Ships Best Smugglers Smuggling Ship and Outfitting it

[K-Rose]

Looking at the various responses on here it looks like you can smuggle in pretty much any ship... So then it comes down to your play style, whether you want to smuggle in large volumes or maybe Pirate a little and deal with both Stolen & Prohibited goods.

Personally I know the Cobra & ASP would be superior but I can't stand their pancake silhouette, so I'm contemplating picking up an Imperial Courier come 1.3 going with the following for quick outings (I only get 30-60 mins a couple of days a week):

[Imperial Courier]
M: 2F/G Burst Laser
M: 2F/G Burst Laser
M: 2B/F Rail Gun
U: 0I Heat Sink Launcher
U: 0A Shield Booster
U: 0D Cargo Scanner
U: 0D Kill Warrant Scanner


BH: 1I Lightweight Alloy
RB: 4A Power Plant
TM: 3A Thrusters
FH: 3A Frame Shift Drive
EC: 1A Life Support
PC: 3A Power Distributor
SS: 2A Sensors
FS: 3C Fuel Tank (Capacity: 8)


3: 3E Cargo Rack (Capacity: 8)
3: 3B Collector Limpet Controller (Greater range than any of the other class 3 limpets, perfect for quick pirating)
2: 2A Shield Generator
2: 2E Cargo Rack (Capacity: 4)
2: 2E Cargo Rack (Capacity: 4)
1: 1E Standard Docking Computer (Just because the 1.3 version is pretty awesome)
---
Shield: 371.24 MJ
Power : 10.84 MW retracted (69%)
15.35 MW deployed (98%)
15.60 MW available
Cargo : 16 T
Fuel : 8 T
Mass : 88.7 T empty
112.7 T full
Range : 15.95 LY unladen
13.69 LY laden
Price : 6,450,114 CR
Re-Buy: 322,506 CR @ 95% insurance


The only thing is I've changed my mind about 20 times already! I really don't know what power to take advantage of (not joining but the passives) but I know I would like to get some of the 20 - 50 mil ships in the next 6 months, so it's balancing fun making money or making lots of money quicker :-\

 

[Ben Ryder]

Looks like A Class can do anything ship rather than a smugglers ship to be honest. Kill Warrant Scanner for bounty hunting? Drones and Cargo Scanner for pirating? Bristling with Guns. Not much cargo space. Very expensive. It certainly is a good all rounder and must be lots of fun to fly.

 

[K-Rose]

I'm hoping it's fun to fly or I'll have to go back to my Asp to try to build some more cash!

The only screenshots of smuggling missions I've seen have been quantities of 5-12. I'm not great at the generic smuggling, finding illicit goods in demand, I've not found it to be so profitable.

But then I'm not great at the deeper stuff of this game to be honest. (quickly working out supply/demand etc)

 

[K-Rose]

Ok wanting to keep in theme with the other smuggling builds in here, I tried this:
[Imperial Courier]
U: 0I Heat Sink Launcher
U: 0I Heat Sink Launcher
U: 0I Heat Sink Launcher
U: 0I Heat Sink Launcher


BH: 1I Lightweight Alloy
RB: 3A Power Plant
TM: 3D Thrusters
FH: 3A Frame Shift Drive
EC: 1D Life Support
PC: 3D Power Distributor
SS: 2E Sensors
FS: 3C Fuel Tank (Capacity: 8)


3: 3E Cargo Rack (Capacity: 8)
3: 3E Cargo Rack (Capacity: 8)
2: 2E Cargo Rack (Capacity: 4)
2: 2E Cargo Rack (Capacity: 4)
2: 2E Cargo Rack (Capacity: 4)
1: 1E Cargo Rack (Capacity: 2)
---
Power : 5.63 MW retracted (47%)
5.63 MW deployed (47%)
12.00 MW available
Cargo : 30 T
Fuel : 8 T
Mass : 54.7 T empty
92.7 T full
Range : 24.60 LY unladen
16.64 LY laden
Price : 3,581,970 CR
Re-Buy: 179,099 CR @ 95% insurance

I'm just a bit confused about the Powerplants, is it worth downgrading all the way to 2A?

