Newcomer / Intro Help with mining ship

[Al4ric]

Hi guys,

I wanted to buy a mining ship that will allow me to both mine deep core and lasers without changing hardpoints or utilities. And since I have about 250 mil to spend (and no rank in either imperial or federation) I'm thinking Python or Type-9 Heavy.

First question is about fuel scoop. I know that when doing dual spot painite mining - sometimes we need more distance between best buyer and planet. But from what I've noticed - the worst part is flying back with cargo. Since, often, when I jump to new system some pirate is showing. So for now I just made another jump as fast as possible to don't give him a chance to interdict me. But if I will be fuel scooping - chances for pirate to show up is greatly magnified. So is it better to just rush to any station to refuel or risk with fuel scooping?

Second question is ship itself. I've been thinking about those builds:
Python:

Coriolis EDCD Edition

A ship builder, outfitting and comparison tool for Elite Dangerous

s.orbis.zone

Type-9 Heavy:

Coriolis EDCD Edition

A ship builder, outfitting and comparison tool for Elite Dangerous

s.orbis.zone

Python has waaaay more shields and I'm guessing is more agile. It is also medium ship which greatly increases places where I can land. But has smaller number of internals, so if I want double collectors - fuel scoop is definetivly out of the question. On the other hand Type-9 has waaaaay more cargo space. Which can be both good and bad. Efficiency-wise it is much better, but it would cause for me to mine for much much longer, which can be boring.

What do you guys suggest?

 

[Tyres O'Flaherty]

I always fit a fuel scoop as, as you say, the sell to station is often a good few hops away. And pirates are always around so running to stations to refuel can get hairy.

Especially in a T9 which handles... er... well, you know.

Personally, of the two ships you list, I would go Python. No, it won't carry shed loads but filling T9 will take time.

Incidentally, no sub surface missiles?

 

[Al4ric]

I always fit a fuel scoop as, as you say, the sell to station is often a good few hops away. And pirates are always around so running to stations to refuel can get hairy.

Especially in a T9 which handles... er... well, you know.

Personally, of the two ships you list, I would go Python. No, it won't carry shed loads but filling T9 will take time.

Incidentally, no sub surface missiles?

Yes - I forgot about those missles. I don't fully understand them. When do you use them? If there is a core inside I blast it open with seismic charge. If there is surface deposit - abrasion blaster. If none of above - than mining lasers. When are missles useful?

And for the fuel scoop - so it is better to sacrifice one collector limpet for fuel scoop in Python?

 

[Ashnak]

What do you guys suggest?

With 250 M in the bank? Spend some time to unlock and upgrade a few of the Engineers and collect at least the Guardian FSD booster. Easily done in a DBX or a Dolphin.
For mining, think about how long you can/want to mine in one session - as none of the ships you selected (or in your price range) will be able to do both laser and core mining and stand up to the NPCs that will drop in at the start of every session. With that in mind, the T-9 would be massive overkill for me - if I mine high value stuff (cores), I do it in an engineered DBX that gives me a loaded range of ~300 ly without scooping and 42 tons of cargo. Usually enough to reach a reasonable sales point.

 

[Para Handy]

Yes - I forgot about those missles. I don't fully understand them. When do you use them? If there is a core inside I blast it open with seismic charge. If there is surface deposit - abrasion blaster. If none of above - than mining lasers. When are missles useful?

And for the fuel scoop - so it is better to sacrifice one collector limpet for fuel scoop in Python?

Sub-surface deposits are different from cores. You can extract multiple chunks from sub-surface deposits using the displacement missiles and playing the explody extraction game. When you get the hang of if it is quite productive - it is frustrating at first.

Fuel scoop is worth it if you are going to trek your python for best price. Maybe look at using a smaller shield to free that size 5 slot for collectors, use a 4A fuel scoop and just fit a 2A refinery.

You don't need shield to survive combat, just to protect from bumping 'roids - if interdicted on your trip to market, just win the mini-game - easy in the Python, not so much in a T9.

One of my mining Pythons (Loch Tarbert): https://s.orbis.zone/96sE

(Engineering makes it so much easier to outfit for this.)

 

[Dommarraa]

When I was Grind Mining, I preferred a GFSD Booster to a fuel scoop. I could easy haul a full load in my Python 300+ly to the current Hi Sell system.
Fewer Jumps = Fewer Interdictions

 

[aRJay]

At one point my Python was built like this for mining in all modes and travelling long distances, ideally the scoop and or Guardian FSD booster would be swapped for more collector limpets.

