SCARAB - Light Utility Dropship

[Cupcake...]

26/3/2014 UPDATE: Top Docking Port Orientation Fixed, Docking Light Added.

I start 2014 with some sad news the Ox utility dropship is going to be retired...

On the bright side though its replacement has just started rolling off the line. Presenting the all new SCARAB utility drop ship, the last word in space chores. Originally developed on request for forum user Goodle the SCARAB is my first Exoskeleton design. Save for a small emergency reserve all the fuel tanks and accessories are mounted externally and can be set up in any number of different configurations depending on the mission at hand.

A rugged, lightweight chassis paired with powerful lifting engines gives the SCARAB some impressive hauling performance combined with nimble handling. Maximum recommended weight for jets alone is 18t or 1 Rockomax X200-32 Fuel Tank, pair two SCARABs up and you can haul big reds around.

Like the Ox before it the SCARAB can be daisy chained together for easy transportation or even more power.

Full sub-assembly compatibility means effortless integration for your existing designs.

OWNERS MANUAL:

You can find the craft file here...

http://goo.gl/ryXYqq

The SCARAB features a horizontal axis seat for suborbital flying and a vertical axis docking port for orbital piloting and navigation. It operates in line with the engines and must be used when performing burns with the navball. You can also use the top docking port if you'd rather fly the SCARAB like a regular rocket. A joystick is highly recommended and SAS should be kept on at all times.

Each SCARAB comes with its own base station for easy boarding and customisation. The standard layout combines two jet fuel tanks with a pair of small rocket tanks. If most of your mission is going to be performed in space these tanks can be swapped out for pure rocket fuel. There's also a small on board fuel supply which should only be used in emergencys.

Where possible you should use the jets alone, the rockets should only be used for precision flying, landing or emergency power.

If you are hauling fuel tanks around just make sure you have the cross-feed disabled otherwise the SCARAB will start syphoning fuel off. Also if you're connecting your accessory via a docking port make sure it matches the action group on the SCARAB (i.e an accessory mounted to the bottom port will need to be assigned to the abort key).

While it is possible to mount a probe core and use the craft without a Kerbal this is not recommended as the craft has been balanced for the (quite substantial) weight of a Kerbal in the seat.

The combination of light weight and powerful engines can make the SCARAB a bit frisky when not hauling cargo, pressing 9 will disable/activate one of the two reaction wheels making for a more relaxed ride.

CONTROLS:

1 - Jets

2 - Rockets

3 - Activate Docking Port Light

4 - Undock Side Docking Ports

5 - Undock Top Docking Ports (Small)

6 - Undock Top Docking Port

9 - Reduce SAS Torque

0 - Toggle Ladder

Abort - Undock Main Cargo Port

That's it good luck, if you have any questions don't be shy.

Cupcake...

Edited March 26, 2014 by Cupcake...

[Giggleplex777]

The only thing that's more impressive than your dropships, is your piloting skill!

Have you tried putting a universal docking port at the bottom so that it could attach to 2m and 1m docking ports? All you have to do is to clip a 1m docking port into a 2m one.

[Cupcake...]

The only thing that's more impressive than your dropships, is your piloting skill!

Have you tried putting a universal docking port at the bottom so that it could attach to 2m and 1m docking ports? All you have to do is to clip a 1m docking port into a 2m one.

I didn't know about that trick, I'll have to try it out now, thanks!

Cupcake...

[Comrade Jenkens]

And you've done it again!!! Is there no end to your amazing dropship designs!!!

[Cupcake...]

And you've done it again!!! Is there no end to your amazing dropship designs!!!

You're making me blush!

Cupcake...

[DisarmingBaton5]

I saw the video a few hours ago... That's amazing, Cupcake. Well done once again.

[astropapi1]

Man, your stuff is just beautiful...

[Cupcake...]

I saw the video a few hours ago... That's amazing, Cupcake. Well done once again.

Thanks very much!

Man, your stuff is just beautiful...

