What parts do you rarely or never use?

[storm_soldier2377]

Mention all the parts that you rarely or never use and why you don't use them whether they have limited utility or simply don't fit the purposes of whatever you are doing, and maybe give others ideas how to use them. Here's my list:

• Mk3 Cargo Ramp - Limited size of the cargo that can fit and the difficulty of making an SSTO that uses one.
• Any jet engine other than the Whiplash and Rapier - I don't use them because I have limited to no reason to build a plane that can't carry cargo to space.
• Mk1-2 Command Pod -  Too heavy, prefer to use the lander can instead
• Rovermax XL-3 - Never encountered the need to build rovers that big.
• Mk3 passenger module - I don't think I will ever need to carry around 16 kerbals at a time.
• 3x2 solar panels - 1x6 panels looks better and fit smaller spaces than the 3x2s.
• Stayputnik - Flying without SAS is a pain in the poophole.
• Flea and Hammer SRB's - Used them to get to suborbit, never again after I unlocked the Thumper.
• Vector engine - Too powerful for 1.25m stacks and too expensive for anything else. I prefer to use a Mainsail instead.
• Spark engine - I prefer using terriers instead until it's dinally rendered obsolete by the ion engine.

What parts do you find yourself not using? What parts do you use that others could use?

[Overland]

TR-2L Rugged rover wheels..

They seem to snap off at an alarming rate when pulling a load or breaking.. Not high enough off the ground at all..almost no suspension and even modded for durability.. Never quite live upto a modded M1 rover wheel in the same way

[storm_soldier2377]

34 minutes ago, Overland said:

TR-2L Rugged rover wheels..

They seem to snap off at an alarming rate when pulling a load or breaking.. Not high enough off the ground at all..almost no suspension and even modded for durability.. Never quite live upto a modded M1 rover wheel in the same way

I actually use them for almost all my rovers. I don't really have a reason to prefer them though other than the fact that they're the fastest and slightly larger. They also fit neatly onto the girders i almost always attach them onto.

[Jetski]

I rarely if ever use the Thud, and I've never used the cargo ramp. Also the 2-man lander can and the 3-man command pods are heavy enough to be useless for my program. Also strangely I never use the adapters that go from 2 to 1, or 3 to 1, or 4 to 1 stacks.  I used to when I started playing, but now I just attach everything radially instead. 

[Stewcumber]

I never use the rapier engine as I don't really do space planes at the moment- I assume that is what it is for as it is dual fuel. Also some of the data collection parts as I tend to get bored of career and go back to sandbox so only get as far as the temperature instrument.

Also 'advanced parts' like nuclear power / ion engines. When I find a problem for which they're the solution, that is when I'll start using them!

[RizzoTheRat]

I've not made used many of the Mk3 parts yet but will get round to it, same with the Goliath and big Airplane wings

Don't think I've ever used the Spider, Ant, Puff or Vector engines, and I've only used the Thud for adding extra thrust to test landers on Kerbin.

Launch Escape System is pointless for me as I revert if it goes wrong 

 

[tutike2000]

RTG - Too expensive to research, never found a real need for it, as a Gigantor will work well enough.
All Spaceplane parts - don't need them. I use the fuel switch mod to get LF-only tanks.
Smallest wheels - too small, they keep locking up
Largest wheels - too far on the science tree
Vector - gimbal wobble tears my ship apart. No point in using it without gimbal
Spark - always used a Terrier instead
All 0.625m parts - 1.25m is the One True Size
Multi-couplers, Multi-adapters - they'd be very useful in early career, but only unlock late-game when they seem obsolete
Radiators except Med/Large expandable - I don't understand their purpose in the game. Only nuclear engines need radiators, and the small ones are useless
2x3 Solar arrays - 1x6 look better, and seem less likely to 'catch' an EVA-ing Kerbal
Any antenna other than the whip - unless using mods
Any SRB other than the biggest currently available
Fuel cells - hands off my precious fuel!
Any lights - I find the lack of part shadows disturbing. I prefer to use Ambient Light Adjuster 
The small docking port - too much wobble
I-beams, structural panels - still haven't found a use for them 600+ hours into the game
Mk1-2 command pod, Cupola module - too big, not enough kerbals in the Cupola
Ion engines - watching paint dry
Aerospike - it's awesome, but too expensive to research. Would be very useful if it were available earlier

Edited February 22, 2016 by tutike2000

[ZooNamedGames]

7 hours ago, storm_soldier2377 said:

  Mention all the parts that you rarely or never use and why you don't use them whether they have limited utility or simply don't fit the purposes of whatever you are doing, and maybe give others ideas how to use them. Here's my list:

• Mk3 Cargo Ramp - Limited size of the cargo that can fit and the difficulty of making an SSTO that uses one.
• Any jet engine other than the Whiplash and Rapier - I don't use them because I have limited to no reason to build a plane that can't carry cargo to space.
• Mk1-2 Command Pod -  Too heavy, prefer to use the lander can instead
• Rovermax XL-3 - Never encountered the need to build rovers that big.
• Mk3 passenger module - I don't think I will ever need to carry around 16 kerbals at a time.
• 3x2 solar panels - 1x6 panels looks better and fit smaller spaces than the 3x2s.
• Stayputnik - Flying without SAS is a pain in the poophole.
• Flea and Hammer SRB's - Used them to get to suborbit, never again after I unlocked the Thumper.
• Vector engine - Too powerful for 1.25m stacks and too expensive for anything else. I prefer to use a Mainsail instead.
• Spark engine - I prefer using terriers instead until it's dinally rendered obsolete by the ion engine.

