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

[Wanderfound]

Some parts Porkjet showed in his development thread:

http://i.imgur.com/Yfgm8Ag.jpg

No idea if they're coming to stock as well or not. The Mk2 to 2x0.625 + 1x1.25m tricoupler on the left is perfect for spaceplanes that use a turbojet and two 48-7Ss.

Are those available for use now? If so, where?

[magnemoe]

If these do end up being lifting bodies, my space shuttle is going to be basically a RCS docking port fuel continuation, and then just a cargo bay, which will contain parachutes and batteries along with the payload, no need for those ultra heavy engines anymore.

Think you will have a hard time taking off without wings, however it will reduce the demand for wings.

I tried it and it worked very well, a bit surprised how light my huge plane ended up, not more than 50% heavier than my small two seat spaceplane.

A bit small for a useful cargo plane except small satellites and some gear for testing, but the bay is nice for equipment, KAS parts and life system resupply containers.

[Red Iron Crown]

Are those available for use now? If so, where?

They are/were in development AKAIK, just a teaser shot. Definitely drool worthy.

[NoMrBond]

The thing which gets me about this, can I say that? the thing

The quality bar set by Porkjet with SP+ is high, really really really high

So I wonder if the model/asset push is going to be bringing all the KSP assets up to that level?

[Wanderfound]

The thing which gets me about this, can I say that? the thing

The quality bar set by Porkjet with SP+ is high, really really really high

So I wonder if the model/asset push is going to be bringing all the KSP assets up to that level?

Yup. He's moved it from entertainingly cute Tonka-truck rockets to "whoah, is that thing real?". Raised the bar.

[I_Killed_Jeb]

The thing which gets me about this, can I say that? the thing

The quality bar set by Porkjet with SP+ is high, really really really high

So I wonder if the model/asset push is going to be bringing all the KSP assets up to that level?

The IVA alone on the cockpits look incredible in the screenshots

[Wanderfound]

The IVA alone on the cockpits look incredible in the screenshots

You oughta see it combined with RPM...

[I_Killed_Jeb]

You oughta see it combined with RPM...

Is this an additional mod or revs per minute? Sorry I'm not very hip on the mod scene

[Wanderfound]

Is this an additional mod or revs per minute? Sorry I'm not very hip on the mod scene

Raster Prop Monitor. http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/57603

Gives you customisable live video displays on the screens in IVA.

[Pecan]

Raster Prop Monitor. http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/57603

Gives you customisable live video displays on the screens in IVA.

Yeah, see my mod list (signature), that's the reason I wanted SP+. RPM + SCANSat, MJ, Probe Control Room and VV; what's not to love (oh yeah, the rest of the instruments; like NavUtils - need those for the whole orchestra ^^).

[Roflcopterkklol]

Yeah been looking forward to finishing my plane designs so i could start re building them out of space plane plus parts, should be awesome.

[Sky_walker]

The thing which gets me about this, can I say that? the thing

The quality bar set by Porkjet with SP+ is high, really really really high

So I wonder if the model/asset push is going to be bringing all the KSP assets up to that level?

o_O you must be seeing things I don't.

Yea, they're very good parts, no doubt about that, but are they so much better in terms of quality than what KSP offers right now? I don't think so. The only thing that goes way beyond KSP level of quality is cockpit. But then again - that's partially thanks to other mods, and partially thanks to giving up on KSP cartoonish looks and going for something more realistic (and I wouldn't mind of KSP would follow that direction too).

(BTW: Before someone jumps on "but take a look at Mk III parts and how ugly they are" - for me they don't exist.)

[Corw]

Well, all air plane parts were adopted into the game from mod, so we can give them a break there.

[Cirocco]

(BTW: Before someone jumps on "but take a look at Mk III parts and how ugly they are" - for me they don't exist.)

Hehe, I actually kinda like the MkIII parts, I make it a point to use them where I can (especially the cockpit) because they really don't get enough love.