Cheers. The SCARAB kind of reminds me of an Ariel Atom, oh man... If I had the money I'd buy that car in a heartbeat... (sighs wistfully)

Cupcake...

[inigma]

For the universal docking port, Cupcake like this bro (I think that's what he means. I tested it and it works.)

btw, thats my Proton III (in re-development, I can't seem to stop tweaking this thing to perfection)

Edited January 3, 2014 by inigma

[Cupcake...]

For the universal docking port, Cupcake like this bro (I think that's what he means. I tested it and it works.)

btw, thats my Proton III (in re-development, I can't seem to stop tweaking this thing to perfection)

Thanks for that, I was just reading up about your Proton just this minute, very intriguing. Have you got any more insights into that 30% fuel saving with the Rapier?

Cupcake...

[inigma]

Thanks for that, I was just reading up about your Proton just this minute, very intriguing. Have you got any more insights into that 30% fuel saving with the Rapier?

Cupcake...

Yes. I've discovered that feathering a RAPIER toggle with TJE flameouts is the equivalent to managing two separate thrust controls. Since the game currently doesn't allow independent thrust control, feathering is the only option that remains, and though its crude, it works well to maximize efficiency of both engines. Also, two TJEs would simply not have the overall combined power of a RAPIER and TJE at all altitudes. Try it and see. Rune developed a Proton look alike with two TJEs. He still couldn't beat the Proton's TURAN engine (Turbojet Rapier Nuke) yet on performance. SSI has patented the TURAN engine and made it available to the public for free. No credit necessary.

Edited January 3, 2014 by inigma

[Exothermos]

Cupcake, your videos are just so great! They must be a ton of work, but they are totally worth it.

[Cupcake...]

Cupcake, your videos are just so great! They must be a ton of work, but they are totally worth it.

Thankyou. Normally I can get them shot, edited and uploaded in a couple days. Some of the specials have taken more like 3-4 days of work, but yeah, they are quite involved which is why I've started doing monthly releases instead of the weekly ones I used to do.

Cupcake...

[deadelitezealot]

amazing Im speechless

[Rune]

Thanks for that, I was just reading up about your Proton just this minute, very intriguing. Have you got any more insights into that 30% fuel saving with the Rapier?

Cupcake...

Well, I kinda debunked it on the SSI thread... you seem to get a somewhat faster ascent on atmosphere, but at the cost of greatly increased engine weight and thus worse mass ratio for in-space delta-v. And if I know you and your designs, you like healthy mass ratios...

But, you know, perhaps it's time you do a dedicated atmospheric dropship and it's a valid trade in characteristics, who knows?

Also, totally not surprised you like the Proton... if you squint, it looks like one of yours (though it comes from a totally different place). In fact, I was thinking exactly that the other day, when I brought the grasshopper (which I built as a homage to your line of dropships) into a discussion about SSI shuttlecraft designs: "these guys are converging in designs". Though yours will always be slightly more efficient due to having a single axis of thrust, of course.

Rune. The power of building in a community, I guess, we all learn what everybody learns.

[GusTurbo]

Astonishing work yet again!

The only thing that's more impressive than your dropships, is your piloting skill!

Have you tried putting a universal docking port at the bottom so that it could attach to 2m and 1m docking ports? All you have to do is to clip a 1m docking port into a 2m one.

You can clip a .625 into that to make it even more universal!

[Sickle]

You sir, are possibly the best pilot I have seen in KSP.

[Umlüx]

awesome craft

awesomererer piloting skills

[inigma]

Well, I kinda debunked it on the SSI thread... you seem to get a somewhat faster ascent on atmosphere, but at the cost of greatly increased engine weight and thus worse mass ratio for in-space delta-v. And if I know you and your designs, you like healthy mass ratios...

But, you know, perhaps it's time you do a dedicated atmospheric dropship and it's a valid trade in characteristics, who knows?

Also, totally not surprised you like the Proton... if you squint, it looks like one of yours (though it comes from a totally different place). In fact, I was thinking exactly that the other day, when I brought the grasshopper (which I built as a homage to your line of dropships) into a discussion about SSI shuttlecraft designs: "these guys are converging in designs". Though yours will always be slightly more efficient due to having a single axis of thrust, of course.

