Jump to content

SSTOs! Post your pictures here~


Recommended Posts

Hi guys - I got another one in the works. I got the balance thing in hand, my other criteria are fighter like performance at low altitude, looks, and just good basic SSTO performance. I will say no more. I am not going to present it unfinished , but I have some time on my hands in the next 48 hours.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Great job, I've always sidestepped the problem of getting my utility drop ships into orbit but you've attacked the problem head on and succeeded in style, well done! :)

Cupcake...

What can I say? I'm extremely stubborn, must be the Irish in me. k_cheesy.gif

To those who have MechJeb already installed with their version of Kerbal Space Program, here is the craft file with Mechjeb: http://www./download/6xm81ez1mcxvtog/Bison_Mk_VI_Proto.craft

Link to comment
Share on other sites

What can I say? I'm extremely stubborn, must be the Irish in me. k_cheesy.gif

To those who have MechJeb already installed with their version of Kerbal Space Program, here is the craft file with Mechjeb: http://www./download/6xm81ez1mcxvtog/Bison_Mk_VI_Proto.craft

I should mention you've answered a very important question that I had, namely if it was possible to use VTOL designs with Mechjeb. I'll have to play around with it now. I think it'll open up some pretty exciting possibilities for formation flying, perhaps even whole missions flown with a human and AI pilot! :)

Cupcake...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I should mention you've answered a very important question that I had, namely if it was possible to use VTOL designs with Mechjeb. I'll have to play around with it now. I think it'll open up some pretty exciting possibilities for formation flying, perhaps even whole missions flown with a human and AI pilot! :)

Cupcake...

Yes, it's entirely possible. Mechjeb will just control it like it's a rocket. Just remember to switch control over to the top docking port before hitting the ascent autopilot. Also, your pitch controls will be reversed (pressing 's' will nose you forward and pressing 'w' will nose you backwards).

I may try adding more intakes on my ship to get the most out of the turbojet engines before switching over to the Aerospikes, but I don't think I'm carrying too much jet fuel. Without the drop tank, The Bison almost jumps off the runway, but it doesn't have enough fuel on it's own to reach orbit. Therefore, it needs the drop tank.

On another note, I was wondering how were doing that formation flying? Is that a mod?

::EDIT:: I took your advice, and stacked up some intakes on top of the jet engines. It was a great success!! I was able to reach orbit with a good amount of fuel left.

1229881_10151824122001815_450454441_n.jpg

Seen here with it's drop tank.

1002625_10151824121836815_1750371056_n.jpg

In orbit, with more than enough fuel left to make rendezvous with the Orbital Silo.

Craft file link updated. Again, requires Mechjeb.

Bison Mk. VI: http://www./download/i8pyqi266scjwwt/Bison_Mk_VI_Proto.craft

Spartan 300 Craft Depository: http://www./#s6p0uzlohzs2w

Edited by speedboiae86
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yes, it's entirely possible. Mechjeb will just control it like it's a rocket. Just remember to switch control over to the top docking port before hitting the ascent autopilot. Also, your pitch controls will be reversed (pressing 's' will nose you forward and pressing 'w' will nose you backwards).

I may try adding more intakes on my ship to get the most out of the turbojet engines before switching over to the Aerospikes, but I don't think I'm carrying too much jet fuel. Without the drop tank, The Bison almost jumps off the runway, but it doesn't have enough fuel on it's own to reach orbit. Therefore, it needs the drop tank.

On another note, I was wondering how were doing that formation flying? Is that a mod?

::EDIT:: I took your advice, and stacked up some intakes on top of the jet engines. It was a great success!! I was able to reach orbit with a good amount of fuel left.

.

Good stuff, it's getting better all the time! :) I think you can possibly add even moar intakes, the more the merrier! With the jet fuel thing you'll want to have a look at how much liquid fuel your jets need to get into orbit you want them to have a just enough jet fuel, not too much though as without the oxidizer your rockets can't use it and it's kind of dead weight. Also depending on what altitude you light the rockets you might better off with LV-TV30s over Aerospikes.

It's a bit odd your controls are reversed for the docking port, it sounds like it might be on the wrong way round? Anyway, the formation flying thing is where I want to leave one ship being flown by Mechjeb, while I pilot another craft and follow it, if that works I'll be very happy indeed. :) But yeah, keep it up it's really coming together nicely!

Cupcake...

Edited by Cupcake...
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Why did you kill the train Cupcake....... what did it ever do to you......

Lies! Lies! You take that back! I didn't kill the train I made sure I spared it, I just destroyed all the carriages instead..... Um.... Okay, I'll get my coat.... :(

Cupcake...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Good stuff, it's getting better all the time! :) I think you can possibly add even moar intakes, the more the merrier! With the jet fuel thing you'll want to have a look at how much liquid fuel your jets need to get into orbit you want them to have a just enough jet fuel, not too much though as without the oxidizer your rockets can't use it and it's kind of dead weight. Also depending on what altitude you light the rockets you might better off with LV-TV30s over Aerospikes.

It's a bit odd your controls are reversed for the docking port, it sounds like it might be on the wrong way round? Anyway, the formation flying thing is where I want to leave one ship being flown by Mechjeb, while I pilot another craft and follow it, if that works I'll be very happy indeed. :)

Cupcake...

MOAR Intakes??? No thanks, I think any more and I'm not going to be happy with how it looks anymore. If there's one thing that's important to me besides functionality, it's aesthetics. I tried going with the LV-T30's, but they stuck too far out and clipped with the ground, thus making my landing gear unusable. Besides, I like the looks of the Aerospikes better, again, it's an aesthetic choice. Initially I was going to try the Atomic Engines, but they wound being far too heavy. If I remember correctly, the Bison Mk. III had them.

