Bought a Diamondback Explorer about a week ago, but haven't done it up just yet (bar the two necessary scanners).
For an exploration role post-Horizons (I'll be sacrificing a repair module for the SRV hanger), is an A rated powerplant essential - or is simply being able to run all modules and have perhaps B heat efficiency good enough? I've barely flown it, but I'm told the DBX runs pretty cool as a baseline anyway.
Also, what about thrusters? Before Horizons it never particularly mattered what thrusters you used for exploration (only been out of the bubble in an exploration Cobra III), but I suppose the more thrust you can engage, the easier it is to maintain good orbit entries and escapes? I've never really had to deal with gravity before, so I've no idea how ED models it relative to thrust and mass (I've entered atmospheric flight/orbit after the update, and I don't think the ships oriented their nose up to hold orbit before?).
Or, would simply squeezing out a little extra jump range by taking D4 thrusters be preferable?
( ...oh, and yes, I know taking a DBX with an SRV results in a very compromised exploration vessel given the pitiful amount of internals, but had I just bought the AspX I'd have never had reason to go back to fly the Diamondback - I really like the design, whereas the Asp Scouts and Explorers are, to me anyway, ugly as sin ;-) )
For an exploration role post-Horizons (I'll be sacrificing a repair module for the SRV hanger), is an A rated powerplant essential - or is simply being able to run all modules and have perhaps B heat efficiency good enough? I've barely flown it, but I'm told the DBX runs pretty cool as a baseline anyway.
Also, what about thrusters? Before Horizons it never particularly mattered what thrusters you used for exploration (only been out of the bubble in an exploration Cobra III), but I suppose the more thrust you can engage, the easier it is to maintain good orbit entries and escapes? I've never really had to deal with gravity before, so I've no idea how ED models it relative to thrust and mass (I've entered atmospheric flight/orbit after the update, and I don't think the ships oriented their nose up to hold orbit before?).
Or, would simply squeezing out a little extra jump range by taking D4 thrusters be preferable?
( ...oh, and yes, I know taking a DBX with an SRV results in a very compromised exploration vessel given the pitiful amount of internals, but had I just bought the AspX I'd have never had reason to go back to fly the Diamondback - I really like the design, whereas the Asp Scouts and Explorers are, to me anyway, ugly as sin ;-) )
