Lander can + Probe core -- how do I build it??

[Loren Pechtel]

I want one scientist on board but I want to use a probe core to actually control it as it's a better pilot than my best pilot.  I can't make the probe core stick to the rocket, though.  Is there some trick to this or is this impossible?

[Xavven]

The probe cores cannot be attached radially. You have to put them in as part of the stack, for exmple at the top of a fuel tank.

[helaeon]

You also don't need to worry about "control from here" you'll automatically get the SAS controls from the best thing, pilot or probe core regardless of which part you are controlling from.

[Brainlord Mesomorph]

Attach a girder segment, radial attachment point of even on of those little cubic octagonal struts rotate it 180 so it clips inside the landercan, 

then slap the probe core in it.,  (i do that with every ship)

(you can radially attach ANYTHING this way)

Edited February 27, 2016 by Brainlord Mesomorph

[rcp27]

I use service bays for this purpose. Either the 1.25 m or 2.5 m depending on the size of the craft and stick the probe core inside (it can also hold batteries, reaction wheels and science stuff if there's room).

[Loren Pechtel]

My problem is that it will not bind, not a matter of positioning it mechanically.

[FullMetalMachinist]

16 minutes ago, Loren Pechtel said:

My problem is that it will not bind, not a matter of positioning it mechanically.

A screenshot of you trying to place the probe core in the VAB would be helpful. There are so many different design options that it's hard to give specific advice on your specific problem without actually seeing what the problem is. 

[Loren Pechtel]

6 minutes ago, FullMetalMachinist said:

A screenshot of you trying to place the probe core in the VAB would be helpful. There are so many different design options that it's hard to give specific advice on your specific problem without actually seeing what the problem is. 

The problem is that the probe core simply won't stick to the rocket.

I solved it, though--the game is perfectly willing to stick a lander can on a probe core.  I rebuilt it starting from the probe core rather than the lander can and it's ready to fly.

[Plusck]

Ah - I think I might have understood the problem. It happens with quite a few parts.

Basically, you need to view your rocket from the side (so that the junction between the two parts is horizontal or close to horizontal from your perspective) and lift the part very slightly above the actual node, and it should then snap back and "stick". The docking ports, torque wheels and sometimes nosecones tend to have this problem.

[Loren Pechtel]

21 minutes ago, Plusck said:

Ah - I think I might have understood the problem. It happens with quite a few parts.

Basically, you need to view your rocket from the side (so that the junction between the two parts is horizontal or close to horizontal from your perspective) and lift the part very slightly above the actual node, and it should then snap back and "stick". The docking ports, torque wheels and sometimes nosecones tend to have this problem.

I've had no problem with the torque wheels and nosecones.  I have had trouble getting the docking ports to snap on properly.  The probe core absolutely refused to stick to the rocket anywhere, though.

[Snark]

5 hours ago, Loren Pechtel said:

I've had no problem with the torque wheels and nosecones.  I have had trouble getting the docking ports to snap on properly.  The probe core absolutely refused to stick to the rocket anywhere, though.

Could you include a screenshot showing where you were trying to place the core?

I put probe cores on my ships all the time-- I mean, literally all the time, as in I never launch a ship without a probe core, since I have no use for pilots once the OKTO is unlocked.  And I've never once had any trouble attaching a core to a ship.  My guess is that there's something about the way you're trying to do it that's not quite right.

They're stack-attachable only, which means you can attach them to the top or bottom connection nodes of the command pod.

Edited February 28, 2016 by Snark

[DancesWithSquirrels]

Probe cores attach top and bottom - if you are hanging one on the side of the lander can you need to flip it 90 degrees and rotate so that the top or bottom is roughly pointing at the cubic strut (I always flip those so I can surface attach the cores), radial mount, whatever. Otherwise it won't snap on and attach in the VAB/SPH.

Edited February 28, 2016 by DancesWithSquirrels

[Loren Pechtel]

17 minutes ago, DancesWithSquirrels said:

Probe cores attach top and bottom - if you are hanging one on the side of the lander can you need to flip it 90 degrees and rotate so that the top or bottom is roughly pointing at the cubic strut (I always flip those so I can surface attach the cores), radial mount, whatever. Otherwise it won't snap on and attach in the VAB/SPH.

I was attaching it on top of the lander can--it didn't work.  I tried attaching it other places in the stack--it didn't work.  I've built things with probe cores before without difficulty but this was my first attempt at a manned craft with a probe core.

[DancesWithSquirrels]

The current editor is a bit finicky - often the part you're trying to attach ends up just hanging there unconnected. The trick I've found is to very gently ease it up and down until the part changes color, then release, and then it's attached. Unmanned pods and reaction wheels seem to have the worst issues IMO. 

The color change flips back and forth over just a couple of pixels - keep trying and you should get the knack.

Edit: I wonder if there's some relationship between the part thickness and the viable attachment range? Thin parts are the worst...

Edited February 28, 2016 by DancesWithSquirrels

[Snark]

6 minutes ago, Loren Pechtel said:

I was attaching it on top of the lander can--it didn't work.  I tried attaching it other places in the stack--it didn't work.  I've built things with probe cores before without difficulty but this was my first attempt at a manned craft with a probe core.

There's something very odd going on.  Probe cores are supposed to attach that way, it's what they're designed to do.  I've never experienced the problem you describe, nor have I heard of anyone else having a similar problem, so I'm wondering whether there may be something unusual about your setup.

If you open the debug log while you're trying to attach it, do you see any messages there?  Is something barfing and throwing exceptions all over the place?

Are you running any mods that might cause problems in ship construction?

Could you post a screenshot of the probe core failing to attach?

[FancyMouse]

I believe OP's problem is just the problem that happens when you try to stick tiny-sized part to a huge-sized part - editor isn't so happy with it and need a special view angle/mouse positioning to make the tiny part green and attachable.

And as OP said, the other way - attaching huge part to tiny one - has no problem.

[Loren Pechtel]

18 minutes ago, FancyMouse said:

I believe OP's problem is just the problem that happens when you try to stick tiny-sized part to a huge-sized part - editor isn't so happy with it and need a special view angle/mouse positioning to make the tiny part green and attachable.

And as OP said, the other way - attaching huge part to tiny one - has no problem.

There's not that much difference in size--I'm using the one-man can, not the two-man can.

[FancyMouse]

1 minute ago, Loren Pechtel said:

There's not that much difference in size--I'm using the one-man can, not the two-man can.

I forgot to mention that flat parts are more prone to this problem, especially if you try to stick OKTO2 which has almost zero height - that thing has difficulty sticking to all parts other than 0.625m sized ones. If that is not the problem, then you really should post a picture instead of making us guess here and there what the problem is.