Mid-bulk transport, standard radion-accelerator core, classcode 03-K64-Firefly.



VTOL UP FOR ALL AG CONTROLS.

AG1: Landing Legs

AG2: Primary Engine Rotation

AG3: Unlocks Engine Roll Control

AG4: Activates Ring

AG5: Opens Cargo Bay Door

AG6: Engine Standby



TL;DR Guide: Throttle to 100%. To transition to forward flight, put the VTOL up to 95% and press 1-2-3-4.



Ship Operation:

This is a (nearly) fully articulated replica, complete with a functioning engine ring, multi-functional engine rotators, retractable landing legs, and operational doors. It is a highly accurate model, with a focus on visual accuracy and ease of use. Unfortunately due to its size and complexity, the top speed and fuel consumption do suffer a bit.



Engine Articulation is controlled in 3 ways, with Activation Groups 2, 3, and 6.

• Group 2 is primary engine rotation, and will rotate the engines 90° forwards/backwards. Group 2's primary use is to transition from vertical flight to forward flight, but may also be used for forwards/backwards movement while in hover.



• Group 3 activates Engine Roll. When the engines are rotated into forward flight mode, unlocking the engine roll will allow the ship to roll much faster. HOWEVER, if the engines are rotated past the 45° mark, the Roll control becomes an inverted Yaw control, spinning the ship left or right. I usually deactivate group 3 in VTOL flight, unless I want to do Crazy Ivans.



• Group 6 is simply Engine Standby. To stow engines after landing, rotate them forwards and activate group 6 (with the VTOL slider up) to 'tuck' them into the standby position. Do not activate Group 6 while in flight, and always remember to deactivate group 6 once you've extended your engines again.



The Engine Ring (and rear vents) are controlled by Group 4. The engine ring is what provides most of the forward thrust in this model.

• With VTOL in the neutral position, the engine ring will simply spin.

• With VTOL fully up, the engine ring may stop spinning. To keep the engine ring spinning, move the VTOL slider 95%. If you leave engine rotation (AG2) active, this will also properly trim the pitch.



Group 5 just activates the cargo bay door. For a neat view from the cargo bay, switch to Cockpit view while the door is open.



Notes:

• Apologies to mobile users.

• I really wish we had more and/or better color options.

• I know, It's *really* slow. But it can be landed on the carriers with ease, which is more fun than straight-line speed anyways.

• Does not float. But that just makes carrier landings all the more challenging.

• Hovers at around 70% throttle. 60%-ish for descent, 80%-ish to ascend.

• Pulls to the right at max speed. Asymmetrical designs and whatnot. Try flying at a slight angle, it looks cooler anyways.

• No shuttles. Probably for the best, because you're gonna crash her one way or another.

• If you don't know what this ship is, go watch Firefly. Right now.



"You know what the first rule of flyin' is? Love. You can know all the math in the 'Verse, but take a boat in the air you don't love, she'll shake you off just as sure as the turning of worlds. Love keeps her in the air when she oughta fall down, tells ya she's hurtin' 'fore she keens. Makes her home."

-Captain Malcolm Reynolds