New to the Forum but been using KSP since V0.18

[HavelockVetinari]

Hi folks

I've been hooked on KSP since I started playing with V0.18. Actually I started on the demo version which at the time was pre 0.14 but within an few hours I decided that I had to have the full version which was mainly because of Mods. Stopped playing for a while and recently picked it up again and it's taking over my spare time, which is fine when you are away from home working. I use quite a few mods though mainly those that provide aesthetic improvements, extra information. I don't use anything that is too overpowered or cheats though Mechjeb is good for working out your DV and planning interplanetary manoeuvre nodes. So far I'm working my way up the 0.24 tech tree, Landed on the Mun and Minmus manually and made it home with fuel to spare. My landings on Minmus was the best I've done so far as I landed almost exactly where I wanted, though I suppose the lack of atmosphere and low gravity helped a lot. In V0.22 I made 2 landings on Minmus, one on the Mun and also made it to Eve and landed a couple of robotic probes, but I've since started again with V0.23.

Been working on a lander & Rover combination for Duna, the lander with the Rover attached can almost make Low Kerbin orbit on it's own so it should be good to get me back from Duna. Built a space tug, launched the lander, docked another bigger space tug in orbit and can't get it on an escape trajectory because the docked lander is too wobbly. Planning to rectify this with a repair mission using KAS to add struts and some missing fuel lines and then Jeb and Bob will be on their way to the red planet. This is such a fun game and much better than simply killing things.

Happy flying folks and may the Kraken never get you.

Cheers HV.

[Supernovy]

Welcome to the community! When I first got the demo, I also almost immediately decided it was worth buying.

How big is your rover/lander? I usually try to make my rovers really really small.

[HavelockVetinari]

Well I started trying to make a small rover and it was a bit too big to fit under my lander so I sort of cheated and used the Bobcat MkV Ant as my rover. I love the excellent models with full IVA that Bobcat has made. It's really small and adding a few solar panels, a battery and an Antenna is all I had to do to it. I figured it's only cheating "a bit" because I plan on manually getting the lander to Duna and returning it to Kerbin. I like the rover you have built But I wanted something that I could fit a Kerbal on rather than a robotic rover which is why I used the Ant. I have got a folding 6 wheel lander "Using Infernal Robotics" but it's a bit big and I have to wait until I'm a bit further up the tech tree with bigger rocket parts before I can start launching large rovers and Habitats to the outer planets.

[HavelockVetinari]

I won't be returning the lander to Kerbin but the Kerbal will "Hopefully" be coming back. Your two tiny rovers on the Mun are great and have given me some inspiration for some more far flung missions. Haven't got any atomic power packs yet so it will have to be solar panels for now.

[HavelockVetinari]

My initial post should say working my way up the v0.23 Tech tree NOT the 0.24 tech tree. I haven't yet managed to get my hands on a dodgy copy of 0.24.

[Claw]

I'm with Supernovy. It didn't take long playing the demo to convince me.

And I also tend to build smaller rather than large. Well, except my most recent space station. That one was a bit on the larger size.

Welcome! And I'm looking forward to seeing some of your designs.

[HavelockVetinari]

Thanks guys, yes KSP has taken over. I would like to upload some shots but I'm away from home working and only have internet on my work computer. My laptop doesn't have internet access but I suppose I could transfer some of the shots with a memory stick. My Duna Lander is large, has a lot of science modules that are recoverable and enough fuel and power to almost make it into Kerbin Orbit. I went for a wide setup with 4 tanks around a central fat one and 8 landing legs to give it lots of stability. It handles well and as I said above has the Ant rover strapped to the bottom. I have launched it and landed it successfully on Kerbin, did a simulated mission in the desert, re launched and landed the small "top" capsule in the mountains for more science. The only problem is building a launch vehicle powerful enough to get it into orbit with enough fuel to get to Duna with a bit to spare to get back in case of problems.

[HavelockVetinari]

Hey Supernovy

I have a question for you about rover design. I took your advice and decided to make a very small rover it was basically and octo a frame a couple of batteries, a solar panel, a few small science sensors and 4 of the smallest stock wheels. I did what you did and mounted them at an angle to get more stability but I found that even going down the launch ramp when the thing hit the bottom it flipped over almost every time. Now I understand if I go fast it will flip if it hits a bump but this is a violent flip and it does it on almost every bump even when going slow. This does not bode well for any missions I use the thing on. Is this normal with those wheels of is my rover just a bit too unstable? I have given it a low centre of gravity and as wide a wheel base as possible. Oh I did use some infernal robotics motorised hinges so I could fold the legs when attached to my ship as well as a camera but the rest is stock. I will try and upload a picture of it tomorrow. Thanks for any advice. If I can't get it to work then I will probably go with the ANT.

[HavelockVetinari]

As requested here are some of my recent endeavours with V0.23

Landing on the Mun; http://imgur.com/a/w2pPc#2, http://imgur.com/a/w2pPc#0, http://imgur.com/a/w2pPc#1, http://imgur.com/a/w2pPc#21

Landing on Minmus; http://imgur.com/a/w2pPc#18

Duna Lander and Bobcat MkV-Ant rover. (Not managed to land yet) http://imgur.com/a/w2pPc#8, http://imgur.com/a/w2pPc#9

Duna lander retuning to Kerbin after orbital test; http://imgur.com/a/w2pPc#13

A new mini Rover, with Infernal robotics parts for camera boom and legs mounted to rotation motors so that it can right itself. It can run upside down too if you rotate the legs but obviously upside down the solar panels don't get power. It is underpowered and I need to add a few more solar panels; http://imgur.com/a/w2pPc#6

[Claw]

Nice. I like the first lander.

[HavelockVetinari]

Thanks I put 6 legs on it because in testing it only had 4 and it kept tipping over. Even landing on a slope on the Mun I managed to keep it upright.