Bigest Knoodle Challenge

[Comwarrior]

Oky, so the challenge is to build the longest noodle (aka Knoodle).

It's not that simple...

Longest knoodle wins, however their are bonuses.

Knoodles built in space in orbit around kerban do not get a location bonus.

Knoodles built on the surface at kerban get a 15% bonus.

Knoodles built on water get a 15% bonus.

Knoodles built on MUN get a 50% bonus.

Knoodles built on Minmus get a 40% bonus.

Other Planets and bodies will get different bonuses depending on difficulty. One million percent bonus to anyone that manages to build a knoodle on the surface of Jool or the sun. Above list will get updated upon request for bonuses for specific locations.

10% 'cool' bonus for anyone using deadly re-entry.

10% bonus for all knoodles containing more than 16 kerbals.

5% 'drama' bonus for each dramatic 'effect'.

5% bonus for each unique solution to the game rules. Unique solutions are tagged to the original player that featured the solution first but can be used by the same player multiple times across multiple attempts.

5% bonus for placing six or more parts in one flight.

100% bonus for creating a knoodle that does not begin nor end.

100% bonus for creating a knoodle that circulates a planet or body in space.

Rules:

No mods except deadly re-entery. No Kerbal Attachment system or docking assistance and no custom parts. I may grant a bonus for using life support mod but please ask first and we will see how many people want this.

Knoodles must comprise of at least three pieces that are joined at the location. (knoodles can not be moved once assembly commences)

No Cheats such as unlimited fuel or unlimited rcs. (instant disqualification)

No debris left at the construction site or in orbit. (instant disqualification) (launch clamps are exempt but must NOT be used to hold surface based knoodles)

All knoodles must contain at-least one kerbal right from the beginning of construction (the first piece).

All delivery vessels must contain at-least one kerbal. Temporary construction structures are exempt from kerbal rule but still must not use remote guidance units.

No use of remote guidance units. Temporary debris is permitted but it must be 'disposed of' before knoodle construction is completed.

All delivery vessels must be RECOVERED (this means landing back on kerbal).

All Knoodles built in space must be de-orbited when construction is completed. See dramatic effects.

All knoodles on the surface of a planet / body must be destroyed 'somehow'. See dramatic effects.

All knoodles on the surface of a planet / body must be built vertically. This includes on / in water. This rule has very specific exemptions.

No kerbal death must occur. (instant disqualification)

No deleting things from the space centre or tracking station.

No editing saved game files

No editing craft files.

No use of hyper edit etc.

No rescue only missions. (a rescue is permitted provided both flights still take knoodle pieces to the knoodle, join then successfully and return to kerbal.)

No use of the 'revert to' function.

Any temporary constructs that gets auto deleted by the game result in disqualification.

A knoodle consists of a single joined long length that can be bent but must not contain angles. A knoodle piece can not be designed with a corner in it to make a square or triangle.

Player must devise a way of measuring knoodle length accurately and measured in meters. Any lengths given in an imperial measurement unit will receive instant disqualification.

My First attempt:

I have two video's, first one is reasonably short and shows me demonstrating delivering a piece to my knoodle in orbit. It also shows dramatic parachute deployment netting me a 5% drama bonus.

Second video shows my ~250 meter knoodle doing some weird bending (5% bonus for that dramatic effect). I also show the dramatic and problematic de-orbiting and re-entry for which the kerbal turned a new shade of green (5% bonus for that dramatic effect).

I also show an accident where i bumped the knoodle causing the solar panels to shatter and release debris. However, i'm calling game bug for that one since the physics engine seems to be doing something it shouldn't which caused the panels to shatter so no disqualification. See video because I recorded it.

5% bonus for taking up 8 pieces to the knoodle in one go.

5% (times 2 for two occurrences) drama bonus for a mishaps on launch. See video. No kerbal deaths occurred.

5% drama bonus for a mishap on ascent resulting in ship damage.

5% bonus for unique method of de-orbiting.

HOWEVER...

I have had to disqualify my first attempt due to running out of RCS fuel while trying to place a piece and in my frustration I slammed my mouse on my desk (the thing would not dock!) and the mouse bounced and hit the space key which executed my de-orbit stage thus leaving a temporary construct (debris) in orbit.

My apologies but this video is 2hours 10 mins long (despite being cut, the total flight real time was 4+ hours in length) and contains live commentary. But you will find it worth it as i explain the rocket, it's methods, issues with long flexible ships in orbit and show the drama. Feel free to use the pause button.

Leader Boards:

None yet...

Disqualification Board:

#1 Comwarrior's attempt #1

Edited March 24, 2014 by Comwarrior

[Comwarrior]

So, having another go at my knoodle challenge.

This time i'm using the large orange fuel tanks.

sofar in this attempt, i have the following bonus's...

5% drama bonus for launch disasters,

5% HALO parachute re-entry

5% drama bonus for rescuing a stranded ship.

So, in this video i show the first three pieces going up. Despite editing this is another 1 hour 53min video, sorry.

[Javster]

May I ask what constitutes a "Knoodle"?

Also, how are the drama bonuses applied/chosen?

[Comwarrior]

A knoodle consists of a single joined long length that can be bent but must not contain angles. A knoodle piece can not be designed with a corner in it to make a square or triangle.

Knoodles must comprise of at least three pieces that are joined at the location. (knoodles can not be moved once assembly commences)

Bonuses are their to promote exciting video's... it means you get rewarded for things going wrong.

Bonuses applied for each occurrence, except for the ones that state unique. But some unique bonuses are unique to a player.

[Macrocosmus]

I have a special plan for this challenge. Just wait. I'll edit this post to show it.

[Comwarrior]

Part four being delivered. and when leaving the station i have a staging error resulting in a piece of debris being left floating away from the knoodle and no way to get back to it.

So, i'm praying that the game does not delete it while i'm sending up another piece.

[Othuyeg]

Javascript is disabled. View full album

Here is my kerbal train.

[Comwarrior]

http://imgur.com/a/VyyMj

Here is my kerbal train.

Hi othuyeg, from what i can see of it it looks good. Except it doesn't look stock.

[Othuyeg]

Hi othuyeg, from what i can see of it it looks good. Except it doesn't look stock.

It is stock. I only have one mod installed and that is mechjeb.

Here is a video of it.

http://www.twitch.tv/othuyeg/b/514496299

[Comwarrior]

Delivering piece number 5, grabbing the debris and rescuing the other pod... not to mention a synchronised parachute landing.

It is stock. I only have one mod installed and that is mechjeb.

Here is a video of it.

http://www.twitch.tv/othuyeg/b/514496299

Do you still have the craft parts? I hadn't even considered that someone 'could' go from land to water and back to land...

[Comwarrior]

i just added two more pieces which brings the length up to ~150 meters.

[Othuyeg]

Delivering piece number 5, grabbing the debris and rescuing the other pod... not to mention a synchronised parachute landing.

Do you still have the craft parts? I hadn't even considered that someone 'could' go from land to water and back to land...

Any rover is basically seaworthy.

I have the thing still somewhere. I could make it as long as i feel like, limited only by the draw distance and my computer.

If I hadn't gone full speed into the water, i could just float around.

[Comwarrior]

Just to let people know where i'm up to...

I sent up a shipment of three pieces in one go... I've managed to place two but the centripetal forces will not allow me to dock the third.

I'm currently moving it (very carefully) to a higher orbit to see if the forces ripping it apart are reduced.

Yes i'm moving it... but only to a flatter plane.

[Comwarrior]

The Kracken just tried to eat my knoodle....