I am confused. You said you wanted to develop the skills to be able to use a dedicated build, and then you go exploring in a python - the ultimate all-rounder vessel. You said: "It produced a 70 jump route, based on my Python’s 16ly range."
Part of the skill-set of an explorer / far traveler is making things as easy as possible and
minimising how many jumps. A 16ly jump range is
not a winning strategy.
The Fuel Rats run specialised ships - very similar to explorer-specific builds - that run light, jump far and keep going. The only difference between their vessels and what you're looking for, is that they carry fuel limpets because that's the purpose of them going anywhere.
With that in mind, look at this link to their ship-type stat page:
https://confluence.fuelrats.com/display ... Statistics'Condas and Asp X's are popular among Rats who keep busy in the Bubble while waiting for rat signals (and for whom buy-back costs aren't an issue). But you'll see in 3rd place is the super-cheap, super-far jumping DBX. It's what I fly when I'm ratting: it's relatively tough (doesn't sniff at 140% heat), cheap to repair (and replace), jumps and incredibly long way on relatively little engineering and has all the space you need for your extra explorer scanners (I hope you've got both an ADS and a DSS to maximise profits from a 1k ly hike?).
When it comes to the Python, you'll see that a Cobra mk3 and even the Type 6 are more popular choices: and that's with good reason. You just can't get what you need for reliable, long-haul travel in a Python.
LeDoyen also makes a good point: you can synthesise limpets as you go, and you don't even need to equip a vehicle bay if you do a bit of surface mining in advance. Limpets are incredibly cheap to make, and it's another way that Rats keep their weight down and their range up: they carry the resources and make what they need as they go.
Finally, I'd also say, if you're new to jonking** and exploring, DON'T fly the Neutron Highway to start with. Yes, the boosts are fantastic and it can be exciting as hell. But it can also tear your ship apart if you're uncertain what you're doing. Plan your first trip to be a simple, non-bad-ass, getting the basic skills you need (patience, mostly, and learning to plan to scoop) there-and-back affair in a ship you don't mind losing and build from there. Don't fly in Open (unless you need the Fuel Rats), and try going
out of the Bubble to increase money made and, therefore, explorer rank gained upon hand-in.*
My advice, boiling all this down: get yourself a DBX (See below for basic, unengineered build that jumps 35ly for 15 mil) and plan a simple, non-Neutron route.
https://s.orbis.zone/DVcZ0KDGWith a touch of engineering, you could easily get that to 40+ and buying in Li Yong Rui will bring the cost down (and therefore the already-reasonable buy back of 763k) by 15%.
Good luck, have fun
*And also NPC / player hassle
**Jonking = Jumping and honking