Wing Commander Craft Designs

[pheeph]

Since I made a few threads with an individual Wing Commander craft in each one, I decided to have everything else posted into one thread. This thread is for craft designs based on the Wing Commander series. And just so you know, the scale of these ships vary and the designs are not always accurate. I may update the thread if I come up with new ones... While some of these crafts are made with KSP stock parts, I may use mods and addons for things like bigger ships.

Here's some that I recently made (These are all stock):

F-54 Epee (Wing Commander II)

Craft file: http://www./download/26vz0xqboadjfci/Epee.craft

F-27 Arrow V (Wing Commander III) - I kinda wondered if the A-Wing from Star Wars had a cousin...

Craft file: http://www./download/1t5boevqq0az371/Arrow_V.craft

F-95 Morningstar (Wing Commander II) - I have to say this particular craft looks like a typical fighter plane...

Craft file: http://www./download/ysn0ty95ye69v4h/Morningstar.craft

P-64 Ferret (Wing Commander II) - This kinda resembles an X-Wing...

Craft file: http://www./view/3uymxu2e35zusal/Ferret.craft

A-17 Broadsword (Wing Commander II) - I had a hard time getting this thing in the air, but I finally did... but don't try to go supersonic or it'll go out of control.

Craft file: http://www./download/5qrb9iuinjoiioa/Broadsword.craft

CF-105 Scimitar (Wing Commander I) - This craft is a little difficult to control, but not bad.

Craft file: http://www./download/qv5k65wfkds8p2t/Scimitar.craft

For the other ships I made way before making this thread, here are the links

F-36 Hornet: http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/showthread.php/31467-Wing-Commander-F-36-Hornet?highlight=wing+commander

F-44 Rapier II: http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/showthread.php/33064-Wing-Commander-F-44-Rapier-II?highlight=wing+commander

Dralthi: http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/showthread.php/32795-Wing-Commander-Dralthi?highlight=wing+commander

Hellcat V: http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/showthread.php/32007-Wing-Commander-Hellcat-V?highlight=wing+commander

And as for capital ships such as the TCS Tiger's Claw or the TCS Concordia, I guess that might be doable but I have to figure out how to get these large things into space...

Since this thread has more than one page, I'll put links of these pages into the first post so you can see where the ships are.

Page 1 (this page)

-A-17 Broadsword (B9 version)

-Hellcat V (B9 version)

-Bloodfang from WC2 (with B9 parts)

-Dralthi IV (with B9 and Taverio parts)

Page 2 http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/34561-Wing-Commander-Craft-Designs/page2

-TCS Tiger's Claw (all B9, only my save files have this ship put together)

Page 3 http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/34561-Wing-Commander-Craft-Designs/page3

-KF-402 Krant (with Taverio parts)

-Dralthi IV (stock version)

-Bloodfang from WC3 (stock version)

-KF-507 Drakhri (all stock)

-Dralthi II (it's actually a remade version of my previous stock Dralthi)

Page 4 http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/34561-Wing-Commander-Craft-Designs/page4

-F-57 Sabre from WC2

-A-14 Raptor from WC1

-F-104 Bearcat from WC4

Edited January 5, 2014 by pheeph

[Jason_25]

Nice designs. I really like the Morningstar and Scimitar.

I created the Tiger's Claw already but it was before .18 and it uses many plane fuselage pieces so it needs to be redesigned or have rocket fuel tanks added to it. Also if I remember correctly it was around 600+ parts and the hangar bay is not scaled relative to these larger fighter designs. Unfortunately, if you were to recreate it one of two things would happen. Either it would have too many parts or be so thinly constructed that it would wobble terribly during the ascent. There is a small chance though because of the 2x2 structural panels we have now. These may be the key to making a viable space carrier.

[pheeph]

I recently came across the B9 Aerospace pack and used it to remake some of the Wing Commander ships I already have...

And of course the B9 Aerospace mod is required for these ships to load up properly.

The addon is here: http://kerbalspaceprogram.com/0-19-1-b9-aerospace-pack-release-2/

Here's the remade A-17 Broadsword. Looks much closer to the original, though I had to add some control surfaces for it to even fly properly.

And this is the remade Hellcat V. I'm surprised this craft flew really high... near orbit...

High enough for Jebediah Kerbin to do a little EVA...

This is how high the Hellcat V went on jets alone...

Cool shot isn't it?

I flew this thing around across the planet... unfortunately, I overshot the runway and had a rough landing...

The craft files for these ships have a "B" next to them to indicate they're the remade versions...