Rune. The power of building in a community, I guess, we all learn what everybody learns.

Yeah we are converging designs but only to a certain line. SSI shuttlecraft efficiency only comes second to the final craft footprint. It has to look like a Trek shuttlecraft profile. Cupcake's dropships have no such limitation. It is my hope that my particular SSI crafts will complement Cupcake's dropships...maybe even accompany them in a future video?

[Cupcake...]

awesome craft

awesomererer piloting skills

You sir, are possibly the best pilot I have seen in KSP.

Have a look at the outakes, you might think differently!

Well, I kinda debunked it on the SSI thread... you seem to get a somewhat faster ascent on atmosphere, but at the cost of greatly increased engine weight and thus worse mass ratio for in-space delta-v. And if I know you and your designs, you like healthy mass ratios...

But, you know, perhaps it's time you do a dedicated atmospheric dropship and it's a valid trade in characteristics, who knows?

Also, totally not surprised you like the Proton... if you squint, it looks like one of yours (though it comes from a totally different place). In fact, I was thinking exactly that the other day, when I brought the grasshopper (which I built as a homage to your line of dropships) into a discussion about SSI shuttlecraft designs: "these guys are converging in designs". Though yours will always be slightly more efficient due to having a single axis of thrust, of course.

Rune. The power of building in a community, I guess, we all learn what everybody learns.

Yeah we are converging designs but only to a certain line. SSI shuttlecraft efficiency only comes second to the final craft footprint. It has to look like a Trek shuttlecraft profile. Cupcake's dropships have no such limitation. It is my hope that my particular SSI crafts will complement Cupcake's dropships...maybe even accompany them in a future video?

You're right guys, there does seem to be more and more crossover, even our fuel tankers are starting to look the same.

But yeah, as Inigma pointed out we've all got slightly different outlooks for our designs. For me it's trying to find that balance between performance, aesthetics and handling. Out of all my designs I feel the Scythe is the one that really balances all these factors. I guess the only thing that's really separating my dropships from Shuttlecraft system's is the engine setup. I'm not a big fan of having vertical and horizontal engines partly (as Rune pointed out) for the performance aspect, but mainly that it's basically impossible to balance a craft in two directions, and I get rather OCD about making sure my designs are as stable as possible. Saying that, I still feel our craft can work together quite nicely and would look very pretty side by side in a video!

Cupcake...

Edited January 3, 2014 by Cupcake...

[RocketscientistV]

For the next exoskeleton design you could put the seat inside the trusses, providing crash protection.

[Cupcake...]

For the next exoskeleton design you could put the seat inside the trusses, providing crash protection.

It was originally mounted inside but I just found it quite awkward to select the seat, maybe an ejection system of some sort would be the way forwards.

Cupcake...

[Majorjim!]

It was originally mounted inside but I just found it quite awkward to select the seat, maybe an ejection system of some sort would be the way forwards.

Cupcake...

I was watching one of your many excellent vids on youtube Cupcake and I noticed your ships don't have ejection seats. They can be tricky as Kerbals

get thrown out of the seat quite easily..

You can stop this by building a little cage around the seat to hold him in under the acceleration of the little solid rockets.

MJ

[Cupcake...]

I was watching one of your many excellent vids on youtube Cupcake and I noticed your ships don't have ejection seats. They can be tricky as Kerbals

get thrown out of the seat quite easily..

You can stop this by building a little cage around the seat to hold him in under the acceleration of the little solid rockets.

MJ

Currently the only two ships of mine that have ejection seats are the Harbie and Corgi open top VTOLS. They rely on parachutes alone rather then rockets, but even then must be used with care (see outakes).

Cupcake...

[Goodle...]

Most epic ship ever seen! I absolutely love the setup below the ox pic. Is actually a suitable and awesome successor to the Ox. As i am also a great fan of Ox, I shall mourn the loss.

Edited January 6, 2014 by Goodle...