Most compact stock hinge/cargo door?

[Shaun]

I'm trying to develop a line of cargo spaceplanes. Starting from smaller payloads, I'm trying to create a 2.5m cargo bay (to house 1.25m parts with stuff on the sides). Due to the size of the craft I'm aiming for, I need the cargo bay door mechanism to be compact, and preferably a one I can assign action groups to And doesn't use fuel or RCS to open.

What's the best method to do this? So far I've tried landing legs but I'm not sure I'm doing it correctly because the door hardly opens.

[KerikBalm]

Ummm... given that we have the mk3 cargobay now... can't you just use that?

The mk2 cargobay also fits 1.25m parts with stuff on the sides (along 1 axis, not 2)

[Shaun]

Ummm... given that we have the mk3 cargobay now... can't you just use that?

The mk2 cargobay also fits 1.25m parts with stuff on the sides (along 1 axis, not 2)

True, but the Mk-2 cargobay is too small in terms of height, and the Mk-3 is too big and heavy. Making a bay is easy but the door is the issue.

[Majorjim!]

I wouldn't bother mate. All stock hinges where, before the cargo bays, not that useful.

Yes it was a nice design trick but it was glitchy and ugly. They used legs to open and as such couldnt open very far..

[Shaun]

:/ hmm. Perhaps it's gonna be a case of looking into some of Overfloater's crafts.

[KerikBalm]

True, but the Mk-2 cargobay is too small in terms of height, and the Mk-3 is too big and heavy. Making a bay is easy but the door is the issue.

Well, its too small to fit a landercan and look pretty, but it fits a mk1 command pod just fine. I've made little 1 kerbal munar landers that fit in the bay.

The mk3 is rather heavy... at 6 tons... but its rather big... its the same mass as an empty fuel tank of the same size.

The one that is about the same length as the mk2 bay (its a little longer IIRC) is only 3 tons... that won't work for you?