How to make an SSTO that puts 40t in orbit.

[Ohfive30]

I just got my first SSTO of my own design into orbit and back again, I was fairly pleased with myself.

Now, I want to put a decent payload in Orbit, preferably about 40 tons (the giant orange fuel tank with a Clamp-o-tron Sr. at each end) which has got to be able to dock with my space station

Has anyone got tips and advice?

I've seen a couple of videos of some massive SSTO spaceplanes on youtube that look very impressive, but I believe are from older versions of KSP, has or is anyone doing this in the current version?

I'm trying to avoid using too many addons, although I do have mechjeb, kethane, mapsat and Kerbal Attachment system.

[Teirusu]

While space planes can have a rather bigger payload fraction then rockets when built right, you'll still looking at around (Or more) 120 tons for the whole thing. That's a massive plane to be building, and balancing, with a rather high part-count. So, those massive SSTOs you see on youtube are really still 'it' as far as stock parts go.

If you're looking to try more mods, then the first things I'd recommend are the B9 aero-space parts and the procedural wing plug-in.

[Ohfive30]

Thanks, I'll have a look at those two plugins, I think I'll try and start with a small payload first, maybe a little satellite.