Remade Broadsword: http://www./download/q0di4201u0whor4/Broadsword_B.craft

Remade Hellcat V: http://www./download/b0tv3shbx7f0u4v/Hellcat_V_B.craft

[pheeph]

What the heck is this monstrosity? It seems the Kerbals are attempting to recreate the TCS Tiger's Claw... well sort of... this is just one of the major parts of the Tiger's Claw and it does look like shoddy work... It can fly, but can't get to the altitude for an ssto mode... I built this thing around a long fuel tank, but getting it off the runway is the hard part. If I can get this up into space (a big challenge), I'll start sending up other parts to complete it... If anyone has better ideas to make this, you can tell me...

Don't forget this requires the B9 Aerospace pack.

This is the craft file: http://www./download/arv5gqu3y30ozxx/Tiger's_Claw_Rear.craft

[pheeph]

Update. I'm recreating the TCS Tiger's Claw by launching it in separate components. I'm trying the SSTO method right now.

Here's the Flight Deck from the front. This is the only component by far that managed to reach orbit.

I'm also attempting to send the Bridge Deck into orbit. So far it was just fell short of full orbit...

The biggest upcoming challenge will be to make the engined rear component. It's larger than the rest and will be difficult to launch...

[Lazurkri]

No Kilrathi designs yet?

[pheeph]

No Kilrathi designs yet?

I only had one Kilrathi ship and that's the Dralthi... I could work on those other Dralthi models or something like a Drakhri, Sartha, or a Krant...

[Lazurkri]

Try doing the Bloodfang... that'd be impressive... ALthough seeing a Dralthi would be awesome too!

[pheeph]

Try doing the Bloodfang... that'd be impressive... ALthough seeing a Dralthi would be awesome too!

Here it is. The Bloodfang. Based on the WC2 version that was flown by the Kilrathi Crown Prince Thrakath Nar Kiranka. I added a couple of things to make it stable. It flies well... but below 10 km in altitude... any higher than that and it noses up.

You'll need the B9 Aerospace pack for this to work

Craft file: http://www./download/3uau727mqzobbkk/Bloodfang.craft

And here's the Wing Commander 3 version of the Dralthi. The Dralthi IV. Unfortunately in KSP, due to the asymmetrical nature of the cockpit design, the Dralthi IV tends to tilt rightwards in flight. This is what happens when you try to stay true to the design...

This craft will need the Taverio Aerospace pack and B9 Aerospace pack for this to work.

Craft file: http://www./download/71ad3edci5ozm9t/Dralthi_IV.craft

[Devo]

nice stuff, id like to see them made from stock parts rather than the B9 stuff tho, it all looks a bit edgy.

[pheeph]

nice stuff, id like to see them made from stock parts rather than the B9 stuff tho, it all looks a bit edgy.

I'll try to do that.... it's just that it's difficult to stay true to some WC designs using only stock parts...

[capi3101]

Which ones require B9 again? 0.20 is telling me that most of these designs are incompatable. The Dralthi and the Hellcat are okay; one or two others (I don't have the game open right now - I'll let you know which others are okay as soon as I can).

[Umlüx]

Dat Hellcat!!

[Tankbuster32]

One mod: P-wing!

[capi3101]

Big "never mind" on my part; the problem was I was still running 0.20.0. Upgraded to 0.20.2 and I'm golden.

Next step: learn how to fly. Preferably without breaking the ship in the process...

[pheeph]

Big "never mind" on my part; the problem was I was still running 0.20.0. Upgraded to 0.20.2 and I'm golden.

Next step: learn how to fly. Preferably without breaking the ship in the process...

Did you clip off the wing on take off?

[capi3101]

Landing, actually. I missed the strip but still landed successfully; I taxied it back onto the runway. Clipped it with that little "hop" that happens when you roll on/off the runway in 0.20. Good thing I wasn't going any faster.

Haven't had any takeoff difficulties aside from my initial flight with the Morningstar (took off too fast and slammed the engines into the tarmac).

I find I have trouble with spaceplanes in general. I imagine it has something to do with KSP's aerodynamic model (which I hear a lot of spaceplane folks complain about in general).

[pheeph]

Behold! The TCS Tiger's Claw! Or you could call it the KCS Kerbal Claw...

The first two components are launchable... but for the third one (the engine deck), I had to resort to hyperediting... the 2nd component (the bridge deck) used the KW Rocketry boosters and engines in order to get it into orbit...

[Jason_25]

I was waiting to see if you were going to finish this. Is there a hangar bay? Or do fighters dock to the "runway"? The overall look is very authentic. If you haven't seen it already, check out my rendition here:

http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/showthread.php/37079-20-2-Aerotech-Industries-Aircraft-Spaceplanes-Rockets-Boats-Rovers-and-more!

