What are the engine plates for, anyways?

[Texas Tim]

I’m very confused on how these things work. Any help?

[Kerbart]

Basically they have a bottom node that you attach the next stage to. So now you can have a second or third stage with more than one engine without having to jump through hoops to make it work.

They're also great for using an engine with a smaller diameter than the fuel tanks that are connected on both ends, e.g. a Reliant for the second stage, attached to a 1.875m tank above it, and with a 1.875m tank below it.

Edited March 18, 2018 by Kerbart

[klesh]

They're part decoupler, part adjustable-length interstage fairing (which is why they are found in the payload section and not an engine-related category), and part single or multi-engine engine mounting plate all rolled into one.

I wish in addition to the variant slider that changes their length, that there was a second variant slider to change the fairing and plate exterior texture.

Edited March 18, 2018 by klesh