So... Spaceplane Plus is added to the game!

[Trann]

Congrats, sir. As a rocketeer, I now have interest in spaceplanes. Downloading...

[klgraham1013]

Judging by the released picture, they're about the same size as the old ones (pretty sure that's a stock 1.25m Circular Intake on the nose). Looks like bays suitable for 2.5m are out.

https://31.media.tumblr.com/e819fdab68106cb386b463d84e158d6a/tumblr_inline_nadgl16XYm1rr2wit.jpg

Fingers crossed they upscale Mk3 to hold 2.5m meter parts. Otherwise, there's little point using them over SP+.

[Frozen_Heart]

Though I always love more parts, I think that the parts menus need an overhaul to make them easier to use. Its getting to the point where you have to scroll through pages and pages to find the right part.

(Yes I know there is a mod I'm talking about in stock)

[DocMoriarty]

I'm not thaaat excited. Don't get me wrong, the mod itself is great, it's just not what we really need. We need space craft parts that can be used in the context of other stock parts. Now with that fancy weird crosssection of SP+ that is hardly possible. Ok there might be adapters and stuff, but why don't we get reasonable cockpits, passanger modules, cargo bays etc. with a rockomax sized round crosssection? This is what we need. This is what would be versatile and blend in fantastic with stock KSP. And where are wings that are tanks? Just about any part is a tank that in RL is not a tank and vice versa. RL planes usually have 80-100% fuel only in wings and nowhere else. Of course the IVA alone is worth an addition. So my feelings about that are really mixed.

[r4pt0r]

I'm not thaaat excited. Don't get me wrong, the mod itself is great, it's just not what we really need. We need space craft parts that can be used in the context of other stock parts. Now with that fancy weird crosssection of SP+ that is hardly possible. Ok there might be adapters and stuff, but why don't we get reasonable cockpits, passanger modules, cargo bays etc. with a rockomax sized round crosssection? This is what we need. This is what would be versatile and blend in fantastic with stock KSP. And where are wings that are tanks? Just about any part is a tank that in RL is not a tank and vice versa. RL planes usually have 80-100% fuel only in wings and nowhere else. Of course the IVA alone is worth an addition. So my feelings about that are really mixed.

they are modifying the mod, so maybe that means adding round 2.5m cargo bays, or other additions?

[Red Iron Crown]

And where are wings that are tanks? Just about any part is a tank that in RL is not a tank and vice versa. RL planes usually have 80-100% fuel only in wings and nowhere else.

That's a consequence of how the lift model is implemented. Since mass figures into the lift calculations, burning fuel reduces lift from wings with tanks.

Edit: The above is wrong, see below.

Edited August 20, 2014 by Red Iron Crown
I'll have a slice of humble pie, please.

[Pecan]

The functionality of several other mods is also being incorporated - Spaceplane + is just the one they're buying-in.

[DocMoriarty]

That's a consequence of how the lift model is implemented. Since mass figures into the lift calculations, burning fuel reduces lift from wings with tanks.

Mass is factored in with drag, not in lift. Otherwise the paperlight wings we have now would have no lift at all.

Edited August 20, 2014 by DocMoriarty

[Red Iron Crown]

Mass is calculeted in drag, not in lift. Otherwise the paperlight wings we have now would have no lift at all.

Herpy derp, you're right, don't know what I was thinking. Lift remains constant with changing mass, but drag does not. So the lift/drag ratio goes all screwy with mass changing wings.

Thanks for the correction.

[Eric S]

Fingers crossed they upscale Mk3 to hold 2.5m meter parts. Otherwise, there's little point using them over SP+.

When MaxMaps showed that, it almost sounded like he was aware of this issue but was surprised that it didn't look like these parts would fix that. Hopefully that means another pass on the parts.

[flamango247]

It's about time they did something with spaceplanes. I've been wanting something like this ever since I started (i'm a new guy, started in .20 or .21 something like that) Now I can finally build decent planes that can hold cargo without actually needing to download a mod, they needed something like this for a while.

[HafCoJoe]

Those spaceplanes parts are absolutely gorgeous and I'm glad to see them in game. Time for me to expand my stock only horizon a bit .

