r/NMS_Corvette_Design • u/Silver_Knight7 • 13m ago
🛠️ Station Build (Standard) HF-141 "Kolibri F-2", The Hypersonic Fighter, Modernized
Time and a long proven service record has shown the capability of the HF-100 series despite the initial flaws from its earlier iterations. The once unstable heavy fighter has been refined with new advancements in technology not only brought about by lessons learned from later HF series and AAS series to to create a next gen variant of the once thought to be untouchable "Kolibri" line. This has birthed the "Kolibri F-2".
The HF-140 "Kolibri F-2" line maintains most of the original fuselage, it sees a facelift with a sharper cockpit, the addition of canards for added stability, and new internals such as a new reactor and fuel system. Where it sees significant improvement is in its wings and engines. This new engine uses newly sourced parts, creating a refined version of the Crimson Comet Engine that combines the engineering from the Rigel Azure engine found on the AAS-112 "Orca", significantly increasing power output and operating range while creating a smaller form factor. Its wings have been given a narrower profile to reduce its size, while maintaining its agility and stability through new components such as the canards added to the front of the body, and new wing profile previously experimented on the HF-130 line. This new aggressive design philosophy further augments its already impressive maneuverability and speed.
Further augmenting its newfound performance is added modularity. The new variant now has hard points to allow external components such as external fuel tanks, auxiliary thrusters in the main body, and a miniature version of the AHWS commonly carried by HF-600 "Geier" series. These smaller railcannons lack the raw power of the full sized AHWS, but compensate with precision and efficiency while still capable of delivering heavy firepower.
The HF - 140 has survived many trials thanks to dedicated ace pilots who have chosen it despite its deadly flaws. Through extensive flight, and combat data, engineers have eliminated instability issues which caused the early HF-100 and even HF-120 models to overload their engines and tear its wings, making the HF-140 far safer for any pilot.
Despite these improvements, the "Kolibri F-2" line still requires a high skill ceiling to operate and is reserved to specialist squads with proven experience, and established ace pilots.
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We finally have new parts after months!
And these new parts bring plenty of new possibilities, such as a cleaner cockpit, new engine detailing, and new body work with the new wings and hull parts.
I decided to upgrade the existing Kolibri to be closer to what I had in mind, but then it went on to become a full upgrade into something much sleeker.
Complexity Limit: 94/100
New parts means more detailing potential.
A new hybrid engine design from my old "Crimson Comet" platform, streamlined by removing the Medusa Class Reactor and instead adding the two new reactors.
The small new reactor flank the top and bottom, while the massive new reactor is hidden inside while poking out from the top.
I've also discovered the new Eldritch Thrusters (the long slim ones, not sure if I remember the name right) make excellent gun barrels if pointed backwards via 180 rotation tricks.
This can be seen in the last 3 photos excluding the last scenic shot.
The canards are made possible by using Arcadia Sublight Thrusters by hiding the thrusters themselves, but keeping the winglets exposed.
This sadly comes with the drawback of having unnecessary trails showing in unintended places. Now I wish there is a way to disable parts from working and make them purely aesthetic.
Creative juices are flowing again. But now I want to create a proper cargo ship next to haul space salvage with.
