That remains to be seen (translation: "I haven't decided yet").
Umm, if i recall correctly, they pivot in the mk1, so why not in the mk2?
The engines are one of the few things which are in the same place on both models and work in the same way.
the xr1 also has visibly gimballing engines.
I think the problem with them that I had, was that they don't visibly gimbal far enough on the xr2mk1 but with assurances
that this would be fixed in the mk2 or at some point inbetween.
If they don't pivot, then we end up with
characters like Keatah here
complaining to me that they dont like the shape, because they dont get the underlying, internal mechanism that i'm trying to illustrate.
Keatahs had tons to say infact, wow. :lol:
I think its very easy to suggest a design change from one view, not considering how it works from other angles or really why a change has been made. The extension is necessary because the payload bay is further back on this version to solve a centre of mass issue, leading to a sharp downward angle at the back which does not look nice.
We tried a lot of changes out, which none of you have ever seen... even a 3 main-engined version which looked awesome but Doug vetoed, and a 4 engined one that even I thought was going too far. For a twin main engined Ravenstar in its current configuration, this is really the optimal shape. As for the engines, why they are shaped in this way should now be clear to you, there is also a reason why they are longer.. which becomes clear if you consider how the system works - compare the function of the engines on both models and understand that they're also illustrating slightly more powerful engines.
As for it also looking
"too good", to paraphrase your comment in the most gratifying way for me, :lol: Is about all i have to say... I'm sure it won't be long after release that there are other texture choices which you will feel are less offensively good.
But joking aside i think really you're putting down a lot of other addons, and particularly Orbiters simply -S T U N N I N G- rendition of our own glorious orb ( And I can't wait to see the ship falling around it (and by that i mean the earth, not our admin....), I hope the mk2 does that view justice.
Also if it succeeds in accomplishing this, it will do so with only marginally more texture space, and about 30% more triangles. We have the exact same size textures as with the mk1 with a couple of additional smaller maps.
Mainly, i have done more with what was available to start with, how? by painting with a half-pixel brush......