorta regained control. It is because of this little ... difficulty the operational ceiling and top speed of the BBG are not currently known. Do not attempt a barrel roll.

As the fuel drains from the drop tanks, drop them. There are only two pair of drop tanks, so don't fire too many stages or you'll drop the engines.

The ISA module is provided for navigation purposes only, attempting to fill in the map using the BBG would be tedious at best.

The BBG is capable of landing, however due to the terrain around the certain places the BBG also supports hot-dropping the Bigtrak. The staging is set to drop the engines, then trigger the drag chutes on the transporter unit, then drop the Bigtrak, then deploy the Bigtrak parachute. It is advisable to let the Bigtrak coast for a few moments to make sure it is well clear of the BBG, which tends to lawn-dart into the terrain.

You don't want to be under that scrap pile when it lands.

Once you have reached an exciting place to look around you can deploy the ladder on the nose of the Bigtrak so that your brave Kerbals can actually get back inside again afterwards.

If flown carefully the BBG has enough fuel to reach either of Kerbin's main tourist destinations, although it is a one-way trip.

If you want to know what the acronyms "BBG" and "O,TAB" mean, check here. Contains mild swears.

[colmo]

I was working on a similar concept in 0.15. A few suggestions:

- Connect it using a docking mod - this way, you can land, launch from the ground, deploy, redock, take off again.

- The Bigtrak could be slung underneath and not on top of that middle section. Or, use a Damned Robotics powered hinged ramp to roll on and roll off in concert with a docking clamp.

- Using the Kethane mod, you could even refuel the plane using the Bigtrak.

- Check out BobCat's DEMV rovers - should be transportable using similar means, but I believe they are a fair bit heavier.

[Aescwulf]

That looks amazing I was expecting a bigtrak with SRB strapped to the sides

[Unistrut]

I was working on a similar concept in 0.15. A few suggestions:

- Connect it using a docking mod - this way, you can land, launch from the ground, deploy, redock, take off again.

- The Bigtrak could be slung underneath and not on top of that middle section. Or, use a Damned Robotics powered hinged ramp to roll on and roll off in concert with a docking clamp.

- Using the Kethane mod, you could even refuel the plane using the Bigtrak.

- Check out BobCat's DEMV rovers - should be transportable using similar means, but I believe they are a fair bit heavier.

I wanted it slung underneath, for both aesthetics and ease of hot-dropping but the default docking post attaches to the bottom of the Bigtrak, and attaching the decoupler to the top would have messed up the parachute and ISA mapper dish placement. As for the other suggestions, they all require more mods, and I was working with what I had. I don't really use mods unless they're filling in a specific need. I wanted maps, got ISA. Wanted rovers, and wanted a Bigtrak as a kid, got Bigtrak.

In any case, the chutes on the sled unit yank it out from under the Bigtrak without any trouble, and if you "land" the whole thing you can usually just drive off the front of what's left.

I've visited the Certain Places so won't be doing much else with this. Feel free to tinker and post the results - whether they be successful designs or humorous screenshots of things snapping in half and falling to the ground in bits (that central bridge really likes doing that...).

That looks amazing I was expecting a bigtrak with SRB strapped to the sides

Thanks! The build was kind of a pain: since the Bigtrak is the "control pod" everything had to be built outwards from there. The reason there are technically two fuel tanks on each side (ignoring the drop tanks) is that I just could not get the builder to attach them properly as one long tank.

BB Alpha snapped in half sitting on the runway - fuel tank cross struts added.

BB Beta snapped in half in mid air - fuselage -> central bridge struts added.

BB Charlie had only two engines instead four of since four seemed overpowered. It also snapped in half in mid-air, fuselage - Bigtrak struts added. If you look at the runway picture you may notice that the end is obscured by a cloud of grey indicators. This thing really liked snapping in half.

BB Delta was when I figured out the aerospike engines were rockets not air breathers. It had "Aero" in the name - of course it was an air-breather! Range massively increased.

BB Echo was skipped due to forgetfulness.

BB Foxtrot added those strange canard extenders and rearranged the wings to try and correct for the flipping end over end issues. First trip to a Certain Place made. Ran out of fuel, crashed in the dark and snapped the ISA dish off, killing the map.

BB Golf added the JATO (partly to avoid having to redline the throttles on launch, and partly for giggles), headlights, backup ISA dish and drop tanks after the experience of Foxtrot. The drop tanks also help control the flipping issue by making the forward half heavier. First location visited successfully. Primary ISA dish was removed after it was revealed to be blocking the crew hatch. Second location visited successfully.

Edited September 30, 2012 by Unistrut