[W&P Co.][SSTO+Mothership] Kith Pack! B Wing 4b Inquisitor & IP-2E Kith Grand

[I_Killed_Jeb]

Hot on the heels of the Kedi Knight Pack, the P&W Company is happy to present our companion Kith Pack, the 2nd entry in our Skar Wars series.

The Inquisitor is a menacing science vessel descended from fighter craft. True to the Kith Kode she is a bird of power, not finesse, and will buck the unsuspecting neophyte unpracticed in the art of handling this thoroughbred. She packs enough dv to land and return from everywhere except Tylo, Moho, and maybe Vall, depending on your skill level. Low-gravity VTOL engines mean easier and safer vacuum landing procedures, and like the Ethersprite includes landing legs for confidence to explore the planet without fearing for the plane rolling off into the sunset. No small science parts but feel free to add them if you desire.

Vehicle Description

"The Inquisitor is a modification of the Kith B Wing all-system starfighter platform, designed for carrying out surveys of a target body prior to assault under the guise of science. Such research proved to be critical in several decisive victories in the early phases of the Skar Wars. Some high-angle stability has been sacrified to make the necessary modifications, but the 4b remains an excellent general purpose craft.

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Hotkeys

1 - Toggle Jets

2 - Toggle Intakes

3 - Rockets!

4 - VTOL Rockets

7 - Toggle Landing Legs

9 - Toggle Forward Docking Ports"

Vital stats

Controlled re-entry capable, the 4 wheels give it an exceptionally stable landing platform

Does indeed look very evil...

While a very versatile spacecraft on its own, the B Wing 4b's true powers are in its ability to dock with the IP-2E to become the Kith Grand Inquisitor.

The Kith Grand Inquisitor - early prototype models

Which, of course, we are releasing here as well.

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The IP-2E Kith Grand interplanetary drive is a medium weight dreadnaught and science vessel with approximately 10 km/s of delta-v. It is launched fully fueled but will require its own power for the last stage of orbital insertion. Good thing it has a handy access port at the very tip for easy interface with space stations and refueling craft. The final production model has upgraded thrust to 12 nuclear engines as opposed to the prototype's 8, sacrificing some dv for TWR.

Vehicle Description:

"During the Skar Wars, the Kith commissioned a dreadnaught from which they could stage planetary assaults. The project was later reconfigured as an interplanetary drive for light Kith fighter crafts allowing greater flexibility in deployment capabilities. The shadow of hundreds of bloodthirsty Kith warriors orbiting in their fighters docked to this fearsome dreadnaught was enough to secure the surrender of many moons during the War, and the Kith Grand has since endured as a symbol of strength.

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Hotkeys

5 - Toggle Nuclear Engines

8- Toggle Solar Panels, Long-Range Antenna"

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Builder's Notes -

Inquisitor

*Despite my description this is actually a very easy SSTO to get into orbit with full science capability. Like the J-Wing series, simply go 1-2-3 after building up enough speed to get into orbit.

*The challenge is landing the craft in Kerbin, as when it is half-empty the CoM/CoL relationship becomes unstable when pitch angle changes beyond a critical point. To avoid low-altitude flatspins of death, remember to shift the fuel to the forward tanks when landing in atmosphere.

*The landing legs allow the plane to remain fixed while you explore, toggle them and retract the landing gears for that purpose. No ladders, the Kith don't believe in them.

Kith Grand

*My finest work, in my opinion!

*Docking the Inquisitor to the Grand is easy-peasy. The narrowly spaced fuel tanks make it impossible to dock at a weird angle, and ensure a perfect two-port dock each and every time.

*If you intend to use the science module as an actual science module to clean experiments, remember to add at least one Kerbal to it before launch!

*I recommend putting your Kerbonaut in the science module after docking for long-term journeys, controlling from the probe core just behind the nose. It seems more humane.

*Launch profile is standard KSP. I find it most fuel efficient and safe to begin pitch-over after staging the outer tanks. After final staging event you will be controlling the spent interstage, not the Kith Grand, so press [ or ] to cycle to the actual craft.

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Hope you guys enjoy this! I really do think these two represent my best work ever in 300+ hours of KSP. Please leave a note if you download, and feedback is desperately appreciated.

Edited January 21, 2014 by I_Killed_Jeb