Right now my real question is what about the mk3 parts!!! Is there ANY solid information a mod or dev or someone on the inside could give? I've heard the line is being "scrapped" but no more than that. What do you mean by "the line"? The standard mk3 part size, or just the parts?

I love the new cockpit Hugo made and I wouldn't mind it replacing the current cockpit (though I still want a smooth topped cockpit. Hugos one isn't as streamlined as the current mk3. But you can actually see out of his), but what is the deal with the mk3 line? Is the mk3 size going out of game, or just the old pieces? or what?

Some speedy reference pictures from the wiki and daily kerbal:

Edited August 20, 2014 by Avera9eJoe

[Alshain]

snip

I'm pretty sure just the part models are being scrapped, not the parts themselves. Otherwise they wouldn't have bother to have Hugo make those. I think that model will be considered the "Mk3" line in the future.

[HafCoJoe]

I'm pretty sure just the part models are being scrapped, not the parts themselves. Otherwise they wouldn't have bother to have Hugo make those. I think that model will be considered the "Mk3" line in the future.

That' what I think too. Scrapping the line altogether would be a bit radical, but I wish there was a higher res image of Hugos design. It almost looks like the edges have been rounded out. It's possible they smoothed out the mk3 line but I still have no idea . Just guess work. I'd like an answer from a dev if at all possible . Maybe its a secret...

[Alshain]

Possibly, if they remade the entire thing, there would be no reason not to smooth it out and make it look nice. There really aren't even a whole lot of Mk3 mods that would get screwed up by it.

[pyrosheep]

That' what I think too. Scrapping the line altogether would be a bit radical, but I wish there was a higher res image of Hugos design. It almost looks like the edges have been rounded out. It's possible they smoothed out the mk3 line but I still have no idea . Just guess work. I'd like an answer from a dev if at all possible . Maybe its a secret...

I see what you mean, the new MK3 fuselage (Hugo's) appears to be hexagonal.

This would great because it makes attaching things to the parts much easier, especially since the center of mass has probably been shifted up to the middle.

[rkman]

I'm not a big spaceplane fan but i have used SP+ and those parts sure look nice. The cargo bay is cool although i did have some trouble with the attach nodes inside the bay.

To flesh out the spaceplane aspect of KSP maybe this is a good time to fix the ISP bug of jet engines, even though that would require everyone to rebuild all their spaceplanes. The fact that it will be painful to many might be good reason to fix it sooner rather than later, then at least there will be fewer spaceplanes to rebuild.

[Red Iron Crown]

This would great because it makes attaching things to the parts much easier, especially since the center of mass has probably been shifted up to the middle.

That would resolve my number one complaint with the current Mk3 cockpit. The offset node in front makes me doubt it, though.

[HafCoJoe]

..i did have some trouble with the attach nodes inside the bay.

Where you using Alt+F12 part clipping? I just tested it and it worked easily without it.

[problemecium]

It's a shame S+ doesn't have a Mk1-shaped cargo bay. I hope SQUAD thought to add that.

[rkman]

Where you using Alt+F12 part clipping? I just tested it and it worked easily without it.

No clipping. It could very well have been fixed since.

[SiliconPyro]

It's a shame S+ doesn't have a Mk1-shaped cargo bay. I hope SQUAD thought to add that.

This thread and a project I'm working on now have got me thinking about making one myself. It would be great for probe deployment. You could put an ion powered probe in LKO at a very low cost.

[WololoW]

This thread and a project I'm working on now have got me thinking about making one myself. It would be great for probe deployment. You could put an ion powered probe in LKO at a very low cost.

I fail to understand why a Cargo Bay would allow cheaper delivery of ion powered probes to LKO, care to explain good sir?

Nothing to see here... lol stupid moment.

[Alshain]

No clipping. It could very well have been fixed since.

I think I've seen it. Not sure if it's the same thing, but I noticed in SP+ sometimes the cargo bays would snap to other parts like the cockpit in the wrong spot, just off center from where it is supposed to, as if there were more nodes there that shouldn't be. However you can work with it a little and it snaps into proper place. That to be honest is the least of my concerns with this announcement.

[TYRT]

Hope we'll have LFO MK2 or MK3. So stock shuttle without Debug Mode will be real.