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BSC: Rocket-powered VTOL - We have a winner!


BSC: Rocket-powered VTOL - Finalists  

  1. 1. BSC: Rocket-powered VTOL - Finalists

    • Giggleplex777 - Damselfly
    • Ravenchant - Pack mule
    • Tarmenius - Bullfrog
    • MiniMatt - Snack Wagon VTOL


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I wonder what the maximum delta-V ASL is for these? Assuming a TWR exceeding 1.0 with a full fuel load, of course.

I guess it would be an exercise in part removing because one simply needs to attach a cockpit, a lot of fuel and an aerospike in order to make it work.

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...highlight a useful application of the often-ignored Mark 55 radial engine.

Well played, I tried getting those things to fit with my design but ultimately couldn't quite get them to feel right alongside other design goals; that unique three degree vectoring has a distinct and noticeable benefit in these type of craft. And a Red Dwarf sig quote always scores bonus points :)

Additionally, the Abort action group shuts down the rockets and deploys the parachutes, making it fairly safe even at low altitudes.

Abort group! That's what I forgot! Be right back, going to have to nick that idea and edit my entry :)

I wonder what the maximum delta-V ASL is for these? Assuming a TWR exceeding 1.0 with a full fuel load, of course.

I guess it would be an exercise in part removing because one simply needs to attach a cockpit, a lot of fuel and an aerospike in order to make it work.

The design parameters for this challenge are perhaps more open than for any other BSC, not being particularly constrained with specific mission goals allows for significant creativity. The VTOL craft can be pretty much anything you want it to be. As noted earlier in the thread, a probe core, fuel tank, and single 48S engine is technically a 3 part count VTOL which can reach orbit in a single stage (but wouldn't make for a particularly inspiring stock craft).

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Because having a cool looking acronym is better and easier than having one that means anything.

May I propose the Hugely Awesome-Looking Object?

Because that looks pretty neat :)

Here's my "official" video of how to fly the Pavo VTOL:

Enjoy!

Edited by UpsilonAerospace
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The Wernhermobile was designed by Wernher Von Kerman himself to teach beginners the basics of rocket-powered flight. It's a very fun craft to fly as well, once you get to know how to operate it.

The craft has five (or four) flight modes:

1 - Driving Mode

2 - Jet Mode

3 - Jet and Rocket Hybrid Mode

4 - Rocket Only Mode

5 - Ladder Mode (although some KSC staff are unsure about this one)

Good for Beginners

The nice thing about the Wernhermobile is that even though it has multiple flight modes which can be activated by pressing different action groups, beginners will be able to fly it even if they don't know what action groups are. All the engines are arranged into stages, so by pressing spacebar, the next pair of engines is activated.

Also, if something goes wrong, the abort action group is set to shut down all the engines, decouple the capsule, and deploy an emergency parachute. However, the last stage is also set to decouple and deploy the parachute if a new user isn't familiar with action groups.

Good for Advanced Users

Despite being very easy to use, the Wernhermobile also shows off some more advanced building techniques and action group configurations that can be picked up by more seasoned users as well. The craft uses no ALT+F12 part clipping - just easy-to-replicate clipping techniques using cubic octagonal struts. Some designing tricks I've demonstrated in this craft are the use of cubic octagonal struts to mount the 47-RS engines, placing struts only where absolutely necessary to save on part count, and rotating radially-attachable parts.

I spent a lot of time testing each action group to make sure that you could switch from any one mode to any other mode. In other words, you can be in Jet Mode and switch to Driving Mode, or be in Rocket Only Mode and switch to Jet and Rocket Hybrid Mode. All the engines and reaction wheels will turn on or off when needed.

Good for Kerbin

Because of the vehicle's different operating modes, long-distance voyages are possible. You can be a jet and fly to another continent, land with rockets once you get there, and drive around as a rover.

Additionally, the craft's structural plate is located right above the center of mass (COM), so you can easily transport small payloads around on Kerbin. You could add a docking port and use the vehicle to transfer fuel, or stick a mini-lander on there that you can decouple and use once you arrive at your destination.

