Orca to go

Greyhawk

Greyhawk
So....I had it in mind to get to Sag A* in style. Its a pilgrimage all explorers should do. Of course I don't expect there will be many worlds with discos between here and there given its a well trodden path by now but I figured there cant be many Orcas that have made it.

So, I'm going there in an Orca. Thanks to the CG that just ended for the Diamondback, I can now afford an A5 drive. Now the Orca has a very poor jump range. Even with an A5 I get barely 18ly unladen. So this will be a long trip.

orca_sagA.jpg

So here's my Explorer Orca. The White Swan. Courtesy of Drasilov Luxury Tours - a startup company just finding backers at the moment. I reckon with a successful trip to Sag A* under this baby's belt, I can find all the backers I need to start taking paying passengers!

I'm hoping the engineers in Meredith City can sort out the problem with the low jump range when I get back. Here's hoping the Thargoids don't want to scratch my paint either...

I'm getting a shower, getting supplies and a comfy pair of slippers ready to head out into the big black. Wish me luck. Hopefully I wont bring any thargoid babies back from the edge...
 

Nexolek

Nexolek
Cheers to exploring with style! I made it to Sag A* last night in my Clipper. I'll be listening for disco music echoing through the cosmos on my way home ;)

You could squeeze a bit more range out of that party animal by going with an A2 PP and downgrading thrusters, power distributor and shield to as low as they can go. Don't know much range you would gain, but every little bit helps. Might be worth a look if you haven't left yet.

Also, an A grade PP dissipates heat much better than a D, which significantly helps with overheating accidents.

Either way, have an awesome trip!
 

Jackie Silver

Jackie Silver
Nexolek said:
Also, an A grade PP dissipates heat much better than a D, which significantly helps with overheating accidents.!
Click to expand...

Yah, there's rarely any reason to go with a "D" powerplant as opposed to an "A" powerplant of the size below it.

Though if you're playing in Open, OP, I would go for "A" thrusters, "A" distributor and a half decent shield - the Orca is a really fast ship when upgraded, although it takes a while to get up to speed if you don't boost IIRR.
 
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pippo

pippo
I don't think the detail surface scanner is going to be of any help if you don't fit a discovery scanner too.
EDIT:nevrmind, hopefully it's just below the last module, only not on screen.
 
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Jackie Silver

Jackie Silver
I'd go with something like this:

[Orca]

BH: 1I Lightweight Alloy
RB: 4A Power Plant
TM: 6A Thrusters
FH: 5A Frame Shift Drive
EC: 6D Life Support
PC: 5A Power Distributor
SS: 4D Sensors
FS: 4C Fuel Tank (Capacity: 16)

6: 6A Fuel Scoop
5: 5E Cargo Rack (Capacity: 32)
5: 5E Cargo Rack (Capacity: 32)
5: 5D Shield Generator
4: 3A Auto Field-Maintenance Unit
3: 3A Auto Field-Maintenance Unit
2: 1C Detailed Surface Scanner
2: 1C Advanced Discovery Scanner

Maybe a smaller scoop to keep the cost down. :)
(Though I absolutely don't mean to be prescriptive, go for it however!) :D
 
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Rikk

R
I would agree with the larger scoop. You will be using it a fair amount so getting say a 6C would be much better.

Also, and this is the only change I will be making to my explorer clipper when I finally get back, fit an A class power plant. I expect 4A will do nicely.
 

Sapient6

S
Rikk said:
I would agree with the larger scoop. You will be using it a fair amount so getting say a 6C would be much better.
Click to expand...

Yeah. 40 seconds sounds nice and quick until you realize how many times you're going to have to scoop round-trip. My clipper fills her tank in just over 5 seconds and I wish it was ​faster.
 

Greyhawk

Greyhawk
The 6 slot will only take a hull reinforcement package or cargo racks. I cant fit anything else - at least the station doesn't give any other options. Same with one of the 5 slots, - again only a hull reinforce or cargo racks. I can only fit a shield and a scoop in the last two.

I've made some downgrades as you guys suggested and have around 18.5ly jump range. Only real downside is a jump at that range uses a third of my fuel!

Well the fuel scoop is fine, it takes about 6 seconds to refill from 40% or so. No biggie.

I'm off towards 3X Sagitarii for leg #1. I'm currently at about 170 ly out from the start point.
 
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Rikk

R
Sapient6 said:
Yeah. 40 seconds sounds nice and quick until you realize how many times you're going to have to scoop round-trip. My clipper fills her tank in just over 5 seconds and I wish it was ​faster.
Click to expand...

7A Scoop?
I could only afford the C when I set out, still 890/s is nice.
 

Jackie Silver

Jackie Silver
The Natoorat said:
You do not need 6 Thrusters or 5 P-Distributor if you'rte going exploring...
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"...in Solo." ;)

I'm not sure whether AFMUs are worth the bother (compared to extra cargo space for plotting shorter fast jumps) but in principle for a long trip you could take heat damage from close binaries that would make them handy. Most of my module damage comes with hull damage attached though from running into planets, it's true. :D
 
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mw_aurora

mw_aurora
Greyhawk said:
Of course I don't expect there will be many worlds with discos between here and there given its a well trodden path by now
Click to expand...

You will be in for a pleasant surprise then - there are loads of undiscovered systems between here and there :)

Safe flying CMDR and look forward to the selfie of an Orca at Sag A*
 

Agony_Aunt

Agony_Aunt
I was going to do the Sag A* run in my Orca, but instead ended up going down the local arm instead, since i haven't been much down there and Sag A* has been done to death. My jump range is a bit better than yours. I have a smaller shield and have the best fuel scoop available, it fills very quicky.

I'd perhaps warn you, if you don't already know, about the guy at Sag A* killing people. But by the time you get there in the Orca he might have left or been killed, its going to be a long flight for you. Still, when you get close, you might want to consider making the final stretch in solo or private group just to be safe.
 
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