Low-Tech Engines at game start

[Whirligig Girl]

I'd kinda like to see some models to represent earlier rocket engines. The LV-T30 and LV-T45 would be unlocked later, and there would be two new engines. One for the Start node, and one for the Basic Rocketry node.

Here's a drawing I did a while ago but never really managed to scan it. Here's a webcam photo of it. They're based upon the Rocket Motor for the German Aggregat-4 rocket; and the Rocketdyne A-7 Rocket Engine for the Redstone/Jupiter/Juno missile. These engines are based upon the stockalike/venalike style of Ven's Stock Part Revamp, which should definitely be made stock.

LV-T15 Liquid Fuel Engine

Manufacturer: Jebediah Kerman's Junkyard and Spaceship Parts Co.

Tech Level: Basic Rocketry

Built using only components which could be found lying around in the junkyard, the LV-T15 Liquid Fuel Engine is a remarkably complex piece of engineering work, which is actually capable of burning a secret mix of alcohol, car fuel, acid, and whatever else could be found that burned when lit with oxygen; and actually produces a thrust that can be turned on and off, almost exactly unlike the RT-10 Solid Fuel Booster! It's also rather inexpensive, due to it being made from premanufactured components.

Max Thrust: 175 kN

Min Thrust: 175 kN

(Non-throttleable)

Isp: 310s (ASL), 330s (Vac)

Weight: 1.15 tonnes

Cost: 500 Funds

The LV-T15 is a simple rocket engine that can not be throttled, and it's not a high thrust or high efficiency engine. It is not very expensive though, and is sure to be a welcome addition to financially struggling space programs at any time.

L-V2 Liquid Fuel Rocket Motor

Manufacturer: Found in Wernher's old workshop

Tech Level: Start

After Wernher von Kerman's integration into the space program, we had as many of his old rocket engines shipped over here as possible. They've already been built, so they won't cost very much at all to get up and running again. The L-V2 is a liquid-fueled motor, which means that it burns a liquid fuel and an oxidizer, so unlike a solid fuel rocket, it can be turned off and on. It is also somewhat more efficient. Slightly. It also overheats more readily than other rocket engines.

Max Thrust: 105

Min Thrust: 105

(Non Throttelable)

Isp: 295s (ASL), 315s (Vac)

Weight: 1 tonne

Cost: 280 Funds

Like the LV-T15, the L-V2 rocket motor is rather cheap, though the L-V2 takes this to an extreme. It's low cost is made up for by a poor thrust to weight ratio, a poor efficiency, and a tendency to overheat. They were the first and only liquid fuel engines for quite a while, and Wernher's workshop of voluntold kerbal workers produced as many of these as they could, so there's no shortage of them. They're practically free, and thus will be insanely useful for space programs suffering a major finance problem. Bonus points if you use 30 of them to power the first stage of a Mun rocket.

[MKI]

The main problem with creating worse off engines below the LV series is how to balance them compared to Boosters. Then later compare them to smaller engines in general.

I understand they are ment for the very start of the game, but in truth SRB's are as low tech as they get, not Liquid Fuel engines.

Lv-T15 is pretty much useless compared to the RT-10 booster, or the first booster. It doesn't have throtte (The main advantage of the Liquid Fuel engines at the start) and is more expensive for mainly better ISP.

Even for the most basic first launches, you should be able to get enough science to get the next node or two, and thus replace these engines completly. I just don't see the point of added these engines in the current set up of career. Historically it makes sense Kerbals wouldn't be able to just throw together a fairly effective rocket engine, but gameplay wise its boring.

[Whirligig Girl]

The main problem with creating worse off engines below the LV series is how to balance them compared to Boosters. Then later compare them to smaller engines in general.

I understand they are ment for the very start of the game, but in truth SRB's are as low tech as they get, not Liquid Fuel engines.

Lv-T15 is pretty much useless compared to the RT-10 booster, or the first booster. It doesn't have throtte (The main advantage of the Liquid Fuel engines at the start) and is more expensive for mainly better ISP.

Even for the most basic first launches, you should be able to get enough science to get the next node or two, and thus replace these engines completly. I just don't see the point of added these engines in the current set up of career. Historically it makes sense Kerbals wouldn't be able to just throw together a fairly effective rocket engine, but gameplay wise its boring.

Actually, modern solid fuel boosters are higher tech than liquid fuel boosters. Before liquid fuel engines, Solid Boosters were fueled by horrible-efficiency gunpowder. During the cold war, modern solid fuels were developed as storable propellant for missiles. So make a new low tech SRB to be amazingly cheap and gunpowder-fueled, and move the RT-10 up a bit as well. And remember the main thing: The liquid engines can be turned off and on. They can't be throttled, but they can be turned off and on.

[Tw1]

I'd rather the base game not waste memory on parts that aren't going to be around for that long. But if they re-use textures, (And maybe meshes), that wouldn't be a problem. But still, they might just end up as clutter in the parts list.