Stock Hovering Carrier

[JMBuilder]

Just a random challenge that I randomly came up with one random day.

The challenge is simple: Construct a functional hovering carrier. Here are the specifications:

1. Must use stock parts (non-part mods are fine; some form of autopilot recommended)

2. Carrier must have at least 4 landing pads with docking/refueling ports for VTOLs (runway not necessary)

3. Carrier must be powered by basic jet engines and must fly level to surface

4. Carrier must be able to land and take off again

5. Carrier must include some form of emergency escape system, such as escape pods

6. Carrier must be able to carry a small orbital rocket

7. Rocket must be launched from carrier in flight and must be able to achieve orbit

8. After launching first rocket, carrier must be able to pick up another rocket, docked via rover carrier or some other method

There's the challenge. Hopefully, this will be epic!

[Wooks]

It surely will, but it would be nice if you check the Official Challenge Submission Guide first:

"Is this challenge possible?

Many challenges we see are nearly or literally impossible to achieve, and usually very little thought has gone into them, these challenges just annoy people, waste forum space and show that the submitter hasn't really tried.

So test your challenge yourself first to make sure it is possible, you don't have to be successful but you'll soon know if the challenge has a hope of being completed."

Is your challenge possible? You tested it first? It is customary (or at least desirable) that the creator of the challenge post his kick off entry to the challenge itself. Another thing that would be nice (but not entirely neccesary) would be a leaderboard.

Edited October 21, 2014 by Wooks

[r_rolo1]

Basing myself on this ,it can be done. But yeah, wooks is right. Please present the challenge according to this forum rules

[Wooks]

Basing myself on this ,it can be done. But yeah, wooks is right. Please present the challenge according to this forum rules

Haha, yeah, the stock zeppelin is amazing, I love that video

[JMBuilder]

I make the most disliked posts ever...

[Cmdr. Arn1e]

I make the most disliked posts ever...

No-one has liked or disliked your post yet! The previous comments are just to point out that 1) It is usual to show your attempt (it doesn't even need to be successful) and 2) You are very light on rules, so as it is people could just use the mods with Zeppelins or Balloons and/or F12 cheats...

I have been trying to make some hover vehicles in the last few months, with varying degrees of success... It's a lot harder than most think!

Edit: I re-read and noticed you had made it stock only...

[Wooks]

I make the most disliked posts ever...

I don't know where you get that idea, I'm just sharing with you the best way to open a challenge because I don't want it to go to waste.

Most challenges start as a cool idea like yours, something on the lines of "wow, it would be super nice to build a helicarrier with ships and weapons and all kind of fancy stuff, awesome!"... and the most common beginner mistake is to open a thread on the challenges subforum stating that and that alone. That's not a challenge, that is a wish: "I wish someone build this under this set of specifications, wouldn't it be awesome?".

My advice:

1.- Read the Official Challenge Submission Guide first, you can't go wrong doing that.

2.- Then read 2 or 3 popular threads in the Callenges subforum to get a general idea of what people expect from a challenge (tiers, leaderboards, mods / no mods / mixed, levels of difficulty easy / normal / hard / extreme / insane).

3.- You can simply make a tiered challenge based on completion: "build from step 1 to 3 easy mode, 1 to 6 normal, 1 to 8 hard".

4.- Always put your work upfront for a challenge, even if you failed.

That's it, give it a little more tought, flesh out the challenge details a little bit more and you may have a good thread on your hands.

Edited October 21, 2014 by Wooks