A variable configuration scout/racing ship

[molten sky]

Description and layout posted at @shadow drift's request. This ship would be a variable-RCS design meant to provide either maneuver or extreme acceleration; a scout by design, or encountered as an alternate racer. For later missions, this could be something for the player to need to chase; or scout ship that, if you let it escape, will send several more ships to find you.

The picture is terrible, but gives you an idea of two configurations; one would be a K37 configuration; light, nimble, good at changing direction and rotation, and at initiating movement in any direction. The other configuration angles most RCS rearward, with only a strafe thruster available for kind-of-sort-of-not-really-reverse thrust. (Flip and burn, noob.)

The variable configuration would probably depend on the desired speed setting in the autopilot/FBW, but for the player, since this has no excavator, maybe excavator control could actuate the change.

She would have one rearward-facing high-stress mount; this could harry pursuers, carry a beacon or an escape pod . . . or mount a NANI if you feel like turning your bones to dust.

I suspect the AI would use this awkwardly, so it may face some implementation hurdles, but I think it's a cool idea. The modeled design should look sleek, even if that's utterly useless in space, because it's probably expensive hardware, and expensive hardware has to look cool. Probably also very skeletal, to cut out as much weight from the frame as possible. Think of the paraframe knife handle, for reference.

And, yes, I know the picture looks like ass. More of a configuration reference than a final rendering. Liqvo can make it look much more jet fightery than I can.

[shadow drift]

Honestly pretty good reference all things considered . All the necessary bits are where they need to be 👍

[lavish owl]

I presume there's gonna be RCS arms on the other side too?

Als, Re: aerodynamics, this thing is likely to have an excellent thrust to weight ratio, meaning it can probably operate in atmosphere of several planets.

If you feel the need for an explanation for the sleek design

[shadow drift]

Ohhhh I think this would be a great opportunity for some interesting hull surface design too

Basically just a sturdy cage with the internals peeking through cutouts in hull panels to save weight

[lavish owl]

Also true

But very un-sleek

Then again, gives it a racer style, a la drag racers or f1

[shadow drift]

I mean they wouldn't jut out, just Be Visible

The armor would be the bare minimum to shield the internals from collisions

So a frame + minimal carbon paneling

[lavish owl]

Why bother with armor

Save or suck dipshit

[shadow drift]

Well, in the rings of Saturn there are a bunch of rocks of various sizes

Also, since there's no atmosphere, the sun is a deadly laser

You generally want your pilot to survive more than 40 seconds

[lavish owl]

I would consider solar shielding part of life support, not armor

The point about the rocks is a good one tho, ig

[shadow drift]

¯_(ツ)_/¯

We get there when we get there

Electronics in general also should be shielded - you don't want bit flip errors or a rogue solar flare messing up your OMS

Especially since the configuration switch would be handled by an electric system, you want at least a little protection

ANYWAY that's for tomorrow me to worry about

[lavish owl]

Valid

Same here tbh

[molten sky]

Yes, just assume it's mirrored.

[molten sky]

Think X-Wing, but in the XY plane instead of the XZ plane.

Keeping the RCS further from the body helps give it more power to rotate you.

Oh, you probably meant the skeletal body concept.

I think there needs to be a bare minimum frame to support the pipes and keep the internals aligned, etc. The Edge Runners, for instance, are a wire mesh over the internals - you can actually see their internals in the model.

[molten sky]

There is actually a thin water vapor atmo in the rings, and we're much further out, so solar radiation is somewhat less of an issue.

[shadow drift]

Hmmm fair fair fair

[formal talon]

my idea for this. honestly your design still looks better Lurkily.

[molten sky]

Also, rearward facing heavy mount.

Just in case you want to turn your bones to mush with NANI acceleration.

[lavish owl]

who doesnt

[molten sky]

Mostly the people who don't want to die.

[shadow quail]

Yeah but they're lame

[formal talon]

Sounds funny. A extremely light ship with a heavy hardpoint at the back.

[onyx silo]

Instructions Unclear: Mounted Manipulator Arm on Rear of Ship

[molten sky]

I mean, if you want to.

[onyx silo]

Imagine trying to fly back with the Salvage XD

[molten sky]

If the RCS is spread out enough to miss burning it, maybe. Or you have gimbals, and turn off the rear thrusters, so you have to use gimballed side thrusters at an angle that is awkward, yet doesn't burn your cargo.

I have been informed that having jointed armatures under thrust is bad for the physics engine, though. :/

[placid flame]

yes awesome do it

[rose needle]

They could lock and remove joints when not moving

[molten sky]

Physics doesn't like things becoming one all of a sudden. Our planck length and planck time are very large, compared to real physics, and apparently things like trying to 'snap' a cargo container to a mount when docked shakes the ship hard enough to do rod jam damage.

[lavish owl]

When the Planck time is 1/30th of a second