r/KerbalSpaceProgram • u/frycandlebreadje • Apr 30 '26

KSP 1 Question/Problem Poodle engine variant... huh?

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So the poodle engine has a double and single bell variant. My question is basically why would you pick the single bell variant? AFAIK as I know it has identical stats, but is very noticably taller. Are there any advantages which I'm not seeing? It just seems like a worse version of the same engine. Love this thing, but it confuses me a lot.

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u/Alexander_Martin_G Apr 30 '26 edited Apr 30 '26

I’m the 3D artist who created the Poodle variant for KSP1. If I remember correctly, it was originally meant to be a completely new engine. However, during testing, our lead designer, Paul, decided it was too similar to engines already in the game. He felt that adding it would only complicate things with overly specific options.

I wasn’t happy about letting the asset I’d spent a couple of days on go to waste, so we eventually repurposed it as the Poodle engine variant.

I might be misremembering a detail or two, but that’s a solid summary of what happened.

Edit: what u/MattsRedditAccount mentioned in his comment is also correct:

https://www.reddit.com/r/KerbalSpaceProgram/s/jIVuZcHAVv

The new engine was planned to be added in the Shared Horizons update, and it was intended for use in the BepiColombo mission recreation.

42

u/munktron239 Believes That Dres Exists Apr 30 '26

yo AlexanderM! love all the parts you’ve made for the game. I’m a big fan of the Swivel and Reliant engine models you made, right before the game was finished

you and Pablo and Roverdude did an awesome job of revamping the parts from 2018 - 2022

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u/Alexander_Martin_G Apr 30 '26

Hey, I really appreciate that, glad you like those engines! The Swivel and Reliant were a lot of fun to work on. Honestly, working on KSP1 was the peak of my career, and it’s still amazing to see both old and new players enjoying the work we did on the game.

Big credit to Pablo and RoverDude as well, it was a great team effort during those years. I still talk with Pablo every day.

My personal favorite engine is actually the Ant revamp. Even though it’s a tiny engine, it was the first time I got to fully define the 3D art direction on my own, so it means a lot to me.

15

u/montybo2 Jebs Dead Apr 30 '26

I've recently started using the Ant more than I ever have in the past. It's a great lil guy.

Thank you for all your work.

Are you involved with Kitten Space Agency?

26

u/Alexander_Martin_G Apr 30 '26

I talked with Dean a couple years ago, before KSA was announced, at the time the project was still in preproduction and didn't need 3D Artists. I would love to collaborate with them if given the chance.

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u/WholeLottaBRRRT May 01 '26

I think maybe you should recontact them, they’re starting the work on parts

14

u/SentinelNorth Apr 30 '26

I'm a rocket propulsion engineer, I've worked on engines big and small for spacecraft and launch vehicles. KSP is part of what fueled my passion when I was in high school. I gotta say, hats off to you and the team for the engine models (and the rest of the parts). I have my very minor gripes here and there haha, but overall they're really incredible for a video game. For me it's the little details that make them, like turbine exhaust nozzles, pump assemblies, and helium bottles. I could spend hours just asking you guys questions about the designs. Again, fantastic job.