Changing root part in flight - Without KIS/KAS

[MaximumThrust]

The Real Plume mod it's a must for me, but it has a small bug: it don't work if the engine is a root part. I try to avoid this, but sometimes when decoupling the root simple goes to the engine.

Is there an easy way to change the root part in-flight? The problem is more frequently with unmanned relays clusters (a lot of parts and engines), so KIS/KAS it's not an option. Sometimes I use the cheat menu, put a copy of the ship in place and recovery the founds, put I wanted a better way.

Thanks!

[sarbian]

uh, can you describe what is happening when the engine is the root ? No fx at all ?

[DStaal]

The only other way to change the root part in-flight that I know of is docking/undocking.  Which *may* change the root part, but you won't have control over if or how it does so.

[MaximumThrust]

2 hours ago, sarbian said:

uh, can you describe what is happening when the engine is the root ? No fx at all ?

Yes, but it still work (provide thrust).

It's a know issue:
 

On 1/23/2016 at 8:04 PM, Nhawks17 said:

Known Issues:

• Thrust limiting on engines get reset upon install. BEWARE IN THE KSP TUTORIALS
• Switching to a vessel with an engine as a root part will cause the plume to not show.
• Smoke effects looks strange, will fix eventually.

 

[sarbian]

1 minute ago, MaximumThrust said:

It's a know issue

Yes, but it is most likely a problem in SmokeScreen and it is my code.