Embarking on your Kerbal Space Program career often starts with a focus on reaching the stars. However, mastering Kerbin itself is a crucial first step. While rockets and spacecraft are essential for interplanetary travel, sometimes you need a simpler solution for ground-based exploration and science gathering – a basic car. This guide will walk you through the fundamentals of constructing a functional and fun car in the early stages of your Kerbal Space Program journey, ensuring your Kerbals are mobile even before they leave the atmosphere.
Understanding the Basics of Kerbal Car Design
Before diving into the construction, let’s understand the core principles behind a successful Kerbal car. Simplicity is key, especially in the early game when your parts are limited. A basic car needs to be stable, controllable, and capable of traversing the Kerbin landscape.
- Chassis: The foundation of your car. A simple structural panel or even a small fuel tank can serve as a robust base to attach other parts.
- Wheels: The most critical component. Early game wheels are basic, but sufficient for simple cars. Consider wheel placement for stability – wider stances are generally more stable.
- Control: You’ll need a way to steer and control your car. Reaction wheels or small control surfaces can provide steering, while a probe core or a command pod provides overall control.
- Power: Early cars can be unpowered and rely on gravity or slight inclines for movement, or you can add batteries for reaction wheels or even small rocket motors for bursts of speed.
Step-by-Step Guide to Building Your First Kerbal Car
Let’s build a very basic, early-game car in the Kerbal Space Program Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB). This design focuses on simplicity and uses parts available from the very start of your career.
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Start with a Chassis: Begin with a small Structural Panel. This will be the main body of your car. Place it centrally in the VAB.
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Add Wheels: Select the “Small Gear Bay” wheels. These are available from the start and are perfect for basic cars. Attach two wheels to each side of the structural panel, towards the front and back, ensuring they are mirrored for balance. Position them slightly outwards for better stability.
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Pilot Control: For control, attach an “OKTO” probe core to the top of the structural panel. This will provide basic remote control functionality to your car.
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Power for Control (Optional but Recommended): To steer and move more effectively, add a small “Reaction Wheel” beneath the probe core and on top of the structural panel. This will require power. Attach a small battery, like the “Z-100 Rechargeable Battery Pack,” to the side of the structural panel.
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Steering Mechanism (Basic): For rudimentary steering, you can rely on the torque of the reaction wheel. In early career, advanced steering hinges might not be available.
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Testing and Refinement: Launch your car onto the launchpad. Use the controls (WASD for steering, Shift/Ctrl for throttle if you add a motor later) to test its movement and stability. You might need to adjust wheel placement or add small stabilizers if it’s too wobbly.
Tips for Driving and Using Your Basic Car
- Gentle Controls: Early Kerbal cars are often sensitive. Use gentle inputs for steering and acceleration to avoid flipping or losing control.
- Science Gathering: Drive your car around the Kerbal Space Center (KSC) to gather surface samples from different biomes around the launch site. This is a great way to earn early science points.
- Low Speed Exploration: Don’t expect high speeds from basic cars. They are designed for slow and steady exploration of relatively flat terrain.
- Experiment and Iterate: This basic design is just a starting point. Experiment with different chassis parts, wheel configurations, and control methods as you unlock more parts in your career.
Conclusion: Kerbal Cars – More Than Just Rockets
While rockets are the ultimate goal in Kerbal Space Program, learning to build and utilize basic cars offers a fun and practical detour in your early career. They provide a valuable tool for science gathering, ground-based missions, and simply enjoying the Kerbal landscape from a different perspective. Mastering the art of simple car construction is a testament to the versatility and creativity that Kerbal Space Program encourages, proving that sometimes, the simplest solutions are the most effective and enjoyable.
