[1.8.1-1.12.x] Modular Launch Pads v2.8.0: Launch clamps evolved: Real-style launch bases and towers [24 December 2024]

[AlphaMensae]

More progress, the topmost tower section is done. While I was at it, I realized the upper stairs really were on the outside, not inside, and so decided to make them better . Call it Stairs, second draft. They're not perfect, but they'll do for now, it's practice for later. Some of the details will be toggleable, as this tower has appeared in various forms over the years. I'm not going to make every variant, but a few representative ones.

Edited December 15, 2024 by AlphaMensae

[AlphaMensae]

And now the modeling is done! Last details put in place (including an adjustable side plate for banner decals). Time to put it all into Unity and then into KSP. 

Screenshots from Wings3D show the "everything on" version, and don't have the arm umbilicals, as most got moved into their Unity positions.

  

  

  

  

Edited December 18, 2024 by AlphaMensae

[AlphaMensae]

And in game, a quick shot...

[AlphaMensae]

And now it's all done!

Had to modify one of the general droop umbilicals into an Atlas I/II version, as the general ones, while they could work, didn't really match the actual one. This one is asymmetrical, with separate deploy limit sliders for the inner and outer segments.

[AlphaMensae]

After some final tweaks, it is fully complete now, ready to put on the GitHub. Have this little build and launch demo:

 

It's now on the master branch of the GitHub.

I have some housekeeping things to do with all the launch bases, and I think I'll add some fixed legs as an option to the general bases that currently only have wheels. Then v2.8 will be ready for official release.

[OrbitalManeuvers]

11 hours ago, AlphaMensae said:

It's now on the master branch of the GitHub.

This is awesome, thanks for the updates!

I seem to have a new nit, though. I'm in sync with Github and finding that the pipe sliders aren't doing anything on the Atlas stand. Here the sliders are moved but the pipes are still in their default position. Just me?

Spoiler

 

Edited December 21, 2024 by OrbitalManeuvers

[AlphaMensae]

2 hours ago, OrbitalManeuvers said:

This is awesome, thanks for the updates!

I seem to have a new nit, though. I'm in sync with Github and finding that the pipe sliders aren't doing anything on the Atlas stand. Here the sliders are moved but the pipes are still in their default position. Just me?

  Reveal hidden contents

 

Oops!

I made a late change to the Atlas Stand, removing the colliders from the clamp arms, but didn't do it to the revised stand, but the old one  

Correct one is on the GitHub now.

[AlphaMensae]

Ok, the final modeling thing for v2.8, I did add legs as an alternate option to the General Small and Medium Bases. Kind of a a quickie interim thing, as the launch bases will be remade again in v3.

[Fizzlebop Smith]

Man. I keep realizing my last galaxy spanning career save was severely lacking. I've always been afraid kerbal constructs would be too much troubleshooting for my level of understanding.

 

Things like this make me wanna give it a go.

[kornourt]

hey man
when i load the pre saved bare assemblies and put my rocket on it and try to launch it says that there are experimental parts and i can't launch. I have all the required mods but i do not have Bluedog Design Bureau. WHY IS THIS HAPPNING TO ME.

[AlphaMensae]

1 hour ago, kornourt said:

hey man
when i load the pre saved bare assemblies and put my rocket on it and try to launch it says that there are experimental parts and i can't launch. I have all the required mods but i do not have Bluedog Design Bureau. WHY IS THIS HAPPNING TO ME.

"Experimental parts" means science or career mode, and most of the MLP parts will need to be unlocked first from their custom nodes on the very left side of the tech tree (assuming some tech tree mod didn't remove them), there's only a small number of them at the start. 

[AlphaMensae]

Version 2.8!

It's on the GitHub right now, Spacedock will come later as it is currently having trouble doing an update.  I think CKAN will pick up the GitHub release.

Changelog:

*    NEW Vandenberg SLC-6 Shuttle Mount and Tower parts.

