Putting parts inside other parts.

[SSSPutnik]

I note that with some parts, like say, a battery, it will actually snap inside, (embed into) another part sometimes. This can be kind of neat aesthetically, but, does it then impact joins to further parts/impact the performance of any types of parts etc? I can't really tell.

I accidentally/on purpose embedded a control probe into a stack adapter last night. I found on launch I couldn't click on it to select "control from here". Also, back in the VAB, I had a jolly hard time pulling it back out again!

Edited November 27, 2013 by SSSPutnik

[lajoswinkler]

That's called clipping. I don't do that because it usually ends up problematic. The last time I tried to do it was when I successfully covered three simplest solar panels with a decoupler holding a drogue parachute on a probe falling down to Laythe's surface. They did not work, so I was left with a medium sized battery to do the work.

Either the parts don't work, or they randomly explode, especially on time warp or upon returning to 1x.

I'd like to see that large yellow decoupler being able to house stuff like radial RCS monopropellant. It's too thick and looks kind of ugly, and it basically just decouples stuff. It's hollow and it would be great for storing something inside.

[Scarecrow88]

Aesthetically it's sometimes useful to use clipping, but as already noted it can cause problems, which often show up when you time warp.

[SSSPutnik]

So in other words, avoid, unless you *think* you know what you are doing.

Edit: And yes, some of those big empty decouplers etc would be a lovely place to stash stuff. (Batteries/RCS/parachute/snacks).

(Wonders if you could sneak a manned command chair into one).

Edited November 27, 2013 by SSSPutnik

[lajoswinkler]

I wouldn't stash something inside the decoupler, but I'd like it to stay green when you put it on something that has RCS tanks or batteries, so that whan you decouple it, you see those things attached to your ship. Sometimes it does work, and sometimes it won't decouple or just explodes... with or without consequences.

[SRV Ron]

Clipped parts make for some interesting effects when staging. An accidental clipping of one SRB inside another of a booster ring makes for an instant arc over and crash during launch.

[Taki117]

I have only ever successfully used it with the round batteries, but that requires a minimum of 3 to get the nodes to work right, and some patience for the 3rd.

[jduchock]

This post reminded me of an old Monty Python skit: Things on top of other things

[Col_Jessep]

Oh, can I take this? I love to hide stuff in planes...

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The Hurricane it perfectly stable and flies very well btw. It reaches Mach 7 and only needs 40m/s to go into a stable orbit.

Edited November 27, 2013 by Col_Jessep

[little square dot]

This post reminded me of an old Monty Python skit: Things on top of other things

Ha! That's the basis for my welding company

btw, to get the full ridiculousness you need to see

which includes the absurdly non-segue-ing segue. Edited November 28, 2013 by little square dot

[thereaverofdarkness]

I dunno how many of you are aware, but the reason some parts do this is that their attachment hardpoints stick out the other side. That's why it only works with small or flat things. So you can, for instance, attach the bottom of a probe core to the bottom of your stack decoupler, then attach the top of a fuel tank to the top of that probe core.

It may cause structural insecurities, among other things. I found that when alternating toroidal fuel tanks with oscar-B fuel tanks and clipping them so that the oscar-Bs appear to be going down the center (looks legit), it causes the stack to become very loose and springy. If you put a Stayputnik core at the top, it looks like some sort of springy lightbulb.

[S4qFBxkFFg]

Oh, can I take this? I love to hide stuff in planes...

Javascript is disabled. View full album

The Hurricane it perfectly stable and flies very well btw. It reaches Mach 7 and only needs 40m/s to go into a stable orbit.

Holy Mother of Kerbol.

This is one of the better arguments I've seen for improving the game's aerodynamics.