Cobra Mk 2

[Shipbuilder]

I seem to recall from my original manual for Elite on the BBC reference to a Cobra Mk2 (possibly in the description for the Cobra Mk3).

From memory I seem to remember that it was a failed design and was therefore cancelled.

My suggestion would be for a number of oxp developers, myself included, to design, post pictures of progress and eventually release an oxp for this ship.

I think that it could be an interesting project to see what could be produced based on a common design brief which could be discussed and agreed here and can then be used by all.

For example limiting the size, performance and possibly other features (after all this ship was designed as an attempt to improve on the Cobra Mk1 so the design intent would be to produce something roughly between the Mk1 and Mk3).

One possible explanation for the appearance of this ship may be that having decided to abandon the design themselves the original designers sell the basic design to any interested shipyards who can then build on this work. This would also explain why they couldbe a number of versions (which could be differentiated in game for example in my case - Galtech Cobra Mk2.

I would be interested to hear other opinions on this and also if anyone would be interested in developing a ship for this oxp. A number of alternative designs could then be released in a single oxp.

[Amah]

I think you are right about the cobra mk2 failed design reference in the old elite manual, at least that's what I still remember from the c64 version.


iirc there's a cobra mk2-x in the Staer9 (old]ships.

[Smivs]

Paynou, Prossett and Salem, the original designers of the Cobra Mk.I, filed for bankruptcy following bad publicity after the failure of successive Cobra Mk.II prototypes. They were bought out by Cowell & MgRath, who redesigned the structural and internal layout from the ground up whilst retaining much of the external design features. The Cobra Mk.III is substantially a Mk.II hull with the internal structural engineering and design flaws corrected. When this became public knowledge, Cowell & Mgrath were accused of covering up the fact that the Mk.III was really just the Mk.II in all but name, and the Lave authorities investigated the company, threatening to revoke its ship manufacturing license. The investigators discovered no foul play and, more importantly, no evidence of any design issues with the new ship, and the company recovered from the bad publicity magnificently (as shown by the popularity of the Cobra Mk.III).

[commanderxairon]

in the Neolite plugins there's a mk2

[Wildeblood]

Isis Interstellar also produce a Cobra 4 and Cobra 6, but intriguingly, no Cobra 5.

[Geraldine]

Are you thinking of creating a Cobbie MkII Shipbuilder? Perhaps it might be an idea to email (or PM as he is a member here) Mr Ian Bell with some design ideas?. If anyone knows what it might have looked like, it would be the man himself. Who knows maybe, just maybe he might have an old sketch of the early ship designs around someplace.

Ian Bell's site

Also, there is some original concept drawings in the Elite archive on the SSC here. The Cobbie MkII is not present I am sorry to say

Finally there are these to be found in the Oolite wiki here

[Smivs]

Didn't anybody read my quote from the wiki?

...The Cobra Mk.III is substantially a Mk.II hull with the internal structural engineering and design flaws corrected.

There never was a Mk II, but if there had been it would look pretty much the same as the Mk III we all know and love.

[JazHaz]

There never was a Mk II, but if there had been it would look pretty much the same as the Mk III we all know and love.

The wiki page, Cobra Mk.2 (Oolite), says it is "A prototype Cobra interceptor, smaller even than the Cobra Mk I. Development of this model ceased when GalCop decide to upgrade their existing Vipers and Viper Interceptors."

If its smaller than a Mk I, then surely its not the basis for the Mk III?

[Commander McLane]

There never was a Mk II, but if there had been it would look pretty much the same as the Mk III we all know and love.

The wiki page, Cobra Mk.2 (Oolite), says it is "A prototype Cobra interceptor, smaller even than the Cobra Mk I. Development of this model ceased when GalCop decide to upgrade their existing Vipers and Viper Interceptors."

If its smaller than a Mk I, then surely its not the basis for the Mk III?

Well, it seems that Aegidian didn't pay much attention to the Mk III-backstory when he created the Mk II-model and its backstory.

Can of course be handwaved away: there was perhaps more than one attempt to create a Mk II, and the one from Aegidian's X-Ships was probably not designed by Paynou, Prossett and Salem.

[Shipbuilder]

Geraldine - Yes I am thinking of producing a Cobra Mk2 though it seems like there are a few versions already available.

[Tricky]

After a complete rethink following the collapse of the Cobra Mk II, the Federation shipyard, Faulcon DeLacy addressed some of the problems facing pilots of their day and came up with what was to be their best ship ever the Cobra Mk III. In the 20th Century, as any history buff will know, a motor car company by the name of Ford came up with a car called an Escort, which was generally regarded to be their finest hour. The Cobra Mk III can only be described as the Ford Escort of the space lanes. It has classic lines, that millions of ships tried to emulate. it is nippy, easily manoeuvred, powerful, attractive, spacious and well defended. The only craft that Faulcon DeLacy ever built that was deemed to be more classic was the now defunct Fer De Lance - a vicious piece of combat machinery that is now outlawed, as the Police deemed it too powerful to be left in the hands of the public.

and...

Description: The Cobra Mk3 is a larger more popular version of the Cobra Mk1 (the Mk2 only reached prototype stages and was abandoned due to a design fault in the hull).

Off-topic 1963 Shelby 289 Cobra Mk II

[Cody]

Off-topic 1963 Shelby 289 Cobra Mk II

Yes indeed, that was some car! An old guv'nor of mine had one (or a very similar model)... beautiful!
<corrects himself> It was an AC Cobra!

[Star Gazer]

Yes, indeed, Carroll Shelby took the original AC Ace and made it seriously quick! This car was often held responsible for giving the UK government the excuse they needed to impose a 70mph speed limit on the M1 - the only motorway at that time. It was alleged to have clocked at over 180mph...

[Knotty]

I wonder if there's a way of coding oolite to simulate the "structural flaws"?
Like if you turn too hard it explodes or something?

[Wildeblood]

I wonder if there's a way of coding oolite to simulate the "structural flaws"?
Like if you turn too hard it explodes or something?

Code: Select all

if (player.ship.yaw == player.ship.maxYaw && player.ship.pitch == player.ship.maxPitch) player.ship.explode();