Category: Dropship

Started working a couple days ago on the systems and components that will be simulated by the computer.

A couple significant changes from the UD-4L we all know and love:

• Butterfly tail design was replaced with a T-tail similar in scale to the C-17
• Turbojets have been replaced with EDF and waveguide plasma
• Ramrockets have integrated with the EDF nacelles and replaced with toroidal aerospikes
• Vectored thrust has been integrated at the exhaust end of the nacelles (swivel)

Most of the changes were due to the theater we are operating in. Venus has no oxygen to make the turbojet/ramjet/scramjet beneficial so we transition straight from turbofan to rocket operations on ascent.

Currently, we are looking at 3 hydraulic loops with 2 pumps and 1 reservoir each and 2 coolant loops with 1 pump and 1 reservoir each. The 2 coolant loops exchange heat with the cryogenic fuel and oxidizer respectively.

Just ordered a 5V 30A PSU after determining that my average load is 15A!

ThrustMaster makes an MFD overlay with 20 buttons and two switches that are backlit.  Their marketing is kind of deceiving as they do NOT include the LCD monitor but only some cardboard templates that LOOK like displays.

Found the CAD dimensions online… 5.5″ square.  A monitor would have to be 4.25″ at it’s smallest dimension to work behind it… 5.5″ would be ideal because you could adhese the overlay directly to the LCD screen.

On another note, here are some ideas to tantalize you with the wrap.  Obviously very preliminary but I like the background image a lot.  I am currently working with Genius (Taiwan camera company) to see if they want to buy the whole thing.