I'd probably lose the 2 cargo & replace it with a Docking Computer though

Edit: Forgot about the sensors

 

[Starender]

hey Ben, just did some missions with the Vulture, it's a great smuggler ! and i can still fight pretty good, it's my Combat/Smuggler build that i use actually: http://www.edshipyard.com/#/L=70N,5TE5TE01Q3wU0-I0-I,2-6Q7_6Q5K7_6Q5A,08c7RA4xo5PU9ok

[Vulture]
L: 3D/F Pulse Laser
L: 3D/F Pulse Laser
U: 0I Chaff Launcher
U: 0C Kill Warrant Scanner
U: 0E Shield Booster
U: 0E Shield Booster


BH: 1I Lightweight Alloy
RB: 4A Power Plant
TM: 5A Thrusters
FH: 4A Frame Shift Drive
EC: 3D Life Support
PC: 5A Power Distributor
SS: 4A Sensors
FS: 3C Fuel Tank (Capacity: 8)


5: 5E Cargo Rack (Capacity: 32)
4: 4A Shield Generator
2: 2A Fuel Scoop
1: 1A Collector Limpet Controller
1: 1A Frame Shift Drive Interdictor
---
Shield: 361,24 MJ
Power : 12,96 MW retracted (83 %)
15,56 MW deployed (100 %)
15,60 MW available
Cargo : 32 T
Fuel : 8 T
Mass : 329,9 T empty
369,9 T full
Range : 17,14 LY unladen
15,66 LY laden
Price : 17 994 872 CR
Re-Buy: 899 744 CR @ 95% insurance

it runs at 40% heat, but i don't care, it's has so much agility and acceleration that i'm going thru the gate at 300-390 speed they don't have the time to scan me pretty nice for 32t cargo

 

[Ben Ryder]

Nice! I like it. Bit of a bounty hunter / pirate twist to it with the kill warrant, interdictor and collector but 32T of cargo on top is pretty cool! Never flow a vulture or though of it for smuggling. I think I'd strip out the combat modules and drop some of the stuff down to C class to save money, heat and to avoid the temptation of combat (only alloy frame). Rock on Sir. It seem smuggling is getting some love.

 

[wakko151]

I have been carrying illegal cargo in my hold since day one. I don't use any silent running. I am wanted everywhere. I have fines you would not believe. Whats my secret smuggling technique? I don't care if I get scanned. I just don't care. If they fine me I just don't pay them. Most of the time they don't even scan me. I like to come in from the planetside. That helps lessen the time it takes to line up and enter the station.

 

[X-Terminator]

I have been carrying illegal cargo in my hold since day one. I don't use any silent running. I am wanted everywhere. I have fines you would not believe. Whats my secret smuggling technique? I don't care if I get scanned. I just don't care. If they fine me I just don't pay them. Most of the time they don't even scan me. I like to come in from the planetside. That helps lessen the time it takes to line up and enter the station.

You must be the first "free-man-in-space" i.e. "I am a sovereign. I do not consent to acts and statues. Only common law applies. I am a free man! Just travelling not in commerce. Freedom!"

 

[CMDR Hagglebeard]

Type 9 with full cargo racks and A thrusters.

For me, personally, the security is awful. They should patrol the station in a 10 km radius and actively seek out CMDRs. Currently I can fly a Type 9 to 6km from the entrance, and hit the boost, or simply float in there. I'm going to grind as much smuggling as possible and grab a T9, then fit it for smuggling and drive into the station, with 532t of imperial slaves. Maybe add an ADS to honk as I go in.

Also, security only gives fines. In 1.2 beta we had marked cargo, which was nice but honestly, quite annoying. I think the station needs to use it's guns again, like it did back before release. That would add a lot of excitement to smuggling, which is just buffed-to-high-heaven trading.

 

[cmdr underhill]

View attachment 35505

ummm, since when do the tiny NPC fighters have FSD?? I thought the whole point was they're too small for that, and are attached to a station or carrier ship

 

[Dawnfire]

Bit late to this thread but I like ship building so hey I'll give it a shot anyway [ED Shipyard Link: http://www.edshipyard.com/#/L=702,mpW0Wg0Wg,2-3I6k6Q5A4s5A6k,07207207203w03w03w].

[Cobra Mk III] // Well known to be a Good smuggler ship small lightweight decent cargo capacity and thermal heat signature. Nice all-rounder

U: 0I Heat Sink Launcher x2 //Obvious reasons is to ditch heat during silent running always nice to have when it gets a bit toasty

BH: 1I Lightweight Alloy //there should be no reason to use anything other than lightweight alloy if you’re fighting as a smuggler I fear it's already too Late: s plus the weight reduction allows for more manoeuvrability when docking at speed.

RB: 2A Power Plant //Heat Efficient and thermal signature may be reduced (not entirely sure but small generator that generates electric I’m assuming has a smaller signature than the bigger generator.)

TM: 4C Thrusters //pretty self-explanatory good for docking fast

FH: 4A Frame Shift Drive //good for travelling long distance with rares or just going to a different system.

EC: 3C Life Support //C-class for less power consumption as well as being able to turn it off while docking (lasts 10 minutes and so does the time to get in and dock).

PC: 3A Power Distributor //sometimes you just need multiple bursts of speed in as quick a time as possible this will do that nicely.

