Freighter Ship Design, Front vs Rear Cargo Benefits, Space Engineers

A short video talking about different freighter ship design philosophy in relation to their cargo placement location on Space Engineers listing their pros and cons as well as some examples, and the differences in their operational functions, and needs
The aXe Carrier: steamcommunity.com/sharedfile...
Discord: / discord

[@JonnesTT]

This is one of those things that, once you said it, it sounded super obvious, but I just never thought about that beforehand.

[@LucaTheGuide]

xD ye some things can be like that for me too x3

[@foxyloon]

Another benefit of having front cargo is for ships that feature a modular cargo container design. It makes docking with the modules much easier if using first person from the bridge. Having the cargo containers aft makes more sense for a ship that has the containers permanently incorporated into said ship, as it does make docking at stations easier.
Well, I also just noticed the "front cargo" ship featured in this video has a certain... Shape to it. >///

[@anonymoususer3561]

It does have a shape...

[@TustlePlays]

Right, I'm not crazy then; it really does have 'that' shape to it. The bridge looks neat, the interior on the Steam workshop page looks nice too.
Then there's the hull...

[@LucaTheGuide]

I see c= those make sense and xD

[@HelexisyIrhaal]

Ashame you no get many likes and comments I love your videos !and your voice😍!!!!🖤

[@LucaTheGuide]

Awe u wu thanks Arthur x3 ♥

[@chriskelso723]

The simplicity of the idea stated on this video is incredible. Your videos like this seem like a, potentially, great reference resource for SE beginners. Great stuff!

[@LucaTheGuide]

Thanks Chris c= ♥ glad Chris thinks so x3

[@dakaodo]

Similar logic also works for locating H2 tanks (whether for dedicated tankers or in general). I'll consider whether a belly landing crash, nose-in crash, or enemy fire are my most likely worries for each specific ship design/class.
Like, due to operator ineptitude or risk, I'm more likely to run out of fuel, misjudge planetary/asteroid approach speed, etc and bump or crash certain ships while trying to rush a landing or landing with too heavy of a load. I'll tend to put my h2 fuel tank high up on top, even spaced/separated by armor and gaps to elevate it away from the crash zones.
But for combat ships, I mostly use vertical lift dodge designs and constantly roll/nose down. This puts my front and top toward enemy fire the most, so I load up on a front/top heavy armor and turret setup, with my primary up/forward thrust and fuel tanks toward the rear/bottom. Sometimes this works out badly when I do belly-crash a fighting ship, but generally serves me well in fights.
I've found that taking a hit that destroys a large H2 tank basically is a fight ender for most of my small/medium large grid ships. So I don't worry too much for compartmentalization for survivability until the ship design size gets to a point where multiple large H2 tanks are a thing. For smaller/mid ships, I try to make the entire ship semi-disposable and easy to build copies.

[@LucaTheGuide]

I see c= those make sense and are sensible logical designs based on the needs, and constraints, many of my ships consider similar things as well x3

[@kacper9910]

I personally prefer having cargo in front, so it looks more like a sea container ship, especially together with modular cargo, (also mainly for RP reasons). Altho now thinking, having a bridge on the front is more practical. If someone attacks you, it is better to lose some cargo rather whole ship full of it.

[@chriskelso723]

I pack my cargo between my front and rear main thrusters. But the best protection is speed and rear heavy armor plates.

[@LucaTheGuide]

I see c= also that depends on where you're getting attacked from and on hauler or freighter ships I think it'll more likely be from the back as you try to flee

[@TustlePlays]

Uhhhh...huh. That is a very uh...inspired paint job on the Axe Carrier, Uli.
...okay no are we sure this isn't a troll build by Uli_Build because seriously I've heard of a certain design principle involving putting engine nacelles to the rear of a mostly straight-line hull and the resulting name due to the shape but this is just next level at pointing out that shape.
Great design on the interior and bridge though

[@LucaTheGuide]

xD

[@DiM1982]

Luca, как не потерять твой канал? Ты просто кладезь сакральных знай по инженерам!

