Is the Dolphin a viable high jump range explorer?

[GunnerBill]

So despite my sore arm and inability to play much (at all!) I am still interested in the game.

Right before I logged off the other night I threw together a couple of builds for the new Dolphin and surprised myself at the long range I could achieve.

And with a couple of shakes of an engineers tail I managed to get what looked like a pretty viable explorer with ~45 ly jump range. I don't have access to my coriolis build for this just now but I had cargo in the size 5 bay, size 4 fuel scoop, SRV hanger and all the scanners!

Seemed too good to be true though.


AND it has excellent SC agility

 

[Kenneth McGrew]

yes!

https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php/342586-The-Open-Trail

I am currently out in one doing 51.83ly MAX with SRV and all the exploration trimmings (including a fat scanner @2.1t but 150% range which is AWESOME btw)

 

[Robert Maynard]

The coriolis link is broken in your post in the other thread, Kenneth.

 

[Kenneth McGrew]

The coriolis link is broken in your post in the other thread, Kenneth.

fixed* thanks for letting me know

 

[Henkka77]

I would take Dolphin to my next exploration trip, but that 4A scoop isnt what i want. Why cant we have that class 5 slot for fuel scoop??

 

[Kenneth McGrew]

I would take Dolphin to my next exploration trip, but that 4A scoop isnt what i want. Why cant we have that class 5 slot for fuel scoop??

I'm doing alright with the 4A love it!

 

[marx]

I would take Dolphin to my next exploration trip, but that 4A scoop isnt what i want. Why cant we have that class 5 slot for fuel scoop??

To be fair, it is a cheap ship, so it's not without its compromises. The class 5 restricted cabin is likely there so it can still fit the smallest luxury cabin, and it's restricted so it doesn't have a bigger fuel scoop than the DBX.

 

[CMDR Ahab]

I'm doing alright with the 4A love it!

I used a mere 4B scoop on mine up on the way to Colonia and didn't have any problems with heat or scooping at all (never seen the point of huge oversized scoops anyway, always gone for one that matches the class of the FSD).

Yep, Dolphin is a perfectly fine exploration vessel!

 

[GreyAreaUK]

https://eddp.co/u/Runtv3gG

That's what I threw together this morning for a Dolphin-X. The 4A scoop is probably the biggest limitation, and I've only fitted one AFMU to keep the weight down.

(Why, oh why can't we juggle the core internals? I'd rather stick a 5A FSD in there!)


I think for exploring on a budget it's a superb craft - that build comes in at just under 10M, significantly cheaper than an Asp-X. The jump range (non-Engineered) is 28-ish, not too bad.

I'm seriously considering buying a second Dolphin for exactly this porpoise...er, purpose.

 

[bookmite]

https://eddp.co/u/Runtv3gG

That's what I threw together this morning for a Dolphin-X. The 4A scoop is probably the biggest limitation, and I've only fitted one AFMU to keep the weight down.

(Why, oh why can't we juggle the core internals? I'd rather stick a 5A FSD in there!)


I think for exploring on a budget it's a superb craft - that build comes in at just under 10M, significantly cheaper than an Asp-X. The jump range (non-Engineered) is 28-ish, not too bad.

I'm seriously considering buying a second Dolphin for exactly this porpoise...er, purpose.

It's a fabulous addition to our fleet, we can't grumble, I was about to do the same , but then I saw the dbx...what a hidden gem this is. I worked out I can get what I need for exploration in it. Yes likewise I'd prefer a bigger scoop , but there's always compromises to make somewhere. I also have an engineered Orca, so I thought it was a bit silly having a pair of kippers

https://eddp.co/u/13t9nboc

I took it to Elvira and Farseer, it now boasts a 48ly jump range , so whilst I admire the Phin I'm excited about the Dbx

 

[GunnerBill]

https://eddp.co/u/Runtv3gG

That's what I threw together this morning for a Dolphin-X. The 4A scoop is probably the biggest limitation, and I've only fitted one AFMU to keep the weight down.

(Why, oh why can't we juggle the core internals? I'd rather stick a 5A FSD in there!)


I think for exploring on a budget it's a superb craft - that build comes in at just under 10M, significantly cheaper than an Asp-X. The jump range (non-Engineered) is 28-ish, not too bad.

I'm seriously considering buying a second Dolphin for exactly this porpoise...er, purpose.

Porpoise?

That needs a negative rep button!

 

[GreyAreaUK]

Porpoise?

That needs a negative rep button!

*grin*

Yeah, I knew I was skate-ing on thin ice, but I did it for the halibut.








Put the knife down.

 

[Whipley]

The Dolphin has become my favorite exploration ship. I don't do the weight-weenie thing, so I get about 39ly/jump with a full fit (class A thrusters, pp, a passenger cabin, no weapons, etc), which has been fine so far. It's just such a fun ship to fly, I don't mind the lessened jump range as compared to the Asp.

Yeah, the 4a scoop is a bit slow, but it's not THAT bad!

 

[Mengy]

The 4A scoop is probably the biggest limitation, and I've only fitted one AFMU to keep the weight down.

The 4A scoop isn’t bad at all in the Dolphin, because unlike the DBX the Dolphin only has a size 4 FSD, so the scoop replenishes the used fuel per jump just fine. The problem with the DBX is that the FSD is one size larger than the scoop, so it’s mismatched.

The Dolphin makes for a fun and capable exploration ship in my opinion. Mine will make 43 lys range with an SRV and a class 5 cabin, when I drop the cabin it jumps up to 48 lys. My FSD mod is only good, not great, so that will increase once I gather more mats. It can boost up to 400 almost continuously too, so it’s quick. More importantly though it’s just a fun ship to fly with a pretty great view from the seat. And it’s easy to park on planets too being a small ship.

Yeah, I rather love the little ship!