SS: 3C Sensors //Power saving once again a nice trick I do is line-up and get ready request dock then turn this module off saves a little bit of heat for silent running.

FS: 4C Fuel Tank (Capacity: 16) //you can change this to what you want but I don’t see much point default will do you fine.

4: 4E Cargo Rack (Capacity: 16)
4: 4E Cargo Rack (Capacity: 16)
4: 4E Cargo Rack (Capacity: 16)
2: 2E Cargo Rack (Capacity: 4)
2: 2E Cargo Rack (Capacity: 4)
2: 2E Cargo Rack (Capacity: 4)
---
Cargo: 60 T //for those stolen toxic waste canisters that love rotting your ship.
Mass : 218.9 T empty //some additional info
294.9 T full
Range: 24.65 LY unladen
19.64 LY laden
Price: 2,538,454 CR // 2.5m is a bit costly for someone starting out so I only recommend this ship once you get enough.
Re-Buy: 126,923 CR @ 95% insurance

A small helpful note just in case, turn EVERYTHING off except for Thrusters and your power distributor when you have lined up and you are about to start docking. It gives you a lot more silent running time due to each module causing a set amount of heat if they are turned on.

 

[agentultra]

I made my first smuggling run last week. Didn't cost me near as much as I had feared when I first read this thread. I'm just starting out in the game and I had enough credits to load out the two unused hardpoints on my sidewinder with heat sinks and an extra, small cargo rack that I replaced my basic explorer scanner with. I took a smuggling mission off of a board, found a place to pick up the goods, and smuggled them in using the "boost in with everything turned off" strategy. I made it, completed the mission and made more in one run than I had playing the game running legit missions + trading in the 24-ish hours I'd played up until that point.

I'd look forward to any an all suggestions to improve the smuggling game. It's a fun niche and I haven't looked back! Black market factions? Reputation for taking on certain missions visible only to factions with certain alignments (ie: oh, you want someone to deliver that discreetly? I might know just the right pilot...)... player contracts? Higher risks after repeated fines (ie: bounties)? It'd be really cool to build up the reputation as the untouchable gun-running kingpin of the gamma cluster, wanted by 2 of the 3 major factions.

 

[Schattenbogen]

Since 1.3, we have a lot smuggling missions, so my idea is going from station to station and take all this missions.
What is the right cargo size for this, the ideal cargo size needed to take all interesting mission I could find ?

 

[Starender]

Since 1.3, we have a lot smuggling missions, so my idea is going from station to station and take all this missions.
What is the right cargo size for this, the ideal cargo size needed to take all interesting mission I could find ?

around 20 is already good enough, you can push it to 25-32 but it's a bit overkill

 

[Ben Ryder]

Hi Chaps,

Been away on teh naught step after getting rather tiddly and posting carry on video clips on the forum and then trying to sneak back in a blonde wig and dress... the beard gave it away..

Hope you are doing well in the smuggling game.

I'm thinking more about the following stealth build.
What do you think of this build. A sub 3 million stealth build for silent running and a always low signature profile.

Maybe fit some cannons as they seem to be the least visibile weapon when fired and changing the armour from miliatray composite to reactive. Okay, maybe its more of an expensive Assassin than a Smuggler. What do you think?

[Cobra Mk III]
U: 0I Heat Sink Launcher
U: 0I Heat Sink Launcher

Add all Cannons

BH: 1I Military Grade Composite - Replace with reactive armour?
RB: 4A Power Plant - low heat
TM: 4D Thrusters
FH: 4D Frame Shift Drive
EC: 3D Life Support
PC: 3D Power Distributor
SS: 3D Sensors
FS: 2C Fuel Tank (Capacity: 4)


4: 4E Cargo Rack (Capacity: 16)
4: 4E Cargo Rack (Capacity: 16)
4: 4D Hull Reinforcement Package - adds 120 armour
2: 2E Cargo Rack (Capacity: 4)
2: 2E Cargo Rack (Capacity: 4)
2: 2A Fuel Scoop

10LY Range. 40T cargo capacity. Can zip out of a fight. Good for short range / cross border smuggling. No shield but stacks of Reactive Armour (vs laser and guns) . Enough boost to stay at long range and armed with low heat signature weapons with no easily visible trail

Dark ship skin

Budget lots due to armour

 

[faluc]

So I tried this smuggling thing, now that we get extra blackmarket profits from powerplay bonus.

The concept sounds great, sneaking into stations undetected like a ghost under the noses of the authority.
The small problem is that I totally do not need to do that.

