Jump to content

...if it looks fast does that mean it goes fast?


Recommended Posts



No, but In this case yes. Presenting the R-type a new high performance multi-role drop ship that builds on the already impressive performance of the Skeeter.

wWurJAq.jpg

With this ship you get more of what you need (rocket fuel) and less of what you don't (excess weight, jet fuel). Compared to the Skeeter jet fuel capacity has been reduced from 320 to 160 while the amount of rocket fuel has been increased by 400 units. This will still give you more then enough jet fuel to make it into orbit without wasting oxidizer, while the extra rocket fuel means that the R-type has excellent space based performance not far off the Minnow.

cwAiZk4.jpg

As well as fantastic SSTO performance the R-Type also comes with a powerful launch vehicle and landing gantry that will let you ferry your R-type to the Mun, Minmus, Duna, Ike, Gilly and beyond.

kOG7iMC.jpg

After touch down the Landing Gantry can be dismantled, clearing the way for your ascent into the heavens.

Z0b4cVu.jpg

VOqllBa.jpg

yaSbSxr.jpg

If launched from the surface of Duna the R-type can return to Kerbin with a reasonable amount of fuel left over.

2auuoCY.jpg

INSTRUCTIONS

Download the file from here: http://snk.to/f-cduio5ic and unzip the contents into your space plane folder. There are two files, one just the R-type on it's own, the other is the R-type and launch vehicle.

CONTROLS
1 - Toggle Turbo Jets
2 - Toggle Rocket Engine
3 - Toggle Poodle Engines (LV Only)
4 - Toggle Atomic Engines (LV Only)

TAKEOFF PROCEDURE - SSTO
Fire up the turbo jets and climb straight up till you hit 10,000 meters, then pitch over to a 45` angle on your chosen heading (generally this is 90`). Once you start picking up speed you'll feel the nose start to drop down, you'll need to compensate for this by pulling back on the stick, once you hit thinner air the controls will return to normal. At 25,000 meters you'll have to start reducing throttle, keep the jets going as long as can but once they run out of air turn them off, fire up the rocket engine and set full throttle. Keep on that 45' angle until your speed hits around 1500 m/s, then pitch flat to the horizon and keep the rocket motor burning until you clear the atmosphere. Once in orbit you can switch command over to the docking port and round off your orbit.

TAKEOFF PROCEDURE - LAUNCH VEHICLE
Lift off with full throttle and leave it there for the whole takeoff run. As soon as you're able to, switch command over to the docking port on top of the R-type. It's a bit of a pain but after each stage KSP swaps command back to the cockpit, the best way to deal with this is just to right click on the docking port, and as long as you don't click the right mouse button again, the menu will stay up, allowing you to easily swap command back over after each stage. At 300 m/s pitch over to a 45' angle on a 90' heading. Once you reach 20,000 meters press 1 to shut down the jets and space bar to fire up the atomic engines. After you eject the side mounted mainsails pitch flat to the horizon and build up speed. Once the last of the mainsails are ejected you have the option of shutting down the poodle rockets, and using the stage as a long range drop tank for your atomic engines. Unless you're planning a trip to Jool this isn't necessary for most missions. As for the landing gantry it isn't what you'd call agile, so just make sure you take your time and find a nice flat spot to land. If you're touching down on Duna you might need to use the R-type's rocket engine to give the gantry a bit of a boost.

LANDING BACK ON KERBIN
I think KSP's flight dynamics are built with space planes in mind, which is why the flight model behaves pretty strangely with my drop ships, especially when it comes to air intakes! Despite all the intakes on the R-type supposedly producing no drag whatsoever during ascent ?!? there's something that keeps wanting to drag the nose down but I can't work out what it is, I thought it might be the cockpit but in this cast it's right at the back, and I would have thought the ship would pitch up, not down. I know it's not a center of mass issue as like all my vessels I've spent a long time balancing the R-type in a vacuum, anyway, if anyone knows the reason I'd love to hear it. Where was I? Oh yes, landing can be a bit of pain, for a start the R-type seems determined to re-enter the atmosphere arse first (??). My advice is to just let it fall and fire up the jets when you get down to around 5000m and regain control. With fuel tanks mostly empty the reduced weight means that the nose will want to pitch down even more then usual, as long as you keep your speed low it'll be fine but if you go too fast you may find the controls lock up and you'll end up in a death dive. Once you're close to landing activating the rocket engine will help get rid of the jet's throttle lag and let you bring her in for a nice smooth touch down.

uRr23Bz.jpg

Enjoy!
Cupcake...

:)
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Well, I feel a bit impressed.

Clever design, very creative, great functionality, nice lander, cool presentation. I'm gonna download and check out your ship and tell you what I think of it then ;)

greetz

Thanks! I'll look forward to hearing your thoughts.

Cupcake...

:D

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The way it flies when watching your video makes me think of Boba Fett's Slave 1 Space Ship... Which is AWESOME..

I am really impressed by this petite simple design.

Wow, that's a gorgeous SSTO. Very elegant design, but not a single part of its is purely aesthetic. Very inspiring.

Thanks for the lovely feedback, it's always really encouraging to hear.

Cupcake...

:)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This thread is quite old. Please consider starting a new thread rather than reviving this one.

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...