*    NEW Atlas-Agena Service Tower.

*    NEW Atlas SLV3-Centaur Service Tower and modified umbilical arms.

*    NEW Atlas I/II Service Tower and custom Umbilical Arm.

*    NEW Modular version of the Delta IV Service Tower with core and top section parts.

      

*    Remade the Round and Rectangular General Launch Stands and gave them adjustable-height legs.

*    Modified the Shuttle Launcher Base with integrated adjustable SRB hold-downs and custom decks for different shuttle stacks, as well as an SLS variant.

*    Modified many of the launch stands and launch plates by minimizing the stretchy launch clamp module meshes and adding a switcher to turn them off.
*    Added blank decouple animations to all launch clamp bases, stands and plates to prevent throwing an orange-color NRE in the log.
*    Removed the few RO craft files of mine as they are at risk of becoming outdated.

[AlphaMensae]

With v2.8 done, that's the last of the v2 updates, so it's time to start thinking about v3. This will be a very long term project.

There won't be a separate branch on the GitHub for v3. I'm completely changing the folder structure, and putting all .mu files and texture images into one Assets folder, and having the part .cfgs in different folders. This is to eliminate a lot of repeated texture images and to allow the v3 parts to coexist with the older parts. The v3 folders will be added to the existing folders on the master branch, and as the new parts are completed, the old versions will be fully hidden. That way craft files will still able to be loaded so the old parts can be changed out. Once v3 is done, the release will not have any of the old parts, but the folders will be able to be copied into an existing v2.8 install if desired. Or just start fresh. The internal part names are going to be chnaged, both to establish a unified naming scheme (like how BDB does it) and to allow the old parts to coexist and be hidden without afffecting the new parts.

This will be a full remake and revamp. Lots of stuff will be changed, some more so than others. There will be an SLS line of parts, dedicated Atlas V/Vulcan launch bases, and a remade series of general launch bases, focused on just one exhaust hole size (or maybe 2 in some cases). Nothing will use the stretchy launch clamp module legs as strucural members, but cosmetic legs/columns/pillars of fixed or adjustable height. And plenty more, including stuff I haven't thought of yet.  

[JebTheDestroyer]

46 minutes ago, AlphaMensae said:

With v2.8 done, that's the last of the v2 updates, so it's time to start thinking about v3. This will be a very long term project.

There won't be a separate branch on the GitHub for v3. I'm completely changing the folder structure, and putting all .mu files and texture images into one Assets folder, and having the part .cfgs in different folders. This is to eliminate a lot of repeated texture images and to allow the v3 parts to coexist with the older parts. The v3 folders will be added to the existing folders on the master branch, and as the new parts are completed, the old versions will be fully hidden. That way craft files will still able to be loaded so the old parts can be changed out. Once v3 is done, the release will not have any of the old parts, but the folders will be able to be copied into an existing v2.8 install if desired. Or just start fresh. The internal part names are going to be chnaged, both to establish a unified naming scheme (like how BDB does it) and to allow the old parts to coexist and be hidden without afffecting the new parts.

This will be a full remake and revamp. Lots of stuff will be changed, some more so than others. There will be an SLS line of parts, dedicated Atlas V/Vulcan launch bases, and a remade series of general launch bases, focused on just one exhaust hole size (or maybe 2 in some cases). Nothing will use the stretchy launch clamp module legs as strucural members, but cosmetic legs/columns/pillars of fixed or adjustable height. And plenty more, including stuff I haven't thought of yet.  

Very exciting! Can't wait to see how it turns out!

[AlphaMensae]

The Atlas I/II tower is how the new Saturn V tower will be like  

[AlphaMensae]

v2.8 is now on Spacedock, switching to Firedox worked (after one aborted upload).

[ItsUrsus]

I've been waiting for this (mostly the Vandenberg SLC-6 Shuttle Launch Structure)