The reversed control with the pitch has nothing to do with the docking port being the wrong way around. You notice that when you switch control to the docking port, it turns your navball top up? Therefore, pressing 'w' would make you go up, so with the docking port being on top, it'll bring your nose up, because if you were controlling from the cockpit, it'd bring your nose down. It's kinda confusing, but try it with my Bison and you'll see.

I keep forgetting to add this, have I mentioned I'm an idiot?!

Action Groups:

1 - Toggles Turbojets

2 - Toggles Aerospikes

3 - Closes Intakes

9 - Undocks drop tank

::BEFORE TAKING OFF::

Make sure to right-click the top two fuel tanks coming out of the jet fuselages by the cockpit and disable them. Otherwise, the fuel drains unevenly and makes the craft unbalanced. I have no clue why it does this, and I have tried everything to fix it, but alas, it's best just to avoid the problem. You can reactivate them after dropping the drop tank while the Aerospikes are lit. After that, you can engage the engines, press 2 to deactivate rockets, and engage the ascent autopilot. Sit back, and enjoy!!

Edited by speedboiae86
Link to comment
Share on other sites

MOAR Intakes??? No thanks, I think any more and I'm not going to be happy with how it looks anymore. If there's one thing that's important to me besides functionality, it's aesthetics. I tried going with the LV-T30's, but they stuck too far out and clipped with the ground, thus making my landing gear unusable. Besides, I like the looks of the Aerospikes better, again, it's an aesthetic choice. Initially I was going to try the Atomic Engines, but they wound being far too heavy. If I remember correctly, the Bison Mk. III had them.

The reversed control with the pitch has nothing to do with the docking port being the wrong way around. You notice that when you switch control to the docking port, it turns your navball top up? Therefore, pressing 'w' would make you go up, so with the docking port being on top, it'll bring your nose up, because if you were controlling from the cockpit, it'd bring your nose down. It's kinda confusing, but try it with my Bison and you'll see.

You're right, I'm going to shut up now and leave you to it, you've clearly everything under control. I've got a few little side projects on at the moment but I'll definitively gonna take your ship for a spin sometime, looking forward to seeing what else emerges from the hanger as well. :)

Cupcake...

Edited by Cupcake...
Link to comment
Share on other sites

You're right, I'm going to shut up now and leave you to it, you've clearly everything under control. I've got a few little side projects on at the moment but I'll definitively take your ship for a spin sometime, looking forward to seeing what else emerges from the hanger as well. :)

Cupcake...

I have no idea what's going to be coming out the hangar next, it all depends on when and if inspiration strikes me again. I did, however, wanted to say thank you for inspiring me with your crazy VTOL creations. Most times I've only just ever done SSTO's, ion fighters, heavy warbirds, carrier ships, and off planet colony ships.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have no idea what's going to be coming out the hangar next, it all depends on when and if inspiration strikes me again. I did, however, wanted to say thank you for inspiring me with your crazy VTOL creations. Most times I've only just ever done SSTO's, ion fighters, heavy warbirds, carrier ships, and off planet colony ships.

My pleasure, I'll have to have a look at the rest of your fleet sometime... :)

Cupcake...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guys, how would you go about putting the payload into these crafts if you couldnt recover to SPH.

Im guessing a crane.

Just land at KSC and recover the flight. Then launch an new one from the SPH with the new payload as if it was the same one.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Radam,

I built a crane to test if a couple of my cargo hauler SSTOs or Space planes as I have come to call them now, can make multiple trips with one fuel load.

I have also been messing around with the crane for other things. Like hurling random parts into the ocean.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

So I took Dartmouse SSTO from spaceport, someone made it, the name is there. http://kerbalspaceprogram.com/kerbalife-aa-21e-dartmouse-stock/ Turbojet placement was bad, I think one of the engines didnt make any thrust as it was behind the other one. so I made the plane a little lighter by switching nuclear out for turbos. Its in the picture.

Javascript is disabled. View full album

Then I took it off the runway, climbed high, and got to speed at 30 km. It has lots of intakes, dont know how many. Speed was 1840ms.

Then I took ALL of its wing surfaces off completely. That maybe reduced the weight by a ton maybe. So it was 20 instead of 21t.

Flipped it vertically so it sat on the nuclear engine and used mechjeb ascent module to get it up and to speed. As you see its about 1800ms at 32km.

But the point of this whole thing is: How much fuel was used at both instances?

The SAME amount!

So for a person not concerned with looks and too lazy to stabilize wing surfaces, Turbojet powered vertical ascent works just as good.

Someone even made a heavy launcher with these: http://kerbalspaceprogram.com/cactus-flower-mk4-lifter/ 80t to orbit with 220t at launch...

Edited by Radam
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I see planes with blue engine glow. That ain't stock. What mod does that come from or is that just a quirk of the lighting?

Can you point out on what image you see this? I've been digging through several pages and the only 'blue glow' I can find is the stock Ram Intake.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have something new. White, fast, and mostly, beautiful. I can't come up with a name awesome enough, though. White Dart fits, but it is neither awesome enough nor in keeping with my naming scheme on SSTO's (they are all named after pointy things i.e. Gladius, Crys, Rapier, Trident...). Sooo.. suggestions before official release? It if has "white" on it, double points.

hH2caas.jpg

dkFummG.jpg

Rune. The VTOL version was surprisingly easy. In fact, I'm blaming the whole build on blind luck, because doing something as polished as this on the first try is not normal for me.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

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...