The issue with large capacity ships for mining is do you want to spend all that time in one session filling the hold, if you pick a hold capacity that you can fill in a single comfortable gaming session you won’t have the hassle of dealing with drop in pirates while in the ring.

 

[Nightjar]

I use a Python. If in the bubble, I identify a station near where I want to mine, and fly there first. Then I save my travelling modules and fit my mining ones - best if they're sold locally, otherwise transferred from ...
Once I've finished mining, I return to the station and set up for travelling again. Juggling limpet controllers is simple.
Gives a natural break and change of tempo.
Definitely learn to use SSDM - they are both fun and lucrative.
I consider GFSD a travelling module too - range and speed when fully laden.

 

[Lowbee]

Of your two choices you'll probably be happier mining in a Python. I mean, you could do it in either but it comes down to details, as many Cmdrs here have already pointed out.

I've noticed that often the best prices are at stations that aren't just a ways away, they might not have large landing pads, so you'd be stuck in a Type-9. Also, if you're flying in several hundred tons of stuff, you may incur a price cut if the station you're heading to has a low demand.

 

[Tyres O'Flaherty]

As an aside, I've never won the interdiction mini game in a T9. I either suffer a TKO from nasty G & P or escape with a tissue-like layer of armour left.

 

[CptArcher]

They are both great mining ships and both do the job well. I personally feel the type 9 looks and feels like a mining ship, so that's the one I choose.

 

[Simon Templar]

Moderately controversial suggestion (and I know that you asked about two specific ships) but have you thought about a T10? Works great as a heavy miner, room for all the gear, and with turreted weapons, heavy armour and a fighter hangar you don't have to run from the pirates.

(I actually mine in a Cutter myself, but use a T10 as an armed heavy trader and love it to bits. Given you posited T9 as one of your options, I didn't think it too much of a stretch to suggest the T10. Plus you have the cachet of having a rare ship as your miner, if that sort of thing floats your boat.)

But in any case, both Python and T9 would do a decent job - fly the one you prefer flying!

 

[[VR] Captain_Obvious]

I am a happy T9 miner. I mostly harvest painite from double or triple hotspots. This is my loadout.

Coriolis EDCD Edition

A ship builder, outfitting and comparison tool for Elite Dangerous

s.orbis.zone

.

The reason I use a T9 is becauseI have the 512 t cargo space and 9 collector limpets.That combo cannot be achieved with any other vessel. The size 2 and size 1 mining lasers combined match perfectly with the 9 limpets. Means the limpets are almost ready with the collection as soon as the 'roid is depleted. So you never have to wait for your limpets collecting the chunks.

I also go for sub surface, surface and deep-core-mining as well, just because otherwise things would become too boring. It is challenging because the T9 is rather slow. But with a lot strafing it is easy enough and fun, too. I'm plaing in VR and with a HOTAS. So it is great that you can look around in the big canope very well.

Of course you will have to deal with interdictions on your way back. If I notice that I'm going to lose the interdiction mini game, i give in and then immediately boost and jump again. If you have given in on the interdiction, your FSD cooldown is not as long as it is after losing the interdiction mini game. Always worked for me so far.

So with 2.5 hours of mining, I usually earn about 450 mil credits.

Edit: I have a flic on my HOTAS to toggle primary weapon on and off. It is nice not having to keep the trigger pressed while mining.

 

[Simon Templar]

I am a happy T9 miner. I mostly harvest painite from double or triple hotspots. This is my loadout.

Coriolis EDCD Edition

A ship builder, outfitting and comparison tool for Elite Dangerous

s.orbis.zone

.

The reason I use a T9 is becauseI have the 512 t cargo space and 9 collector limpets.That combo cannot be achieved with any other vessel. The size 2 and size 1 mining lasers combined match perfectly with the 9 limpets. Means the limpets are almost ready with the collection as soon as the 'roid is depleted. So you never have to wait for your limpets collecting the chunks.

I also go for sub surface, surface and deep-core-mining as well, just because otherwise things would become too boring. It is challenging because the T9 is rather slow. But with a lot strafing it is easy enough and fun, too. I'm plaing in VR and with a HOTAS. So it is great that you can look around in the big canope very well.

