Equipment and base systems
Scout Ray or Haul: Pick a Tadpole Chassis
A Tadpole chassis is a substantial vehicle project. Scout Ray favors movement; Haul provides a passenger and cargo platform. Choose the purpose before committing Plasteel, Strontium and advanced electronics.
Updated · Crafting quantities: PC build 128456
Recipes and construction costs
These are chassis costs only, in addition to the Tadpole. Both require one Dedicated Core. Scout Ray uses Plasteel and Strong Acid; Haul instead needs four Titanium Ingots, three Strontium and three Enameled Glass.
Tadpole Scout Ray Chassis
Vehicle Fabricator · Makes 1
- 2 × Plasteel Ingot
- 1 × Advanced Wiring Kit
- 1 × Dedicated Core
- 1 × Strong Acid
Tadpole Haul Chassis
Vehicle Fabricator · Makes 1
- 4 × Titanium Ingot
- 3 × Strontium
- 3 × Enameled Glass
- 1 × Dedicated Core
Choose exploration or transport
Choose Scout Ray when the main job is covering distance and maneuvering between exploration stops. Its design improves acceleration, top speed and turn rate. It is an investment in how the Tadpole handles, rather than a new oxygen or pressure upgrade.
Choose Haul when the job calls for transporting passengers and cargo. In co-op, agree on a departure and unloading plan before attaching it. The useful comparison is the expedition you can complete, not simply which chassis has the more advanced recipe.
A tight wreck entrance or a confined base approach can make an attached chassis awkward. Leave maneuvering room outside the destination and plan the final swim from a safe position instead of trying to force the whole assembly through every opening.
Budget the materials as one project
Scout Ray consumes two Plasteel Ingots. With the current Processor conversion, those two ingots need four Titanium and two Lithium. That only covers its Plasteel portion: one Advanced Wiring Kit, one Dedicated Core and one Strong Acid remain separate requirements. The Dedicated Core itself consumes another Advanced Wiring Kit, two Quartz and one Strong Acid, so reserve two kits and two acid in total for the full electronics and acid portion.
Haul consumes three Strontium, which means six Celestine through the Processor. Its three Enameled Glass also need their own Glass and Creature Enamel supply. Gather the uncommon components before converting every common metal into construction stock.
Complete the chassis blueprint scans and make sure the vehicle crafting station can present the recipe before hauling all the ingredients out. Keep upgrade materials in a separate list if you also intend to extend the Tadpole’s depth or power endurance.
Attach, check and leave room to dock
Use open water for the first attachment and detachment. Confirm the chassis is attached before setting off, then check vehicle power, cargo and passenger readiness. Take a short local trip before using the assembly on a long material run.
When using a base dock, finish one operation at a time. Buddy System fixed the player becoming trapped when attaching a chassis while docking the Tadpole. Leaving room around the approach and avoiding overlapping interactions also makes it easier to understand what the vehicle is doing.
Buddy System Hotfix 1 fixed interaction at the Scout Ray carry point and oxygen replenishment for players attached to a Tadpole or Haul. That oxygen support depends on a powered Tadpole: Buddy System also fixed oxygen failing to deplete while attached to an unpowered vehicle. Check vehicle charge and the passenger oxygen indicator before departure. Chassis signals also received several fixes. If a signal looks detached from the vehicle, inspect the actual assembly before assuming your chassis has been lost; a display problem and a physical detachment require different responses.