Camera controls and space stations

[ibanix]

When working with complex stations in orbit, where multiple craft are docked together, I often find myself highly annoyed trying to view a particular part of the station. The camera control does not seem to let me pick a base section to work from and move the camera around on.

For example, I like to send a lander to Minmus to collect science, then dock it with a lab in orbit and offload the science. Trying to select the instruments on the lander craft after docking is a major PITA, because I can't rotate relative to the lander.

Any solutions to this problem?

[Superfluous J]

You can middle-click drag or alt-right-click drag (which do the same thing) to move your camera off of the COM, but only to a certain extent.

You can also install the great mod Part Commander so you don't have to hunt for things to right-click on.

But if you're only doing stock, the only solution is to drag your camera focus point as I said above.

[ibanix]

Thanks for the info about Part Commander, that looks super helpful.

[FancyMouse]

3d mouse can help to some extent (it can go way beyond what middle click limits), but there's a pretty annoying detail that actually almost kills it - while right clicking down, any mouse movement will auto-align back to CoM. I have to be really really careful when right clicking after changing camera with 3d mouse.