Suggetsion: Resizeable engines, only one input value: thrust.

[Jeq]

Make engines so they can be different sizes, you just change their thrust in VAB and game calculates new model size and weight for them.

Make it so tho, when thrust is increased, their ISP gets little bit lower then, because thats how i would assume increasing size of engine bell to work. This way people couldn't cheese their rockets just with one variable. I still want 9 engines fitted into one circle, be more efficient than one engine on same area.

This would help with part reduction at cost of efficiency, if its necessary for build. RCS thrusters would be lot more useful and their placement would be more precise and tactical.

Edited January 11, 2024 by Jeq

[feradose.]

I imagine a bigger bell would be more efficient than nine smaller bells in both dry mass and ISP though, KSP follows this curve for the most part too, deep space engines all have huge bells 

[Jeq]

2 hours ago, feradose. said:

I imagine a bigger bell would be more efficient than nine smaller bells in both dry mass and ISP though, KSP follows this curve for the most part too, deep space engines all have huge bells 

Yes thats about right but when you think same engine would be bigger, exhaust hole would need be bigger with increased thrust which would mean loss of efficiency, engine bell wouldnt be enought to increase to keep that efficiency at same level with smaller engine if tech inside of engine remains same.

Vac engines bell shape is companied with their size so thrust is directed retrograde, with bigger exhaust hole i believe exhaust angle would be wider and bigger bell isn't enought to compensate that.

Edited January 11, 2024 by Jeq

[byaafacehead]

If you have ever tried Simple Rockets 2 (Juno), most parts are procedural, including engines. So its handled that way, though in a bit more complicated fashion.

If I recall, it's chamber pressure (higher pressure means better efficiency and thrust but is heavier since the engine is thicker to handle the pressure). Throat width, where you can trade off between thrust and Isp, and then the bell, which optimizes ISP for mass (as well as suiting better for atmo vs vac performance).

[Guest]

This would completely change the way parts are designed. I think it’s safe to say that this will never be stock.

I expect a procedural engine mod would be possible though!

[magnemoe]

On 1/29/2024 at 5:57 AM, Periple said:

This would completely change the way parts are designed. I think it’s safe to say that this will never be stock.

I expect a procedural engine mod would be possible though!

Agree, now an option for vacuum or surface mode would make sense as many newer engines comes with both options.  But this could just a well be two engines.