NorthWood - Small ships and individual transport [NEW: SURGE I seaplane++]

[muskeg]

NorthWood now offers 2 vehicles packs. The T-REX, an individual rocket seat for the brave commanders and the SURGE plane, that includes a tiny ball ship, also for individual transport. Both packs use the same kerbanaut commander pod that is distributed in both packs (both ships use the same command pod).

We hope you enjoy!

=======================

At NorthWood Gardening Tools and Space Dynamics, we are proud to announce today the first public release of one of our rocket engineering projects. Specializing in small ships and individual transport, NorthWood\'s previous projects rarely made it past the 'please-don\'t-strap-me-alive-to-that-flying-bomb' stage and are still considered too experimental for commercial usage. This is why we are happy to introduce you to the new T-REX tri-engine rocket seat:

Backed-up by our decades-old experience in designing shovels and wheelbarrows, the T-REX is (we believe) the first individual transport system to hit the market. Operating the T-REX requires two ground control officers (for remote stabilization and guidance assistance) and a fool kerbal commander willing to be strapped to an explosive fuel tank.

Unlike planes, the T-REX is designed for vertical orientation, accomplishing horizontal trajectories by tilting the seat in the appropriate direction. Its fuel autonomy should give you more than 20 minutes of surface flight. With these capabilities, the T-REX is definitely a 'cheat rocket' and should be used for fun. Purists need not apply. Enjoy!

Included in this pack:

• 
  [li]Parts:
  
  • 
    [li]NW_kerbal-command[/li]
    [li]NW_trex-engine[/li]
    [li]NW_trex-sas[/li]
    [li]NW_trex-wingtank[/li]
    

[/li]

[li]Ships:

• 
  [li]T-REX I.craft[/li]
  

[/li]

[li]README-MANUAL.pdf[/li]

Note: original model and texture for the kerbal-command by prefim, used and distributed with explicit granted permissions.

Download: northwood_t-rex_I.zip

=======================

NorthWood is happy to announce today the release of the SURGE plane, a new individual vehicle that will let you reach new heights. Directly from our labs to yours, our latest sea/space hybrid plane includes an individual ball explorer ship (that we often call the HI-ball, from the RCS thrusters control buttons) to go where bigger ships can\'t.

The SURGE plane operates like regular planes but also provides limited VTL capabilities. Using RCS thrusters, the plane can hover over water to take-off safely. The thrusters also work as efficient aerobrakes, a most useful feature during tight landings. Once landed, or in case of incidents, just pop-out the HI-ball and start exploring your surroundings. The HI-ball should provide a pleasing experience in any environments: water, mun or Kerbin\'s mountains,...

Once you\'re ready, pop the cover of the ball and see the world with your own eyes! (and prepare to die alone as there\'s no way back)

The plane is not complicated to build but is tricky sometimes so it is recommended to use the provided .craft file and disassemble from there if necessary.

Enjoy!

Screenshots:

Included in this pack:

• 
  [li]Parts:
  
  • 
    [li]NW_kerbal-command[/li]
    [li]NW_surge_aileron[/li]
    [li]NW_surge_ballcoupler[/li]
    [li]NW_surge_ballRCStank[/li]
    [li]NW_surge_ballRCSthrust[/li]
    [li]NW_surge_engine[/li]
    [li]NW_surge_fuselage[/li]
    [li]NW_surge_popball[/li]
    [li]NW_surge_sasball[/li]
    [li]NW_surge_stacker[/li]
    [li]NW_surge_VTLRCSthrust[/li]
    

[/li]

[li]Ships:

• 
  [li]SURGE I.craft[/li]
  

[/li]

** NOTE: The Kerbal command pod included in this pack will/should replace the Kerbal command pod from the T-REX rocket seat pack. BOTH ships use the same commander. The T-REX\'s archive has been updated to contain the exact same commander. **

Download: northwood_surge_plane_I.zip

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* The \'We\' used throughout the text is the 'Royal \'we\'! You know, the editorial...'

[Warshawski]

Very cool. First jetpack I\'ve yet seen.

[xzbobzx]

dafudge, that is so awesome!

[Rico88]

Amazing and very creative. I think I am gonna do some EVA on the Mun with this 8)

[MC3craze]

You should make a 3 kerbonaut 'heavy' version.

[Rico88]

Okay, I\'ve made some test flights on Kerbin, in orbit and on the Mun. The idea is cool, as well the design. The only thing that bothers me that it\'s quite difficult to control (using keyboard). It turns a bit too fast. Except for this, it\'s great.

Edit: I forgot to mention, that the difficult to control is only stand for orbital and Munar flights.

[ddavis425]

Am I doing it right?

[Panichio]

Am I doing it right?

...the new rover...

[H2oskiKerbal]

OR First actual legit moon EVA controlled by you

and one they add storage docking and blablabla you\'ll be able to unpack a box fly around return pack it up then fly home

[imdying]

Okay, I\'ve made some test flights on Kerbin, in orbit and on the Mun. The idea is cool, as well the design. The only thing that bothers me that it\'s quite difficult to control (using keyboard). It turns a bit too fast. Except for this, it\'s great.

Have you tried:

CommandModule:

- linPower

- rotPower

RCSModule:

- On each of the 6 thrust vectors there is a 7th number, which is the thrust output for that vector, as far as I can tell

Hope that helps.

