[Suggestion] Unlock one class 5 internal slot in Beluga Liner for SLF

[CMDR Zhixian Wu]

Since Beluga Liner has 128 tons of fuel with stock class 7 fuel tank, even the largest fuel scoop we can fit into it, which is a class 6 grade A fuel scoop, is still undersized and only works just fine.
Not to mention if we want to have SLF on-board, then the largest fuel scoop we can get is a class 4 grade A fuel scoop, with it, the refueling progress seems never to an end! Also we would most likely get ship overheating when we are refueling.

Why can't we have a decent fuel scoop alongside a fighter bay?

Just by unlocking one of those two locked class 5 internal slots in Beluga Liner, we would be able to get a much better ship configuration for both self-defense and long-range travel capabilities at the same time.
Besides, comparing Beluga Liner to other ships that are capable of launching SLF, all have the option to outfit a class 5 fighter bay in a class 5 internal slot - which is designed for it - perfectly! So why except Beluga Liner?

I'd love to see some internal re-balancing here - just like Type-7 and Keelback - in the future.
Flying with a 4A fuel scoop really just makes the long-range travelling experience so miserable. [knocked out]

 

[elminster]

WRT to fuel scoops and fighter bay, the Cutter is pretty much identical (probably deliberately so)

TBH I don't have issues scooping with my 4A or an real heat issues. It just a requires a bit of care and experience (not to say you haven't, it's just my experience).

 

[goemon]

yes, or add fuelscoops to the moduls which you can fit into those restricted internals.

the beluga would make a nice exploration-passenger ship, if it could fit a fighter bay (for surface scouting) and a class 6 fuelscoop at the same time. it has such a great supercruise handling, but scooping 6 minutes every 300-400 ly isn't what i want out there.

 

[CMDR Zhixian Wu]

Thanks for the replies, appreciated.

-

So I've been thinking this topic further, realised that we not only need one more universal class 5 internal slot, but a real internal re-balancing for the Beluga Liner, to give it truly more configuration options.

These are my initial thoughts about re-balancing the internal compartments of Beluga Liner, the precondition of course, is leaving everything else (core compartments, hull mass etc.) untouched.

First, upgrade its one universal class 6 slot to class 7. By doing this, the Beluga Liner will finally gain a decent shield generator for its size, to provide passengers a much better protection from hostile ships and mail slot accidents. Or for pilots like me who prefer a larger fuel scoop, the class 7 slot can also fulfil this specific demand. So here: better shields or better refuelling rate, choose one.

Second, unlock one restricted class 5 slot. This is my very first thought to give Beluga Liner the flexibility of having the fighter bay exactly fitted in its same sized slot. Pilots who want to have a class 6 fighter bay with two fighters can still use the universal class 6 slot. Here: use the universal class 6 slot for a class 6 fighter bay, or use the universal class 5 slot for a class 5 fighter bay, choose one.

Third, the reason why some compartments in Beluga Liner are restricted is clear and understandable, keeping two class 6 slots and one class 5 slot restricted for passenger cabins, cargo racks, hull reinforcement package and module reinforcement package will do the trick. Beluga Liner is and will always be a passenger ship.

Finally, downgrade some of those class 3 slots to class 2. Low-end class slots are always used for utility-alike modules like scanners, docking computer, collector limpet controller, vehicle bay etc. We don't need that much class 3 slots, it's fine to downgrade one or two of them to class 2 for balancing. But don't combine them, the total amount of slots does matter and should remain the same.

A quick summary:
Before: 4x class 6 (2 restricted), 2x class 5 (2 restricted), 1x class 4, 4x class 3
After: 1x class 7, 3x class 6 (2 restricted), 2x class 5 (1 restricted), 1x class 4, 2x class 3, 2x class 2
Like this, the Beluga Liner will be a much more competitive alternative to Anaconda for long-range exploring-oriented passenger missions, less shields, less armour, less firepower, and overheats all the time, but costs less, can fit luxury cabins, and looks a lot better.

What do you guys think?