ConwayLife.com

There is a reaction that forms a knightship in B38/S23. Specifically, it is a pre-B heptomino reacting with a boat to move it (4,1). I'm wondering if the same reaction could be used in normal Life.

In that variant, the R pentomino is an unstable oblique puffer, and the T tetromino it creates in Life will die rather than becoming 4 blinkers. My two plans are either glider synthesize the R, then clean it up, or use spartan R conduits and destroy them. I believe that the second one will work better because if you used glider, then you'd have to use some sort of oblique rake (maybe a caterloopillar?). Plus, cleaning up the debris made by the R would probably be easier because of the still lifes being there before they get destroyed.

EDIT: Here's how this reaction moves the boat:

I highly doubt that a knightship could be built on this reaction, at least not a small one. For example, the thing that creates the Rs would also have to move in an oblique direction,etc...

Here's a much simpler reaction that moves an item in an oblique direction (and also hasn't powered any spaceships to my knowledge):