Can we engineer rescue pods pls?

[boolybooly]

I have just discovered I cannot engineer an empty rescue pod (Mk1 crew cabin) onto a ship, the engineer just wont pick it up. 

You can add parts to the pod and take them off again.

You can engineer Mk1 crew cabins with a different origin i.e. from a ship you built.

You just cannot engineer a Mk1 crew cabin which originated as a rescue pod.

This is a shame because I was hoping to add them to my junk pile space station orbiting the Mun and recycle them but it won't let me!

[Blaarkies]

Try grabbing it with a claw first, and then bring out the engineer. This is quite a curious issue, like what did they make different about the rescue parts? 

[boolybooly]

PS I had a hunch it might be a root part issue and tried grabbing the Mk1 Crew Cabin with a grabber jr, then engineered it straight from the grabber to the ship, which worked except that now I cannot remove it from the ship, which I wanted to do.

Any insights or workarounds would be welcome.

Looks like we cross posted @Blaarkies  

Edited November 5, 2021 by boolybooly

[Blaarkies]

I think that any part dropped by an engineer would become the root part of that new 1-part vessel (I'm a messy orbital constructor, there is always stuff floating free  ).
Not sure if engineers can change root parts. You can try the actions editor panel (where you set hotkeys from 1-9 to cut engines, open solar panels, etc.) to help investigate the parts of the Mk1 Crew Cabin ship, you probably just need a kerbal inside to control the vessel