angusmcbeth Posted June 4, 2013 Share Posted June 4, 2013 (edited) Hi all!This is my first KSP part that I intend to release. It is a simple structural part that I decided to make after discovering that a really cool rover I made had 74 parts!! Having a coal fired PC, this was no good, so I decided to do something about it.I had no idea what size a Kerbal was when sitting down, so the Mk1 is very much a test piece. I made many mistakes with this model, it can be a bit fiddly to use, but the Mk2 will be much better. I have included a spaceport link for the part for anyone who wants to try it out. The download has 4 RollKages in different colours, but the model is the same for each one. As this model will be changing, I didn't spend time doing fancy texturing.Hi Vis YellowPowder BlueStock GreyGo Fasta RedI would be delighted if you could provide some feedback/suggestions. Posting pictures would help. If I can see what you guys are doing with this, I can improve it.The Mk1 has been discontinued....It may appear again in the future.The Mk1-EF has been added to dropboxImproved collisionImproved looksImproved rollyness and crashabilityMk1-EF Link: Temporarily removed - updatingBest RegardsAngus McBethMcBeth EngineeringMy thanks to Lucid Hills and Sal_Vager for the help. Edited June 17, 2013 by angusmcbeth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scotius Posted June 4, 2013 Share Posted June 4, 2013 That's a very nice and useful part. I lost more pilots to crashing rovers than to exploding rockets Is it possible to attach parts (small docking ports) to top and bottom of the cage? This way delivering rovers to destination point would be much easier. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
angusmcbeth Posted June 4, 2013 Author Share Posted June 4, 2013 (edited) Yes Scotius, there are nodes top and bottom. If you use the stock small cube truss piece, you can attach ports to the front and back too. It also makes a good cockpit for hovercraft, low altitude flyers, helicopters etc. Edited June 4, 2013 by angusmcbeth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scotius Posted June 4, 2013 Share Posted June 4, 2013 Good to know. Oh, you just gave me idea for a drop-pod. Jeb's gonna love to test it diving from LKO *MWAHAHAHAHA* Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greys Posted June 4, 2013 Share Posted June 4, 2013 Do you know if the tight enclosure makes kerbals less likely to fall out of the chair when shocked (like when a parachute opens)? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
angusmcbeth Posted June 4, 2013 Author Share Posted June 4, 2013 Do you know if the tight enclosure makes kerbals less likely to fall out of the chair when shocked (like when a parachute opens)?I haven't tried it with a parachute, but If you crash a rover, the Kerbal can be unseated, but he/she/it tends to stay within the cage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plur303 Posted June 4, 2013 Share Posted June 4, 2013 Awesome idea. I will be trying this out and I hope you keep working on it and make an improved version. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
angusmcbeth Posted June 4, 2013 Author Share Posted June 4, 2013 Awesome idea. I will be trying this out and I hope you keep working on it and make an improved version.Yes, this will be improved. I would be delighted if you would post some pics, so I can see how people use this.Thanks for the interest! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucid Hills Posted June 4, 2013 Share Posted June 4, 2013 (edited) Well Angus, I think people are loving your idea. I think you could really be onto a great little part. Edited June 4, 2013 by Lucid Hills Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
angusmcbeth Posted June 4, 2013 Author Share Posted June 4, 2013 Well Angus, I think people are loving you're idea. I think you could really be onto a great little part.Thanks LH! Necessity is the mother of all invention! Hurra for the coal powered PC! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
udk_lethal_d0se Posted June 4, 2013 Share Posted June 4, 2013 That is just genius. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
angusmcbeth Posted June 4, 2013 Author Share Posted June 4, 2013 That is just genius.Oh! thankyou Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tex_NL Posted June 4, 2013 Share Posted June 4, 2013 Looks pretty good for a first version.I like the fact you put attachment nodes on the top and bottom but why not on the front and back? (Preferable at the same hight.)Apart from looking good it doesn't really do what it's designed to do. Part vs part collisions are OK but part vs surface is not. I intentionally rolled a rover and the cage simply clipped through the ground crushing my poor Kerbal between his seat and the moist grass. (Good thing Kerbals wear helmets.)But as I said before, it's a nice job for a first version. I am sure future versions will improve even more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
angusmcbeth Posted June 4, 2013 Author Share Posted June 4, 2013 Looks pretty good for a first version.I like the fact you put attachment nodes on the top and bottom but why not on the front and back? (Preferable at the same hight.)Apart from looking good it doesn't really do what it's designed to do. Part vs part collisions are OK but part vs surface is not. I intentionally rolled a rover and the cage simply clipped through the ground crushing my poor Kerbal between his seat and the moist grass. (Good thing Kerbals wear helmets.)But as I said before, it's a nice job for a first version. I am sure future versions will improve even more.I actually designed this with the purpose of reducing my part count, but you are 100% right and now its annoying me.....off to try fix it. Thanks for the feedback!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Talisar Posted June 4, 2013 Share Posted June 4, 2013 This looks great. Something that I will definitely make use of. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
