Engineers Size 3 modified engines on a combat Viper III?

[Brigand]

(Just getting back into Elite, so sorry if this has been asked before,)

Do the optimum mass levels allow for a decent combat build on a Viper III with a significant speed boost? I was thinking something like this, (plus or minus the shield cells 10T)

https://coriolis.io/outfit/viper_mk_iv/0pataFal8dasdf4267h1212020l455d--2o68.Iw1-kA==.IwBhrSq0g===?bn=Unwarranted%20sense%20of%20optimism

or would I need to strip it to the bone? I want to be able to catch / run from an un-modified A rated Cobra!

 

[Ophion]

Do a grade 5 dirty drive tuning engineer mod to your 4A engine and you'll be faster than A rated (unmodified) Cobra for sure, no matter what mass you have.

EDTI:
Size 3? Didn't see at first.. Sorry.

 

[Ceekay]

Is it a Viper 3 or 4 you're interested in?

The 3 with enhanced thrusters is extremely fast but it's offensive/defensive capability is limited due to power limitations and the enhanced thrusters low optimum mass (90 T), add some medium weapons and the speed drops significantly.

https://coriolis.edcd.io/outfit/viper/0p0tzF8l8dasdf2--1818--43--24.Iw1+kA==.IwBj4yWI.

I've built mine with an engineered L3 3A thruster instead it's not as fast but at least it can fight!

 

[Brigand]

Ah, I was hoping I could put the enhanced engines on the Viper Mk III and still make a usable fighter. Looks like I might have to go with the MkIV and go with the 5 dirty drive tuning!

Thanks,

 

[The Tick]

The Viper Mk III is not the best ship to feel the effect of modding your engine. She's too heavy, and a combat build quickly exceeds 110T, so that you are well beyond the optimal mass of the 3A Enhanced Performance Thrusters.
Modded 3A standard thrusters are better, but the mods reduce the optimal mass as well, which is especially detrimental for the Viper MkIII (see above).

Combat ships where thruster modding translates better into maneuverability/speed improvements: iCourier (3), Asp Scout (4), Vulture (5), Python (6) and Anaconda (7) (lightest ship compared to it's thruster size, in brackets)