What parts do you find yourself not using? What parts do you use that others could use?

Noting this is your opinion, this is mine opinion in response to yours. 

Mk3 cargo ramp is important and I can't find a use for it, I'm just glad it  exists. I'd rather have something I don't use, then not have it and need it.

you could be carrying cargo across land, which makes the other engines more important.

Lander can is nice but it has no crash/heat tolerance and carries less crew. 

XL-3 rover wheels... I agree there. It drives like a tank rather than 4 wheel drive like the rest. It's bulky and hard to use, not to mention slow.

I somewhat agree on the 3x2s, they are weird and the only difference is cosmetic. So it's a choice of opinion.

mk3 passenger module, it's only good for crew transfers and flying across land. Another good thing to have even if not used.

Sputnik, although annoying, it's nice for cosmetic but it does lose purpose once out tiered.

Flea and Hammer are useful early and good for smaller launchers, and or planetary landers.

Vector, it is expinsive but I say if you recover the engines like SpaceX or ULA's Vulcan, then you can negate that. They have scary high TWR, and decent efficiency.

Spark Engine is actually a super power in disguise. It is more efficient than the terrier and just as good. I sometimes even use it with crew transfer 2.5m vehicles. I can get up to several km of DV from it and a small fuel tank. 

 

[storm_soldier2377]

5 minutes ago, ZooNamedGames said:

Noting this is your opinion, this is mine opinion in response to yours. 

Mk3 cargo ramp is important and I can't find a use for it, I'm just glad it  exists. I'd rather have something I don't use, then not have it and need it.

you could be carrying cargo across land, which makes the other engines more important.

Lander can is nice but it has no crash/heat tolerance and carries less crew. 

XL-3 rover wheels... I agree there. It drives like a tank rather than 4 wheel drive like the rest. It's bulky and hard to use, not to mention slow.

I somewhat agree on the 3x2s, they are weird and the only difference is cosmetic. So it's a choice of opinion.

mk3 passenger module, it's only good for crew transfers and flying across land. Another good thing to have even if not used.

Sputnik, although annoying, it's nice for cosmetic but it does lose purpose once out tiered.

Flea and Hammer are useful early and good for smaller launchers, and or planetary landers.

Vector, it is expinsive but I say if you recover the engines like SpaceX or ULA's Vulcan, then you can negate that. They have scary high TWR, and decent efficiency.

Spark Engine is actually a super power in disguise. It is more efficient than the terrier and just as good. I sometimes even use it with crew transfer 2.5m vehicles. I can get up to several km of DV from it and a small fuel tank. 

 

Keep in mind I'm not to say the parts are useless, I'm just mentioning the parts I don't find myself using a lot.

Anyway IIRC the Spark has a lower specific impulse than the terrier, with a higher TWR.

[ZooNamedGames]

2 minutes ago, storm_soldier2377 said:

Keep in mind I'm not to say the parts are useless, I'm just mentioning the parts I don't find myself using a lot.

Anyway IIRC the Spark has a lower specific impulse than the terrier, with a higher TWR.

Ofc and I too admitted to not using several of them myself.

Possibly, I may be biased to the spark.

[Buster Charlie]

7 hours ago, storm_soldier2377 said:

Mention all the parts that you rarely or never use and why you don't use them whether they have limited utility or simply don't fit the purposes of whatever you are doing, and maybe give others ideas how to use them. Here's my list:

• Mk3 Cargo Ramp - Limited size of the cargo that can fit and the difficulty of making an SSTO that uses one.
• Any jet engine other than the Whiplash and Rapier - I don't use them because I have limited to no reason to build a plane that can't carry cargo to space.
• Mk1-2 Command Pod -  Too heavy, prefer to use the lander can instead
• Rovermax XL-3 - Never encountered the need to build rovers that big.
• Mk3 passenger module - I don't think I will ever need to carry around 16 kerbals at a time.
• 3x2 solar panels - 1x6 panels looks better and fit smaller spaces than the 3x2s.
• Stayputnik - Flying without SAS is a pain in the poophole.
• Flea and Hammer SRB's - Used them to get to suborbit, never again after I unlocked the Thumper.
• Vector engine - Too powerful for 1.25m stacks and too expensive for anything else. I prefer to use a Mainsail instead.
• Spark engine - I prefer using terriers instead until it's dinally rendered obsolete by the ion engine.