Of course you will have to deal with interdictions on your way back. If I notice that I'm going to lose the interdiction mini game, i give in and then immediately boost and jump again. If you have given in on the interdiction, your FSD cooldown is not as long as it is after losing the interdiction mini game. Always worked for me so far.

So with 2.5 hours of mining, I usually earn about 450 mil credits.

Edit: I have a flic on my HOTAS to toggle primary weapon on and off. It is nice not having to keep the trigger pressed while mining.

I love my T9 (and my T6, 7 and 10!) so not being an idiot but I also have 512T capacity in my mining Cutter, with three 5A collectors and a fighter hangar for the interdictions/pirates while mining. I found my big haul mining easier in the Cutter than the T9 (although still use my T10 often just because I love it) as it's manoeuvrable with the same capabilities plus the hangar. But you're right that the T9 is great.

 

[[VR] Captain_Obvious]

I found my big haul mining easier in the Cutter than the T9

Well, when I use a cutter for mining, something I like is always missing. I like to have things like docking computer and fuel scope installed.
Here is may layout for my preferred mining cutter. But it has only 6 collector limpets.

Coriolis EDCD Edition

A ship builder, outfitting and comparison tool for Elite Dangerous

s.orbis.zone

So as always: Ship outfitting has a lot to do with personal taste and preference.

 

[Simon Templar]

Well, when I use a cutter for mining, something I like is always missing. I like to have things like docking computer and fuel scope installed.
Here is may layout for my preferred mining cutter. But it has only 6 collector limpets.

Coriolis EDCD Edition

A ship builder, outfitting and comparison tool for Elite Dangerous

s.orbis.zone

So as always: Ship outfitting has a lot to do with personal taste and preference.

Yes absolutely. I take the fuel scoop off when mining and don't use shield cell banks (as it's a miner I go 6A shield, with weapons and fighter and engineering on shield and hull haven't needed to), so even with the fighter mine gives a decent mining output with great haulage. Horses for courses!

 

[sinisalo]

This is my dedicated mining Krait II, one of my many Krait IIs, but this one is for mining

I prioritize speed and jump. How many rocks I can carry is secondary, and frankly by the time I've gathered up 100+ I'm good to go. What I want is the ability to avoid trouble, especially interdictions, and the relatively high speed takes care of that. It's armed so I can turn tables if I want to. And the generous jump range makes flying to far-flung sell stations to get the best prices a snap.

Twin Reverb Krait II -- Core Mining Vessel


The weapons could be swapped for lasers and make it a strip miner/core miner cross over. This was how it was originally, but strip mining's not for me, and I do enjoy core mining so now it's set up for that with the ability to shoot back should it become necessary.

 

[hawknerd]

You are better off fitting for max cargo on a python and selling to local carriers in-system when full. You lose a bit on price but no extra effort required and you can rearm and repair and refuel and get straight back to mining. You also dont need a fuel scoop really if you do this.

 

[Esteban]

I have to acknowledge the fact that FCs have changed the metrics that you might use when outfitting a mining ship, so @Hawknerd's is a valid point to consider.

That said, my Python build allows for quite a bit of flexibility. I don't like to get chased off by pirates, so - for me - it's essential to have a build that can kick some butt and go back to mining.
128t cargo space (plus what crams into the refinery), defensive/offensive/outrun capability, capable of both surface and deep core mining as well as planetary "mining" of Mats make this a confidence-inspiring build (to me). You could easily tweak this for more cargo space or limpets, etc.

I'm sure the Krait suggested earlier would be a similarly versatile basis for a mining ship; it and the Python are quite similar. As you might imagine, I really like @sinisalo's desire to be able to "shoot back" in a build. You will choose many of the details based upon what you want in your ship.

Except for temporarily installing an AFMU, I have taken this very build on an exploration trip "out east" to the Pleiades, Orion, Witch Head, Flame, Running Man, NGC 1999, and Barnard's Loop Nebulae and it did quite nicely. Sure, it's not a serious explorer, but you could tweak it for a little range too. The Python is loved because it's so versatile. Have fun!

Coriolis EDCD Edition

A ship builder, outfitting and comparison tool for Elite Dangerous

s.orbis.zone

 

[Jingseng]

Python. The t9 is going to be a rhino in quicksand. Alternatively, try a t10 for a hippo on a soft beach.

you don’t especially need double collectors, and the ability to dock medium is not to be underestimated.