Good for Space

Because the Wernhermobile's structural plate is on top of the COM, you can attach a rocket to it and launch it into space. The rocket will tilt over slightly, but if you empty the jet fuel tank, you'll achieve near-perfect balance. And you likely won't be needing jet fuel unless you're going to Laythe.

This is what I think is the greatest feature about the Wernhermobile. Whereas the stock Rocket-Power VTOL can't be transported up to space very easily and is mostly confined to Kerbin, the Wernhermobile is designed to be taken to other planets. Additionally, with 1,800 m/s of Delta-V, you can easily land and return from the Mun, or get into orbit from the surface of Duna. The craft's two efficient 47-RS engines make this possible, but of course on higher-gravity worlds you'll have to use Rocket-Only Mode to generate enough thrust.

Happy Flying!

320px-Download_link.png

Edited by Andrew Hansen
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So I've been looking at some of the previous BSC's and sometimes it looks like the voters aren't looking at the thread post and only at the craft.

I agree. Someone could have a great craft, but if the picture shown in the original post isn't good, then people will be less likely to vote for that craft. When there's a lot of voters, most people don't take the time to check out each person's post.

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I agree. Someone could have a great craft, but if the picture shown in the original post isn't good, then people will be less likely to vote for that craft. When there's a lot of voters, most people don't take the time to check out each person's post.

another example there was a very detailed how to fly part in the post but almost no one read it and kept complaining how there was not how to fly part in the description. Or they get the name of the craft wrong because they only look at the craft name in the file and not at the post

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Well yeah, but could we stick to the topic? Anyway, I think we all outdid ourselves in the presentations and ship designing this time! all of them look awesome! Now to wait 24h...

tomorrow I will get 'round to flying these cool ships, and will post the top 3-4 ships and my critics!

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Well played, I tried getting those things to fit with my design but ultimately couldn't quite get them to feel right alongside other design goals;

I know how you feel, but last weekend I managed to make an accidental breakthru: Clip 4 of them into a fuel tank and angle them so it looks like an orbital engine nozzle; it has powerful thurst and vectoring + looks cool!

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Guys, can I ask a favour?

Can we wait till the votes are in before we start moaning about them? Now I recognise that voting in the past has had some abnormalities, I recognise that in some instances some good craft have not made the second round as a result. But for me, and I don't think I'm alone here, the joy is in the thread, in the discussions, in the learning new tricks, in passing tricks on, at seeing the engineering and artistic skills on display. To me some of that joy is lost when we descend into grumpiness about voting.

In some instances I feel I might have deserved more votes, and in some instances I feel I've actually gotten rather lucky. And in neither scenario does it matter a jot. As internet popularity contests go, a handful of votes from people I'll never meet, about what essentially boils down to a fun Lego creation, is neither here nor there.

I love the challenges Xeldrak has maintained. That joy is within the thread. That joy is lost if the thread becomes grumpy.

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Well yeah, but could we stick to the topic? Anyway, I think we all outdid ourselves in the presentations and ship designing this time! all of them look awesome! Now to wait 24h...

tomorrow I will get 'round to flying these cool ships, and will post the top 3-4 ships and my critics!

it is technically on topic

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I love the challenges Xeldrak has maintained. That joy is within the thread. That joy is lost if the thread becomes grumpy.

I totally agree. I didn't have any intention on being negative at all, and I'm sorry if it appeared that way. Like you said, it doesn't matter who wins or loses! The fun is seeing the comments other people make, suggestions they have, and sharing ideas to improve our designing skills. I always learn tons of new things after each BSC challenge that I didn't know before.

The BSC challenges motivate me to create something amazing!

EDIT:

Woah! Xeldrak now has two reputation bars instead of one! Yay Xeldrak!