It's the very first design on the page. My flagship. All stock except for the sunbeam lasers as the "claws" themselves. I built another one with a few less parts and a slightly bigger hangar bay that I haven't released yet. However, it transferred without any problems to Duna where it successfully deployed an Intruder fighter bomber for a vertical landing on the anomaly.

Since this is the Wing Commander thread, I also wanted to post the pictures and webpages I used for inspiration. It seems you used similar examples.

http://www.wcnews.com/ships/wc1bengal.shtml

http://www.brickcommander.com/BCMS-Starships.htm

http://www.automopedia.org/2009/02/23/15-sexiest-science-fiction-ships/

http://www.wcnews.com/newestshots/full/larsbengal13.jpg

[pheeph]

I was waiting to see if you were going to finish this. Is there a hangar bay? Or do fighters dock to the "runway"? The overall look is very authentic. If you haven't seen it already, check out my rendition here:

http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/showthread.php/37079-20-2-Aerotech-Industries-Aircraft-Spaceplanes-Rockets-Boats-Rovers-and-more!

It's the very first design on the page. My flagship. All stock except for the sunbeam lasers as the "claws" themselves. I built another one with a few less parts and a slightly bigger hangar bay that I haven't released yet. However, it transferred without any problems to Duna where it successfully deployed an Intruder fighter bomber for a vertical landing on the anomaly.

Since this is the Wing Commander thread, I also wanted to post the pictures and webpages I used for inspiration. It seems you used similar examples.

http://www.wcnews.com/ships/wc1bengal.shtml

http://www.brickcommander.com/BCMS-Starships.htm

http://www.automopedia.org/2009/02/23/15-sexiest-science-fiction-ships/

http://www.wcnews.com/newestshots/full/larsbengal13.jpg

I thought of putting docking bays on the deck... but the flight deck component was already launched into orbit (pseudo-SSTO). However, I do have another docking bay and it's on the bottom of the ship itself... I was going to put something there to make it match whatever dangles below it... I think I made the flight deck a little too long. I used the wcnews site for references to Wing Commander ships. And looking at your version of the Tiger's Claw, I have to say that must have taken some special mod to get that thing in orbit...

[Jason_25]

Cool. I like the long flight deck. It looks very dramatic. I forgot to mention that it also took the Orion (nuclear) mod to launch mine. It launches with twin Orion boosters straight off the launchpad destroying KSC and any parked vehicles in the process.

[pheeph]

So yeah, the whole ship itself is largely made out of B9 parts. Since the ship is divided into three components, I also use docking struts from the Attachment Pack 06 so I can keep the components in place once docked. Some places have stock parts and the attachable bridge is just a cupola with two RCS tanks and RCS nozzles with an ASAS.

Which can go into orbit so far?

Flight Deck component - It can be done by taking off from the runway. And then once you're like near 1200 m/s, you switch the engine modes and jettison the wings.

Bridge Deck component - I used KW Rocketry Boosters and engines to get this into orbit. It'll probably run out of fuel by the time it's in full orbit, so you might want to launch a refueling ship and dock it into one of the bridge deck's ports.

Engine Deck component - Practically, I haven't found a way to get this off the ground and I got a little impatient so I used hyperedit.

[pheeph]

Check out this short-range Kilrathi interceptor! The Krant. It can easily go Mach 3.

Craft file: http://www./download/9wlitkelu7457nd/Krant.craft

Due to the limited variety of stock parts for the wings, I had to use Taverio's Aerospace pack to get the right shapes.

[pheeph]

Ok guys, I created a stock version of the Kilrathi's Dralthi IV.

Craft file: http://www./download/wttguu15ud76hrp/Dralthi_IV_(Stock).craft

It seems that from Wing Commander III onward, the Kilrathi ships are asymmetrical in design, so when flying this thing in KSP you'll have to have the ASAS turned on and have to keep reorienting it because of the asymmetrical design of the cockpit

This thing can fly well... as long as you keep it in control...

It has a tendency to tilt and lean rightward...

I was going up high so fast, that by the time I cut the engines as the intake air cut off, I was already high enough to be floating in space if only briefly...

When I reactivated the engines, I managed to get the Dralthi IV to go into Mach 4.

Edited July 27, 2013 by pheeph

[capi3101]

Dang...I had thought to ask when you were going to get around to the Kilrathi WC3 designs, but I didn't do it because I knew they were asymmetrical and didn't want to sound like a beast of burden of above average intelligence.