angusmcbeth Posted June 4, 2013 Author Share Posted June 4, 2013 This looks great. Something that I will definitely make use of. Thanks!Thanks Talisar, I would love to see anything you create. The more I see the better this part will be (eventually) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Countrykris Posted June 4, 2013 Share Posted June 4, 2013 Great idea of a part. But I am having a heck of a time trying to get wheels on it. How did you do your wheels? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
angusmcbeth Posted June 4, 2013 Author Share Posted June 4, 2013 Great idea of a part. But I am having a heck of a time trying to get wheels on it. How did you do your wheels?Yes, this is one of the issues that will hopefully be fixed in the Mk2. I use the small cube structural truss. Place one or two (depending on which wheels you want) on the back, add your wheels. Then ALT-click(to copy) the 'axle' you have made and add the assembly to the front. If you are having problems with the wheels clipping, try sliding them from the top of the truss, downwards, they should go green allowing you to attach. I'm working on the Mk2 now.Thanks!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BubbaWilkins Posted June 4, 2013 Share Posted June 4, 2013 (edited) Hi all!This is my first KSP part that I intend to release. It is a simple structural part that I decided to make after discovering that a really cool rover I made had 74 parts!! Having a coal fired PC, this was no good, so I decided to do something about it.I had no idea what size a Kerbal was when sitting down, so the Mk1 is very much a test piece. I made many mistakes with this model, it can be a bit fiddly to use, but the Mk2 will be much better. I have included a dropbox link for the part for anyone who wants to try it out. The download has 4 RollKages in different colours, but the model is the same for each one. As this model will be changing, I didn't spend time doing fancy texturing.Hi Vis YellowPowder BlueStock GreyGo Fasta RedI would be delighted if you could provide some feedback/suggestions. Posting pictures would help. If I can see what you guys are doing with this, I can improve it.Mk1 RollKage:http://kerbalspaceprogram.com/rollkagemk1-2/Best RegardsAngus McBethMcBeth EngineeringMy thanks to Lucid Hills and Sal_Vager for the help.I was actually thinking along these lines myself, but apparently you beat me to it on the initial frame.What I had in mind:A series of frames which would basically be structurally complete. just add engines, wheels, seats, fuel, accessories and go.A series of turbine generators (run on liquid fuel and air or liquid + oxidizer) to power the unit in addition to standard battery setups.Some re-sized rover wheels to better match the scale of the platforms.You might not be quite that ambitious, but good work on this!Only suggestion I would make is add a flat spots and connection nodes for the wheels rather than having to utilize struts. Even bump it up to a 6 wheeler if your so inclined.Look forward to the Mark2! Edited June 4, 2013 by BubbaWilkins Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
angusmcbeth Posted June 4, 2013 Author Share Posted June 4, 2013 Thanks Bubba, I will either make some sort of axle, or as you suggest, some flat spots. Still undecided on that issue. Cheers for the feedback! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scotius Posted June 4, 2013 Share Posted June 4, 2013 Personally, i would go with flat spots. This way it would be possible to use the cage not only on rovers, but also light landers, planes or VTOLs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
angusmcbeth Posted June 4, 2013 Author Share Posted June 4, 2013 Personally, i would go with flat spots. This way it would be possible to use the cage not only on rovers, but also light landers, planes or VTOLs.Yes Scotius, I know what you mean. My reply to Bubba should have been clearer. I'm thinking of a separate axle part so you can have as many sets of wheels as you like.(add rollcage then axles then wheels)Have you made anything with this yet? any pics?Thanks!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Countrykris Posted June 4, 2013 Share Posted June 4, 2013 I to would go for flat spots. I hope you keep it small. Right now it fits nicely in a cargo bay. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
angusmcbeth Posted June 4, 2013 Author Share Posted June 4, 2013 I to would go for flat spots. I hope you keep it small. Right now it fits nicely in a cargo bay.I'll keep it compact whatever method I go with. Thanks Kris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Countrykris Posted June 4, 2013 Share Posted June 4, 2013 (edited) I'm not a modder but I have done some tweaking to stock parts and if you don't mind I would like to suggest something.1: Make the roll cage a pod, even though the user will be adding seats to it, as it can't be controlled with out adding a remote probe core.2: I don't think you need the lines breakingForce = 200 and breakingTorque = 200 as there are no wheels hard coded to the roll cage.Here is my tweaked cfg of your roll cage.https://www.dropbox.com/sh/6he8clzujfu9ibi/APyK-tbYkk Edited June 4, 2013 by Countrykris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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