[@terran046]

I've been shifting to an "ambidextrious" approch to freighters lately. I try to balance the thruster spread to give more control and have a cockpit pointed each way. I'll often use the cargo forward seat for empty space travel and cargo back for docking maneuvers

[@LucaTheGuide]

Oo, that sounds interesting c= I do have some ships like that but they're not completely ambidextrous, might make a video about it x3

[@terran046]

@@LucaTheGuide down side is the unless you shell out for a robust thruster set up you handle like a drunk Whale. Which I am able to make do without because I'm only running known routes meaning I know when to do my turn over and turn the dampners back on while I change seats.

[@MechaNexus]

*watches video
*puts cargo in the middle

[@davidparsons1541]

Well, my cargo ships have containers that run the length of the ship. They also carry passengers so the cargo is on the bottom and everything else is on top. That's only because the ships land on planets.
I have cargo spacecraft that are essentially just cargo containers with engines. They can accommodate a pilot but they are more or less just drones. They can be armed if they are going to be in a hostile environment, but if a customer tells me that I'm going to have to shoot my way in to deliver, I send an escort ship and the price goes up.

[@LucaTheGuide]

I see c= that sounds like an interesting ship and type of operation x3

[@zamba136]

I can't stip making "Space Trucks" for my Cargo designs. A small Freighter that that moves around detatchable Cargo "Trailers" between huge bases.
Though, i guess with Automitons, i can just automate the trailers themselves.
Part of the benifit is that my ships all use the same Modular Cargo system, so i can easily expand and transport what i need.

[@sergeigen1]

if a cargo company is serious about operating large cargo ships in areas with high risks of pirates or bandits, then they probably have some kind of plan, something like an armoured train in the old west, or a spanish galleon in the caribbean, or a fast ship you cant catch like a blockade runner.
in that case protecting the cargo would be more important.
pirates know the lay of the land and have secret bases from where they operate from, but corporations outclass them in purchasing power and access to technology, so a corpo ship outfitted to transport cargo in hostile regions ? with heavy shields and turrets ?
maybe a ship that can house and launch a pair of fighters for protection?
or maybe lots of smaller ships that all spread out the cargo, "cant catch us all", maybe those are just cheap unmaned drones and many could be decoys or traps.
they could also use stuff like, booby trapped cargo, or cargo that is nothing but a lure.
another cool thing to think about is, is the ship part of a bigger fleet of similar ships? was it designed for its what its being used for? or is it being repurposed. and is it new tech, old tech?
i love this kind of video, and this kind of stuff lol :P

[@nook_soundman5289]

How many Cargo Container does this ship have? And when it's 100% fully loaded, will it be able to fly in the atmosphere or not?

[@diamond_tango]

Center cargo? Like you have a bridge on on end, a chunk of engines and production on the back, cargo in the middle?

[@LucaTheGuide]

That might be a good compromise between the two designs c= kinda thought about mentioning too but I guess I thought it would be better to explain the two extremes which implies the center cargo hold as something in-between

[@kinngrimm]

On the back yes, but seperated by a connector so you could jettison the cargo, giving your ship maybe a chance to flee. Meanwhile who says such cargo sections could not be booby trapped with a proximity sensor and a warhead, activated only after jettisoned?

[@comradeblin256]

Luca i am seeking freighter design. Not to carry mats but to carry hull mounted detachable container missiles. Pls make vid on this :3
I need inspiration, advice and reference.

[@LucaTheGuide]

O: any eternal mounting point would do I think xD maybe something like the landing gear on my ship or Midori Frontier ship's clams x3 but yeah I might make a video about it but we'll see c=

[@comradeblin256]

@@LucaTheGuide not only that, i plan to use explosive cargo and run risk of exploding greatly (because i want bigger AOE as its capital killer) so i need an idea of its armoring too. This one is rather the hard part, making it well armored yet manueverable enough

[@ceilyurie856]

Weird I never see forward placed nacelles

[@Areanyusernamesleft]

They aren't particularly popular in fictional spacecraft design, for whatever reason. However, I can think of a couple of examples like the Naboo fighters from The Phantom Menance and The Mandalorian.

[@LucaTheGuide]

Oo good point x3 that would be interesting to see c=

[@CMDR-V-UncleJ]

So what i Have Learned is Put Them in the middle and call it good 🤣

[@LucaTheGuide]

xD well that can be a good compromise between the two designs

[@JUNIsLuke]

Cocanballs