Is there any tutorial on the new fairing parts?

[RainDreamer]

Since 1.0 the fairings system has been introduced, but I don't know how it works exactly and its capability.

Is there any tutorial around that tells me what it can do (like what shapes can I make, how it helps with aerodynamics), what are its limitation(angle, curves, etc?),and any tips and tricks that can be done (is interstage fairing possible?).

I am still used to procedural fairing mod and the things I can do with that.

[Geschosskopf]

The stock fariings work like this:

1. You already have some part of the rocket built (say a probe payload) and you add the fairing to the bottom of this.

2. The part you attach is just the base of the fairing, a disk-shaped thing. As soon as you place it, the game automatically goes into "fairing-building mode" so you're dragging a procedural fairing bit around as you move the mouse. If you're not ready to actually build the fairing yet, right-click to get back into normal editing mode.

3. When you're ready to build the fairing, right-click on the disky and select "build fairing". Now you drag the mouse around to shape the fairing as you desire. This usually has to be done in several steps because the game only allows fairing sections to be so big. At all times, look at the text at the bottom center of the screen. If the text is green or blue, you can place a fairing section there with a left-click and then immediately start making the next section. If the text is any other color, the fairing section is too big or has some other problem (clipping, for example) so you'll have to reshape it by moving the mouse until the text is green or blue. It works like this:

* If the base disk of the fairing is the same diameter as the payload above, the 1st fairing section is the "base section", which has to come out horizontally some distance to clear the payload above. If the fairing base disk is a larger diameter than the payload, you can just plae a regular "fairing section" straight up. Anyway, move the mouse until you this 1st section is where you want it and the text is green, then left-click.

* Now you're working on the 2nd section. Move the mouse to shape it as desired, either straight up or tapering in or out as needed. You can only go so far, however--still need green text. Click when ready.

* Continue in this way, tapering the top of the fairing in when you can. Eventually, once it's been tapered down enough, you'll see "close fairing" in green. Click that and voila, you're done.

4. Fairings can also be used interstage, like from the top of the transfer stage to the bottom of an Apollo-style CSM, covering up the LEM in the middle. This works pretty much the same as above except when you taper the fairing in towards the CSM, the text will turn blue when you can close it off. This seems to be only possible if the top of the fairing is on a part that allows radial attachment, such as the CSM's fuel tank.

Anyway, that's pretty much it for how to build them. As to how to use them, there are a few things to keep in mind.

A. Mass

Stock fairings are pretty heavy, so keep that in mind when designing your rocket, so that you have enough dV for where you'll still have the fairing on.

B. Wobbles

Anything tall sitting atop a fairing base disk will tend to wobble unless strutted. This is one of several good reasons (see below) to always use a wider fairing than the payload, so you can strut down from the payload to the upper side of the base disk.

C. Aero Stuff

For the least drag, the fairing shouldn't bulge out much or at all. If the fairing base is wider than the payload, then you can make a straight-sided fairing that's effectively just a nosecone. Then the rest of the rocket is the same diameter as the fairing disk.

D. Hung-Up Fairing Sections

It sometimes happens that not all fairing pieces release when you stage the fairing. When that happens, the game gets weird. Despite your rocket still being in space, the game will say it's landed, refuse to draw its orbital path, and won't let you warp. This is usually caused by fairing bits clipping the rocket, such as if you've run struts through the fairing shell. Fortunately, this is fairly easy to fix. Just spin the rocket in roll (Q or E) to sling the stuck fairing pieces off, and all will return to normal.