What parts do you find yourself not using? What parts do you use that others could use?

More to the point, shouldn't there be an easy in game GUI method of hiding parts we don't use?

[storm_soldier2377]

2 minutes ago, Buster Charlie said:

More to the point, shouldn't there be an easy in game GUI method of hiding parts we don't use?

Why should there? The game doesn't have so many parts as to make it difficult to find the parts you are looking for. Unless of course if you have a lot of mods,

Edited February 22, 2016 by storm_soldier2377

[Buster Charlie]

5 minutes ago, storm_soldier2377 said:

Why should there? The game doesn't have so many parts as to make it difficult to find the parts you are looking for. Unless of course if you have a lot of mods,

I know people don't really use mods in ksp, but part of me really finds it annoying to clutter up the VAB with parts I'll never use.

 

[KerbonautInTraining]

36 minutes ago, Buster Charlie said:

More to the point, shouldn't there be an easy in game GUI method of hiding parts we don't use?

@Felbourn Had a mod that did just that but it's not compatible with 1.x.x (yet?)

On topic, I never use the Reliant, other than early career ofc. I don't like the Tail Fin for some reason, I prefer the AV-R8 winglet. Also fuel cells.

Edited February 22, 2016 by KerbonautInTraining

[Felbourn]

I use Filter Extensions now because it's way better than my mod was.

[Choctofliatrio2.0]

-Cargo Ramp/Bays: I'm not a spaceplane person, so I rarely use them.

-Thud Engine: I can never fit it on rockets, and if I do need a radial engine for an orbital stage, I'll just use something smaller.

-Reliant: I love my gimballing, so I've never found a use for this.

-TT-70 Radial Decoupler: It leaves an uncomfortable gap between boosters. I like the TT-38K, and occasionally use the Manifold.

-Poodle Engine: I know it's efficient or whatever, but gosh it's ugly. I'd rather pack extra fuel than have an unfashionable rocket.

-(I use this out of necessity, but I dislike it) Juno Engine: I don't really care for this engine. I have to use it since it's the first jet the game offers, but it's really hard to use it on basic planes. I end up having to pack a bunch on, which is tough due to part limits. Actually... my main gripe is with that whole plane parts node. I really wish the first intake you got was a radial one.

-Probodobodyne HECS: It's a good probe body, but I prefer the OKTO. It has more sides to put things on, plus it's cheaper and has enough features for my needs.

[Evanitis]

8 hours ago, storm_soldier2377 said:

• Mk3 passenger module - I don't think I will ever need to carry around 16 kerbals at a time.
• 3x2 solar panels - 1x6 panels looks better and fit smaller spaces than the 3x2s.

That two, for these very reasons. I somehow tend to find uses for the other stuff you listed.

I have an unexplainable aversion towards fuel-cells. They make something without mass from something that has it. I don't feel comfortable when my ship does that (while I know they can be super-useful).
Also ladders. Since kerbals can climb, I always feel that I didn't design well enough if I have to include the mass of mobility enhancers.

[John FX]

I hardly ever use mk-2 or spaceplane parts, 3x2 solar panels, large probe cores, large rover wheels, most of the big engines (never need to lift anything that big any more)

[eddiew]

The biggest rover wheels.

Had regular issues where they don't actually reach a 'landed' state, and therefore don't work in any way.

[Frybert]

Anything plane related.

[storm_soldier2377]

1 hour ago, Evanitis said:

That two, for these very reasons. I somehow tend to find uses for the other stuff you listed.

I have an unexplainable aversion towards fuel-cells. They make something without mass from something that has it. I don't feel comfortable when my ship does that (while I know they can be super-useful).
Also ladders. Since kerbals can climb, I always feel that I didn't design well enough if I have to include the mass of mobility enhancers.

I find fuel cells really useful on my drill/ISRU rig to power it at night. But on spacecraft, yeah, solar panels all the way.

[radonek]

• medium and large deployable radiators.
• big heavy wheels - I made a few bigass moving bases, but can't think of (sane) way of getting them up the well with new aero. 
• I-beams. Girders are about same weight and more useful for most applications.
• non-radial chutes. 
• big rockomax decouplers. Big docking port can decouple too, weighs less and having a docking port is handy. 
• big fuel cells. I know they could be handy for powering ISRU at night, but serious mining rig would need too many to feel, umm, countfortable
• big probe core (RC-L01) simply because slaping together small probe core, reaction wheel and battery will provide WAY more bang for a buck kilogram then this half ton monster.

[Hysterrics]

A lot of stuctural parts.

[AlextheBodacious]

Nukes. I don't need them and feel they irradiate my kerbals. Do you want to give Jeb cancer? DO YOU?

[nosirrbro]

10 hours ago, Buster Charlie said:

I know people don't really use mods in ksp

 

WHAT?