I am flying my anaconda, shields boosted to the max and lit up like a christmas tree, cruising 200m/s through the slot. Yet to be successfully scanned after dozens of runs.
Sometimes the scan starts but I am inside before it finishes and then nothing happens. Hardly feels like being a badass outlaw. Am I just being so lucky or this is how it goes for everyone?

 

[Ben Ryder]

So I tried this smuggling thing, now that we get extra blackmarket profits from powerplay bonus.

The concept sounds great, sneaking into stations undetected like a ghost under the noses of the authority.
The small problem is that I totally do not need to do that.

I am flying my anaconda, shields boosted to the max and lit up like a christmas tree, cruising 200m/s through the slot. Yet to be successfully scanned after dozens of runs.
Sometimes the scan starts but I am inside before it finishes and then nothing happens. Hardly feels like being a badass outlaw. Am I just being so lucky or this is how it goes for everyone?

You wait till you do get scanned they you will be sorry. Last scan cost me .5m fine and a huge rep hit.

 

[Marra Morgan]

[Cobra Mk III]
U: 0I Heat Sink Launcher
U: 0I Heat Sink Launcher

Add all Cannons

BH: 1I Military Grade Composite - Replace with reactive armour?
RB: 4A Power Plant - low heat
TM: 4D Thrusters
FH: 4D Frame Shift Drive
EC: 3D Life Support
PC: 3D Power Distributor
SS: 3D Sensors
FS: 2C Fuel Tank (Capacity: 4)


4: 4E Cargo Rack (Capacity: 16)
4: 4E Cargo Rack (Capacity: 16)
4: 4D Hull Reinforcement Package - adds 120 armour
2: 2E Cargo Rack (Capacity: 4)
2: 2E Cargo Rack (Capacity: 4)
2: 2A Fuel Scoop

10LY Range. 40T cargo capacity. Can zip out of a fight. Good for short range / cross border smuggling. No shield but stacks of Reactive Armour (vs laser and guns) . Enough boost to stay at long range and armed with low heat signature weapons with no easily visible trail

Dark ship skin

Budget lots due to armour

Looks good Ben, it accomplishes the job you've set out for it.

Personally, I would like a little more speed. I'd drop the Hull Reinforcement and upgrade the thrusters to A class. I'd like better odds of getting out of trouble when outmatched (I'm the honourless, weaselly type - kill the weak, run from the strong! )

Am I just being so lucky or this is how it goes for everyone?

Sometimes it does seem too easy, but as Ben says when you do get stung, it's pretty bad!

 

[Ben Ryder]

Cheers. I think you are right about thr thrusters. It's a cobra after all and speed is its strong point.

But as always I've gone the other way with a further tweak and trying to keep within the orignal 3m budget.

A silent, low heat heat, invisible speed brick!

[Cobra Mk III]
M: 2D/G Cannon
M: 2D/G Cannon
S: 1E/G Cannon
S: 1E/G Cannon
U: 0I Heat Sink Launcher
U: 0I Heat Sink Launcher


BH: 1I Reactive Surface Composite
RB: 4C Power Plant
TM: 4C Thrusters
FH: 4C Frame Shift Drive
EC: 3D Life Support
PC: 3D Power Distributor
SS: 3D Sensors
FS: 2C Fuel Tank (Capacity: 4)


4: 4E Cargo Rack (Capacity: 16)
4: 4E Cargo Rack (Capacity: 16)
4: 4D Hull Reinforcement Package
2: 2D Hull Reinforcement Package
2: 2D Hull Reinforcement Package
2: 2A Fuel Scoop

Trying make the most out of the reactive armour as there are no shields. And the combined cannons should freak most big and small ships out. It's starting to look more like a lurking assassin than a smuggler though...

By the way, found a nice little 1600cr per tonne profit, 1 jump narcotics smuggling route, and it's completely free of scans and only 10ls to get to. I'll keep you posted when I have investigated it's potential a little more.

 

[Merriweather]

Interested in your "alternative medicines" route, especially if it lies near Alliance space.

I've been really enjoying my smuggling/blockade running/exploring Cobra, the Archduke Franz Ferdinand Magellan http://coriolis.io/outfit/cobra_mk_iii/04A4A4A3D3A3D4C----00-334503012i2f.Iw1-kA==.Aw1-kA==

Small and fast with 20 tons of no-questions asked cargo bay. Has made a pretty penny at the markets. Is it my imagination of does chaff stop station system scans? Excels at running Alliance contracts and trade agreements through highly contested space; been interdicted by the best but at a top boost speed of 451 we hit the nitro and have yet to even scratch the paint. With a 25 ly jump range we just turned in 200 system scans in Lembava to sit in the top 40% and even found an undiscovered Earth Like World sitting 1500 ly away on the Orion arm. Anyone else have a hybrid smuggler build like this?