Easier docking on the ground

[Tazin]

I'm tired of building deformities just so they can dock together on the ground . . . sometimes i just want to put a kerbal on EVA next to the two ports, misaligned by 0.1º, and yell at them. So i've decided to bite the bullet and mod . . . what do you recommedn, KIS/KAS for easy refueling, infernal robotics for moving stuff around, or some other better alternative i haven't heard about?

[Hagen von Tronje]

I installed my first mods for the exact same reason. Getting the z-axis perfect on surface docking is nearly impossible, especially if variable fuel weight can enter the equation - and why wouldn't it, you're likely docking to move fuel.

KIS/KAS will do it with the least work and can accomplish either non-docking refueling via pipe or assist in some methods of docking by using winches to pull yourself into position, if your docking ports are built to allow for that. It will also allow you to do a bunch of other fun things, like replace parts if they get broken (and you packed spares, say some extra solar panels in case you smack into one while derping about on EVA) or build new structures on a surface. You don't have to do that if all you're after is the pipes. You can also use winches as EVA tethers so your kerbals don't drift into space if they lose their grip or miss the target. Personally, I think any race that can build a nuclear engine and generate fuel from mined ore in a compact unit can also tie a rope around their waists, ya know?

Infernal Robotics can offer an alternative method of docking alignment by attaching moving parts, like rails, to your landing struts or even to docking parts themselves, allowing you to do things like adjust either an adapter or the entire craft's height, as well as create cranes, robotic arms, rotors, and whatever else you can think of to do with the basic planes of movement.

Take the plunge and install them both. Take what suits your purpose now and if you decide you want to play with the new legos these give you, they'll be there. They certainly open a lot of avenues for craft building and EVA activities.

[steve_v]

...attaching moving parts, like rails, to your landing struts or even to docking parts themselves...

Putting docking ports on robotic parts has been a no-no for IR for a long time, IIRC.

It's tempting I know, but weird things happen...

Best bet, IMO, is to use KIS/KAS. It really does do everything you could want for surface operations.

[Evanitis]

The answer is Temstar's Modular Base Creation Kit. It's an excellent, stock solution to this problem. If you are lazy to reproduce the trick yourself, you can just download the craft files.

[vixr]

If you're good enough to get your ports within 0.01 degrees...just hack gravity for a second or two. No one will mind.

[Wemb]

I'm tired of building deformities just so they can dock together on the ground . . . sometimes i just want to put a kerbal on EVA next to the two ports, misaligned by 0.1º, and yell at them. So i've decided to bite the bullet and mod . . . what do you recommedn, KIS/KAS for easy refueling, infernal robotics for moving stuff around, or some other better alternative i haven't heard about?

I'm enjoying the contraption I recently built (based on

) with KAS to help me do refueling at my Minmus mine. It's a small probe core, with two small RCS tanks on each ends, and docking ports on those. One end is connected, via a connection point and winch to the fuel dump, and the other is left free - I can then fly the little robot to my ship, plug it into a docking port and then pump the fuel and RCS in as needed.

It's only randomly exploded on me once so far - and flying it, in gravity, is a bit tricky, but can be done with fine control and careful toggling of the RCS and reaction wheels.

Wemb

[Tazin]

Temstar's method is what i always use, except with rover wheels instead of landing legs. But it constrains you to one type of design: horizontal modules with side legs. And like Hagen said, if you want to build on a planet with significant gravity, the suspension on legs and rover wheels is enough to break port alignement when the module's weight changes.

[icedown]

KAS has become the only way for me. I've had way to many things on the ground randomly flip and explode, or just straight up explode when I've docked them planet side.

[Red Iron Crown]

I've been using the stock claw for surface "docking" for resource transfer, doesn't require the precise alignment of a pair of docking ports. Lots of quicksaves, though, sometimes the world goes funny when the connection is made.

[Sharpy]

I've seen a KAS trick where a tiny monoprop-RCS bot with a docking port was attached to the end of a winch and you'd fly it to the target port unrolling the tether. That way you can use KAS without a kerbal to drag the tethers between the vehicles.

[steve_v]

I've been using the stock claw for surface "docking" for resource transfer, doesn't require the precise alignment of a pair of docking ports. Lots of quicksaves, though, sometimes the world goes funny when the connection is made.

Which is why I don't use the claw, it's still kraken bait.

Another of those "features" that's still as buggy as the day it was introduced.

[X-SR71]

Try locking suspension of your landing legs

[Pecan]

The major limitation of temstar's approach is that it requires a flat (co-planar) surface for everything. When you have variable slopes parts just do not align, however well you adjust X, Y, Z.

It's been a long time since I built any bases since I haven't done any mining yet and they were useless before. When I do, I'll be running KAS between modules.

[Tazin]

Thankd guys. I installed KAS. Works like a charm, i only used the pipes. The winch and magnet can still move fuel through?

[eonmoon]

mks/oks by roverdude, theres a docking tube you can run where ever, i use that,kis_kas and mechjeb, engineer too, also roverdudes freght too

[capi3101]

Thankd guys. I installed KAS. Works like a charm, i only used the pipes. The winch and magnet can still move fuel through?

Not so much the magnet, but the winch cable certainly can. Fuel, oxidizer, monoprop......Kerbals..........

(No seriously - if you ever get tourists stranded somewhere, send up a rescue ship with a couple of connector ports, a winch and a wrench or screwdriver in a container and hook up the two ships in docked mode. Fiber-optic teleportation. Saved me from having to ditch a couple of high-paying contracts not all that long ago...).