Edited by Andrew Hansen
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Blast! Looks like I'm a bit late to the party. University stuff took its toll on free time, but anyway: here's another entry :)

Presenting the: Pack mule

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DOWNLOAD (SPH)

Features:

- Part count: 62

- TWR on start: 1.3

- TWR after droptank separation: 2.0

- Wet mass: 13,87 tons

- Maximum endurance: 5:30 (hover time)

- Propulsion: 6x 48-7S engines (alas, no jets :blush:)

- Escape system works even with droptanks still on

- There's a Jr. docking port on top, if you want lander-like controls

- Bottom light for night landings

"G" toggles gear, while "1" toggles landing legs. Use "2" to extend the ladder. "3" cycles suspension lock, though I doubt you'll need this. "4" deploys the parachute, if fiery doom is imminent :)

Note that most pictures were taken before I slapped the ladder on. But 5 extra kilos don't really make much of a difference.

The craft is heavy, and flight time is limited, but I hope it makes up somewhat with good stability and maneuverability. Just don't use the abort button when your nose is pointed to the ground- Kerbals have feelings too.

Fly safe! wait, that's Scott's line:)

EDIT: apparently the Mule can just about get to the island runway. Not at wave height, though. I had to punch to 6-7 km altitude and fly on a ballistic arc.

I love the challenges Xeldrak has maintained. That joy is within the thread. That joy is lost if the thread becomes grumpy.

Also, this! Completely agreed =)

Second edit: rats, just noticed that my craft looks conspicuously similar to UpsilonAerospaces' Pavo. An example of...convergent engineering, I guess?

Edited by Ravenchant
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Speaking of reputation...

If you're inspired by someone's design, give them some +Rep, please! It's a really simple and really great way to show support, and it helps out everyone! And why don't we all dish out all of the reputation that we can on Xeldrak... two bars isn't enough.

Thanks for this awesome competition Xeldrak!

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I see we're losing in on the end of the competition, and the judging is already beginning. Nice job to all who posted so far.

One thing that really surprised me was the general lack of RCS used throughout the competition. I may have been the only person who used RCS! (I like it because it does the same thing as an SAS module, but you can toggle it easily without resorting to action groups.)

Also, jet engines! I don't like VTOLs with solely jet engines because of their sluggish response (sorry) but a combination of jet and rocket power seems to work reasonably well.

...and I'm blown away by the quality of some of these craft. I honestly think that my craft may have some neat features (launching off of jumps at 45 m/s, anyone?) but that some of you guys have packed more features into your craft with fewer parts. I'm always blown away when participating in these competitions... I think my craft is pretty cool but everyone else's is unbelievably neat.

That being said, you should still vote for me. :D

[note: I edited my original post to include a one-minute-ish tutorial on how to fly the Pavo, as well as listing the four action groups that I created.]

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I see we're losing in on the end of the competition, and the judging is already beginning. Nice job to all who posted so far.

One thing that really surprised me was the general lack of RCS used throughout the competition. I may have been the only person who used RCS! (I like it because it does the same thing as an SAS module, but you can toggle it easily without resorting to action groups.)

Also, jet engines! I don't like VTOLs with solely jet engines because of their sluggish response (sorry) but a combination of jet and rocket power seems to work reasonably well.

...and I'm blown away by the quality of some of these craft. I honestly think that my craft may have some neat features (launching off of jumps at 45 m/s, anyone?) but that some of you guys have packed more features into your craft with fewer parts. I'm always blown away when participating in these competitions... I think my craft is pretty cool but everyone else's is unbelievably neat.

That being said, you should still vote for me. :D

[note: I edited my original post to include a one-minute-ish tutorial on how to fly the Pavo, as well as listing the four action groups that I created.]

May I ask a question about your craft? Why does it have the 4 angled engines? they only provide a bit of thrust and they guzzle lots of fuel.

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Hm...awesome, I woke up today with a body temperature von 40°C (thats 104°F for all you insane people). First fever in over ten years.

Well, the start of the vote might delay because it seems like I sleep a lot. Anyways - until the vote stats, you are allowed to post entries.

Also, I have updated my own entry and fixed the bugs Giggleplex mentioned.

Edited by Xeldrak
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