Probe cores are backwards

[Superfluous J]

Okay so this is a super nitpick and I understand the reasoning behind everything, but it bothers me that where it says "OCTO" on the Octo, or any other probe name on that probe core, is not the front of the probe. That's actually the back. So, if you intend to use a probe core as a rover, or side-mount it on a ship and still control the ship correctly, you must make sure the name is facing the back of the ship so the blank part of the probe core - the actual front - is pointing the correct direction.

I'm bringing this up here because I simply cannot make myself post a bug report for it. I actually started one and just deleted it, it seemed so pedantic.

But it drives me up the wall. Or more likely down the wall because I'll probably mount the probe core incorrectly.

[Snark]

Moving to Suggestions.

[pandaman]

@5thHorseman

Good point, but i can't say i really noticed it to be honest.

I does sort of make sense the way it is though.  The writing is on the back so you can read it when following.  A bit like car model names etc on the back.  If you are in front you should be looking the other way, in the direction you are going, so you won't see it anyway.

[Wjolcz]

Meh. I actually don't mind. I always build all my rovers with the front facing the flag on the wall in the VAB. I actually never paid any attention to where the name of the probe core is on it.

Do you build your rovers with the probe core facing up when the rover is on the wheels? That's how I do it and it always works fine.

Btw, a side-mounted probe core with switchable control directions (just like it is on the bigger lander can) would be nice IMO.

[Superfluous J]

44 minutes ago, Wjolcz said:

Meh. I actually don't mind. I always build all my rovers with the front facing the flag on the wall in the VAB. I actually never paid any attention to where the name of the probe core is on it.

Do you build your rovers with the probe core facing up when the rover is on the wheels? That's how I do it and it always works fine.

Very specifically speaking, I built this monstrosity:

Note the engine sticking out the top, and the probe core at right angles to it.

Sadly due to the way KSP calculates re-entry heating (which is still just a dark art to me) the probe core explodes on re-entry even though I set it up this way specifically to protect everything. So I could have just put the core on the normal way and gotten the same end result (4000 science points from Minmus without having to return any Kerbals home from their duties off-world).

The writing is on the "front" of the ship from the engine's perspective, which means I had to do all of my burns facing backwards. Luckily, most burns were prograde or retrograde so it wasn't THAT bad, but anything more complex would have driven me insane.

44 minutes ago, Wjolcz said:

Btw, a side-mounted probe core with switchable control directions (just like it is on the bigger lander can) would be nice IMO.

Agreed on this one. I remember being surprised to find the QBE was not such a beast.

Edited July 10, 2019 by 5thHorseman
cropped and resized the image a bit.