Help editing CoM, CoL, CoP offsets

[DeadJohn]

Is there a mod or other way to edit CoMOffset and CoLOffset interactively?

I'm trying to improve aerodynamics in an old mod. The unit of measurement for those properties isn't documented that I can find. Manually editing the cfg requires a restart each time, making it difficult to assess whether a prior test or the current value flies better. I want to make things "good" not merely "good enough".

 

[JadeOfMaar]

On 2/13/2023 at 2:15 PM, DeadJohn said:

Is there a mod or other way to edit CoMOffset and CoLOffset interactively?

There is a way but you still have to restart KSP at the end.

1. Install the NodeHelper mod
2. Plase a part in the VAB then turn on the NodeHelper UI and right-click the part
3. Create a new node (it will appear at the part origin. This is the default location for the CoL and CoM)
4. Use the NodeHelper UI to move the new node
5. Write the new coordinates into that part's config file and restart KSP
6. Profit

On 2/13/2023 at 2:15 PM, DeadJohn said:

CoMOffset and CoLOffset

You want to do CoPoffset (pressure; drag) too because if you leave the part to be draggy in the forward direction the part will want to flip and fly backwards if it breaks off, or if it's by far the most lift or drag producing part on the vessel it will help the vessel to want to fly backwards. This is especially a problem for single part ship bodies like the landers in the Interstellar movie Endurance mod.

If you're interested in ocean physics there are also the following 2 keys:

CenterOfBuoyancy (where the part is centered and will pivot when sitting on water) and CenterOfDisplacement (presumably where the part divides the water around itself; the point from which it would be "pulled down as if by a rope" if it were to sink).

On 2/13/2023 at 2:15 PM, DeadJohn said:

The unit of measurement

All of these keys accept "vector3" format values such as 0, 0, 0 (X, Y, Z) with respect to the part's default orientation when placed in the VAB scene (not the SPH). The unit is meters.