But I fully inderstand you point of view. The attachment node not being in line with the CoM, the fact that they don't easily attach to any other kind of parts, the worse fuel-dry weight ratio than MkII parts, ... all these things make them hard to work with.

[NoMrBond]

o_O you must be seeing things I don't.

It's not 'boo hoo parts are bad' they're not, comparing a newer parts to older parts like the Skipper to the Mainsail or the S1 to the BACC shows a noticeable improvement over those releases

Stuff is getting polished all the time, the SP+ parts compared to the stock parts they're upgrading feels like a similar sort of jump, I was wondering about other parts

[timsfitz]

I really like the look of these SP+ parts. I have been waiting for cargo bays in stock for a long time. I really hope they add some for the rockets as well. Seems silly to have cargo bays just for spaceplanes. Maybe they're working on those too for the same release.

[Alshain]

I really like the look of these SP+ parts. I have been waiting for cargo bays in stock for a long time. I really hope they add some for the rockets as well. Seems silly to have cargo bays just for spaceplanes. Maybe they're working on those too for the same release.

I have a feeling your not going to see very many, if any, rocket parts this build. I could be wrong, but from the looks of it they are targeting spaceplanes for this one, which is good because they are way behind rockets already.

[SiliconPyro]

I really like the look of these SP+ parts. I have been waiting for cargo bays in stock for a long time. I really hope they add some for the rockets as well. Seems silly to have cargo bays just for spaceplanes. Maybe they're working on those too for the same release.

Two Mk2 to Mk1 adapters and an Mk2 cargo bay wouldn't look too terrible on a rocket, to be honest. A nice 2.5m cargo bay would be awesome though.

[Geschosskopf]

Congrats to Porkjet!

[sloth]

I have a feeling your not going to see very many, if any, rocket parts this build. I could be wrong, but from the looks of it they are targeting spaceplanes for this one, which is good because they are way behind rockets already.

Indeed. Aren't cargobays more of a spaceplane/shuttle thing anyway? I always thought rockets mostly shot stuff up in the air with the payload sitting at the top shrouded in a payload fairing.

[magnemoe]

Indeed. Aren't cargobays more of a spaceplane/shuttle thing anyway? I always thought rockets mostly shot stuff up in the air with the payload sitting at the top shrouded in a payload fairing.

yes, rocket mostly uses shrouds who are dropped then out of atmosphere.

main exception is stuff like the dragon unpressurized fairing who is used to store secondary payload and small modules for IIS, however this is more like a spaceship cargo bay.

Would double as a service module to hide rcs, reaction wheels, and the small stuff like science and bateries. Also stuff like kas winches and containers who has to be used by kerbals doing eva.

[Sky_walker]

Indeed. Aren't cargobays more of a spaceplane/shuttle thing anyway? I always thought rockets mostly shot stuff up in the air with the payload sitting at the top shrouded in a payload fairing.

Yes, well, we don't have fairings either (*hopes for procedural fairings to make it into the stock game*).

But anyway - rocket-shaped cargo bays make perfect sense. Only you look in a wrong way at it. Instead of thinking about rockets releasing cargo - think about spacecrafts with bays for landers, probes, impactors, surface bases, etc. Hangar bay in a shape of Kerbodyne S3-14400 Tank could open a whole new world for spacecraft designs.

[timsfitz]

That's what I'm saying. I build spaceships, starships one could call them. I would like large cargo bays for them. I can make due with the sp+ ones, but would love bigger ones for my ships. Stock robotics would be even better!

[Alshain]

Yes, well, we don't have fairings either (*hopes for procedural fairings to make it into the stock game*).

You'd be more likely to see KW Rocketry style fairings than procedural fairings.

[NecroBones]

You'd be more likely to see KW Rocketry style fairings than procedural fairings.

Which would be quite fine, IMHO. Keeping fingers crossed.

Personally, I didn't even know about SP+ until this week (I usually don't install part-mods). And now I'm excited about it.