Hi everybody!
I would like to express my great happiness about the XR2 development! Doug, maybe you remember our talks at M6 before the whole works there crashed down. I like how many ideas of us are now implemented into the Ravenstar.
I also like the photorealistic appearance of the ship in Orbiter. Coolhand, you really did a great job there!!!
What I mean by "ideas of us": If I remember rightly, I had the idea of an runabout for the XR5 at M6. That's how the XR0 came onto the stage, and now we have several designs (the XR0 and the "work bee"). Somebody suggested, to have a facility for the construction of a multi-functional runabout in the XR5's bay (the facility could be ordered to build a landing ship or an "work bee" from a common main body and attachment parts). Could this be done, or is the coding/modelling work too much of an effort for that?
Also when I had drawn my idea for an XR2, several designs came out. And one I immediately called the "bionic design":
(It is the lower ship on the drawing). And I'm astounished, that the XR2 actually has this swift, "organic" design. Any reverse engineering from my drawings, Coolhand

?
But a really great job!!!
Three more things:
1.) We seriously have to think about a power supply for the XR-Ships. XR2 and 5 could carry solar panels on the inside of the PBDs. XR1 may then run on FCs, and 2 and 5 could have a FC as a reserve. I would go for solar, because the Space Shuttle today wastes so much payload weight by the H2 and O2 it has to carry for it's Fuel Cells. It could use a rollable solar panel (like DLR's Project DORA).
2.) The XR7 was again mentioned somewhere above. I think we should first fill up the gaps

. That means: XR2, XR3 and XR4 and of course XR6. Then we could go for the big thing^^. By the way: Could there be ships like an XR1.5 (inbetween of XR1 and 2)? And what is your limit for size? There surely must be a limit after which an Earth-based ship couldn't fly anymore. XR8 maybe?
3.) For woo482's Rover: The X-72 shuttles in
Armageddon didn't have PBDs, but a crew elevator and a ramp in the "belly". Now, the XR5 has an elevator. Couldn't it also receive a ramp on which the rover could enter and exit the vessel?
Just my 0.02$
Cheers

,
Lunar_Lander
PS: I'd say 3:1 Germany tonight

. EDIT: Ok, that was wrong. Congratulations Spain!