Hey folks,
I could hardly find good comparisons between the Python and the Type-9 (for trading), which made me try it out myself and well... the Type-9 is not that bad, but I hoped I can squeeze more out of it ^^
On Reddit you can find some bad reviews for the Type-9: it's too slow, the jump range is very limited, it's expensive to run and so on. Mostly that is true, but at least for my trade route it earns me more, then I could with a Python. So here are some basic tips, stats and everything which may be interesting for you, if you think about upgrading your Python to a Type-9:
That is all which comes into my mind currently, but now some nerd p**n!
Python vs. Type-9 travel time:
I have a very good trade route, which requires a ~15ly jump. The stations in both systems are <50ls away from the sun. One round-trip in the Python takes 7m 30s but the Type-9 needs like 10m 30s (the additional jump takes like 45s). So, even if I could do it in one jump, the Type-9 needs 9m 45s to get on the pad. That is a big difference and it eats up a lot of the profit I get from the additional 216t cargo (Python with shield can carry 284t).
Python: 1h / 7,5m * 2500$ * 284t = 5.680.000$/h
Type-9: 1h / 10,5m * 2500$ * 500t = 7.142.857$/h
So, that is a profit increase of ~25,75%. I hoped I could get like 60%, but dreams are shattered D=
If you have a round-trip, which takes 10-15 minutes, the profit increase should be better then mine, since on very short routes, the time consuming parts (turning away from the sun and traveling 8km to the station) have a bigger weight.
Some additional general trade tips:
I hope this will help some ppl to decide, whether they want to switch to the Type-9 or to skip it and grind to 200m in a Python ^^
o/
I could hardly find good comparisons between the Python and the Type-9 (for trading), which made me try it out myself and well... the Type-9 is not that bad, but I hoped I can squeeze more out of it ^^
On Reddit you can find some bad reviews for the Type-9: it's too slow, the jump range is very limited, it's expensive to run and so on. Mostly that is true, but at least for my trade route it earns me more, then I could with a Python. So here are some basic tips, stats and everything which may be interesting for you, if you think about upgrading your Python to a Type-9:
- The Type-9 is a pure freighter, so you can't simply swap your fitting and do what you have done with your Python in combat. But that is not that bad, since a fully kitted Viper costs like 3m and is very nice, too.
- The Type-9 can only jump ~13,2ly with an A-grade FSD, which costs 16m and ~10ly with a B-grade one (no weapons, 500 cargo, mostly D-grade modules and an A3 power plant).
- Your current assets should show at least 110m before you go out and buy one. The ship costs 76m + 16m for the FSD + 5-6m for cargo upgrades and D-grade modules + 5m insurance + 3-8m for the actual cargo.
- The Type-9 needs a large landing pad, so outposts are a no-go.
- 10% fuel (64t fuel tank) costs 25k, so I highly suggest to fit a fuel scoop (class 6) everytime your tank is nearly empty and then replace it with a cargo rack again. Don't blame me, if you get stuck in a system!
- The ship is rly rly big, so if another Type-9 enters/leaves the station, you need to wait, but smaller ships can be simply pushed away (but be careful)
- It takes ages to turn around, so if you still overshot your destinations in supercruise, you better learn how not to
- If you should ever get interdicted (by a npc) you might consider to simply commit to it by throttling to 0, so you don't get damage. Since no other ship can mass-lock the Type-9 (inb4 combat Type-9) you can simply go back into FSD, as soon as the cool-down is over. The shield hopefully lasts long enough, so you don't get hull damage.
- Heat sinks are you best friend! Ever got interdicted while sitting on the sun?
- The wear and tear on the Python is horrible... The Type-9 is even worst. So, try to avoid long supercruise travels (4000+ ls).
That is all which comes into my mind currently, but now some nerd p**n!
Python vs. Type-9 travel time:
I have a very good trade route, which requires a ~15ly jump. The stations in both systems are <50ls away from the sun. One round-trip in the Python takes 7m 30s but the Type-9 needs like 10m 30s (the additional jump takes like 45s). So, even if I could do it in one jump, the Type-9 needs 9m 45s to get on the pad. That is a big difference and it eats up a lot of the profit I get from the additional 216t cargo (Python with shield can carry 284t).
Python: 1h / 7,5m * 2500$ * 284t = 5.680.000$/h
Type-9: 1h / 10,5m * 2500$ * 500t = 7.142.857$/h
So, that is a profit increase of ~25,75%. I hoped I could get like 60%, but dreams are shattered D=
If you have a round-trip, which takes 10-15 minutes, the profit increase should be better then mine, since on very short routes, the time consuming parts (turning away from the sun and traveling 8km to the station) have a bigger weight.
Some additional general trade tips:
- The time it takes to complete your round-trip is the key to get high profits/h. 10 vs. 12 Minutes/round-trip doesn't sound much, but it is 6 vs. 5 runs/h.
- A hyperjump takes like 40-45s (highly depending on your PC and the server, of course)
- Traveling 1500ls from the sun to a station takes like 45s, too
- So, (1500ls station) -> (empty system) -> (50ls station) = (50ls station) -> (empty system) -> (empty system) -> (50ls station)
I hope this will help some ppl to decide, whether they want to switch to the Type-9 or to skip it and grind to 200m in a Python ^^
o/