[venku122]

I think there was one unreleased jebpack but this one is much nicer. Awesome mod!

[muskeg]

difficult to control [...] for orbital and Munar flights.

Granted, it\'s not easy without the atmospheric drag and everything. I\'ll admit I mostly tested on Kerbin\'s surface and only made a few tests around the Mun\'s surface. As suggested, I\'ll have a look at lin and rot power and try to find a better balance between both space and atmospheric usage. I guess my ad was lying a bit (don\'t they all ), sorry!

I think there was one unreleased jebpack

I have a few RCS thrusters packs that I didn\'t complete yet. RCS thrusters are not as straightforward (to me at least) to fiddle with as liquid engines. But now that I got this 't-rex' out of my mind (mostly), I can go back to these old projects 8)

[Guest ThatCrazyPilot]

Amazing idea !

[Rico88]

Have you tried:

CommandModule:

- linPower

- rotPower

Not yet, I will look into it.

RCSModule:

- On each of the 6 thrust vectors there is a 7th number, which is the thrust output for that vector, as far as I can tell

Hope that helps.

There is no RCS module here, althought I\'ll try adding one to see what\'s going to happen.

Thanks for the advice!

[Rico88]

Granted, it\'s not easy without the atmospheric drag and everything. I\'ll admit I mostly tested on Kerbin\'s surface and only made a few tests around the Mun\'s surface. As suggested, I\'ll have a look at lin and rot power and try to find a better balance between both space and atmospheric usage. I guess my ad was lying a bit (don\'t they all ), sorry!

I have a few RCS thrusters packs that I didn\'t complete yet. RCS thrusters are not as straightforward (to me at least) to fiddle with as liquid engines. But now that I got this 't-rex' out of my mind (mostly), I can go back to these old projects 8)

It works very well in the atmosphere, I figured, that it was your primary objective. I hope you will manage to find the right balance. The other jetpacks looks great as well.

[MC3craze]

I like the RCS jetpack. Its like an MMU the astronauts use on the ISS.

[mincespy]

and one they add storage docking and blablabla you\'ll be able to unpack a box fly around return pack it up then fly home

OR use it as an emergence Lunar Extraction system!

Basically:

>Oh noes, Lander Engines failed.

>Unpack this on lunar surface.

>Take off from lunar surface and orbit Mun.

>Rezvendous with CM.

>Unstrap yourself from jetpack, float to CM airlock.

>Enter airlock.

>???

>PROFIT!

[Joshua21B]

OR use it as an emergence Lunar Extraction system!

Basically:

>Oh noes, Lander Engines failed.

>Unpack this on lunar surface.

>Take off from lunar surface and orbit Mun.

>Rezvendous with CM.

>Unstrap yourself from jetpack, float to CM airlock.

>Enter airlock.

>???

>PROFIT!

NASA already thought of that one http://www.cracked.com/article_19545_6-terrifying-emergency-escape-pods-that-arent-worth-it.html

[mincespy]

I know... That\'s where I got the idea.

[imdying]

Let us know how you get on, always keen to hear about which config tweaks work

[muskeg]

I made some testing and had much fun with these settings in the command\'s part.cfg:

rotPower = 0.15

linPower = 1

This allows for comfortable control in the atmosphere with the 'instant control' mode while giving acceptable control in space with a combination of precision control and S.A.S.

However, these settings create another 'problem' if you\'re planning to use the t-rex as the last stage of larger rockets. A rotPower of 0.15 does not give much control over heavier ships, making it hard to steer those rockets. I\'m not sure what to do about this, advices are welcome.

But as a standalone it flies nicely. In a single flight I was able to rocket into orbit, aim at a precise lake to fly down to, hedgehop for a while from mountain to mountain then get back to orbit and come back to the space center for landing on the airstrip. I ran out of fuel 53m over the airstrip and died atrociously but it was fun

[H2oskiKerbal]

Get C7s permission to use somewhat of his textures then make a cockpit for this little chair with kerbalnaught so we can have ejection system

for our wacky planes

[cteam]

Granted, it\'s not easy without the atmospheric drag and everything. I\'ll admit I mostly tested on Kerbin\'s surface and only made a few tests around the Mun\'s surface. As suggested, I\'ll have a look at lin and rot power and try to find a better balance between both space and atmospheric usage. I guess my ad was lying a bit (don\'t they all ), sorry!

I have a few RCS thrusters packs that I didn\'t complete yet. RCS thrusters are not as straightforward (to me at least) to fiddle with as liquid engines. But now that I got this 't-rex' out of my mind (mostly), I can go back to these old projects 8)

those jet packs look epic

[Herpderpsslerps]

However, these settings create another 'problem' if you\'re planning to use the t-rex as the last stage of larger rockets. A rotPower of 0.15 does not give much control over heavier ships, making it hard to steer those rockets. I\'m not sure what to do about this, advices are welcome.

RCS and gimbaling engines my friend.

[muskeg]

Get C7s permission to use somewhat of his textures then make a cockpit for this little chair with kerbalnaught so we can have ejection system

for our wacky planes

Sneak preview of a space plane I\'m building right now. It uses the same kerbal commander as the t-rex rocket chair. The cockpit-ball pops out of the plane to become a small RCS-propelled exploration/survival vehicle. The ball cover can also pop out to show the kerbal commander. No real texture yet but it flies relatively good.

I have control surfaces issues and some more testing to do but I hope I can finish it soon: