Gimballing Engines

[StarStreak2109]

Hey there,

just a maybe dumb question. I have seen this in quite a few YouTube videos, that rocket engines (or rather more precisely their nozzles) are moving (thrust vectoring) when the ship's controls are being used. Though my rockets / ships are manouvering just fine, I seem to not have this kind of behaviour where the rocket nozzles (and the exhaust) are swiveling.

I first thought this was due to some bug (though I tried it in a vanilla install and it won't show either). Any pointers how I could have them nice swivelling rocket engines?

Thanks in advance!

Sebastian

[Superfluous J]

Only some engines gimbal. In the VAB, if you right click parts in the menu (on the left) it'll open up an info screen. Gimballing engines show their gimbal range in this menu.

[StarStreak2109]

Hi,

I know that much. In my vanilla install, I tried the Poodle engine, which has a 3.5° gimballing range, but there is nothing gimballing at all...

[patboy]

you can also right click on the engine when you are in flight, and lock gimball. there you can also unlock it.

[John FX]

KSP Engines gimbal less and I'm not sure if the animation shows them doing it either. They are gimballing but you can't see it.

I'd like the exhaust to shift noticeably myself.

[Warzouz]

The 48-7S has gimballed, but only in one axis, which is really strange.

[Xannari Ferrows]

To be sure that they aren't, try launching a test ship with no torque at all, and enable SAS. Slightly set your Centre of Mass off from the Centre of Thrust, and see if it holds stable.

[Superfluous J]

Weird. I can see them gimbaling even when they're not running.

[KerikBalm]

Well, tis only 1 degree for most engines.

What I think would be best is to, engines off, suspended above the launchpad by clamps, tap the controls alteranting in opposite directions and see if the nozzle twiches

[Xannari Ferrows]

Weird. I can see them gimbaling even when they're not running.

The gimbaling module runs tangent to the SAS controls, and not whether the engine is performing. It just means nothing really happens.

[patboy]

you can also right click on the engine when you are in flight, and lock gimball. there you can also unlock it.

[KerbalEssences]

Hey! In order for the gimbal to work properly you have to stage the engines using the space bar. That is a known bug as far as I know. If you use action groups or right click to activate them for example, they won't gimbal at all. It might also be a visual option in the options menue but I'm not sure on that one. My engines and also the exhaust gimbal very obvious. You can see it in the video here right at the beginning:

[eddiew]

IIRC, rapiers and mainsails have a visible gimbal animation. It's not very dynamic, they just flick to maximum deflection (couple of degrees) and back - but you'll notice it if you lock the gimbal and suddenly your rocket can't manoeuvre during launch!

[Warzouz]

48-7S also have a tiny animation, but in only one axis, as its physics.

[Tex]

I think it must have something to do with graphics settings. I run at all max settings (I believe) and I've seen my engines gimballing and even the exhaust path changes.