Mod idea, seems fairly simple in theory but I have been stumped thus far

[horndgmium]

Hi guys,

So I had an idea the other day, inspired both by extraplanetary launchpads and texture replacer (well, and other stuff too). I figured, why not simply change the background for the VAB - as in, instead of looking out over the launchpad during construction, you look out over Kerbin from orbit while you're throwing parts together. While I don't really have traditional understanding of coding, I was looking through my squad files to try to figure out how they use the background the do for the VAB. I normally am able to logic through the progression of code, but this has so far been entirely elusive to me. If someone wants to help me through this, that would be SO awesome.

For now, I'm strictly interested in switching the VAB background to that of an orbital view of Kerbin or a view of literally any other background (oceans, from the mun, Jool orbit, etc., you guys get the idea). I also wouldn't know how to actually insert the background (a static image I'm sure would be easier, but I'd love to watch Kerbin rotate whilst building rockets). So all told, I propose the following phases for development:

Phase I - Replacement of the VAB background with an orbital view of Kerbin.

1. Static image

2. Orbital Rotation

Phase II - The ability to actually release ships from an Orbital VAB

1. Spawning of ships into orbit

2. Integration with EPL capabilities to have a part to spawn from?

3. An actual physical building in orbit

4. Animation of a ship being released from the OVAB

Phase III - Modification of the VAB internals

1. Floating Kerbal engineers

2. A more sensible design for oribtal construction (cylindrical shape, no floor as we know it now)

3. Launch clamp-like tethers to prevent whatever you are constructing from floating away

Phase IV - An orbital SPH

Please let me know what you guys think!

If someone wants to take over that's cool too... I just wanted to get the idea out because I think this would be incredibly awesome to have. I just figured that instead of asking people to create mods, I'd attempt to create one for once (albeit with copious amounts of assistance from modders).

[Diazo]

The first issue that comes to mind for me is I'm pretty sure that is not a background.

This would require testing, but from what I see in the VAB, I think you are actually in[/in] the VAB building, just with the doors open looking out towards the launchpad.

You'd have to find the camera we are looking though to confirm this though.

I suppose it is possible that the "doors" leading out of the VAB are actually a screen showing a second camera's view for the main camera we work in, but again, testing this would be finding and determining what cameras are active in the VAB and where they point.

D.

[electronicfox]

I'm gonna assume that you are actually IN the VAB, as mentioned above. I'm basing this on the fact that there is an occasional glitch where the outside world would be sideways, and that world includes other buildings as they appear in KSP, intersecting with the interior of the VAB.

If this is the case, the first challenge is figuring out how to get KSP to accept a different scene for the VAB/SPH, or figuring out which files to replace.

[Thesonicgalaxy]

The first issue that comes to mind for me is I'm pretty sure that is not a background.

This would require testing, but from what I see in the VAB, I think you are actually in[/in] the VAB building, just with the doors open looking out towards the launchpad.

You'd have to find the camera we are looking though to confirm this though.

I suppose it is possible that the "doors" leading out of the VAB are actually a screen showing a second camera's view for the main camera we work in, but again, testing this would be finding and determining what cameras are active in the VAB and where they point.

D.

The VAB/SPH extender shows us what's going on.(Unless he has modeled the outside himself. The sky I believe is some sort of skybox, with the launchpad and ground being actual models.

[NathanKell]

Nope, it's definitely a painted background. You can try dumping the names of all textures and seeing if anything looks likely.

EDIT: ninja by Thesonicgalaxy

[skykooler]

This was actually part of the original plan for Extraplanetary Launchpads; but I gave up on it because I couldn't figure out how to change it. Looking forward to any progress here!

[DMagic]

Here's a picture from B9's article on creating the new space center. The sky is obviously just a backdrop, and from some of the other pictures it looks like only the launchpad and the structures around it are actually included.

[Legendary Emu]

Good luck in your ventures. It would be cool to have a VAB background that looks like a dirty shack.

[horndgmium]

Thank you much for your input gentlemen. I've finally got some free time from school this week to really pry at some code, I'll update when I've got something new.

Honestly, for now, I think just changing it to a different image would be excellent.

[horndgmium]

Hey all. Do you think this would be possible to do by changing main camera's field of view?

I can't figure out how to do that upon entry to the VAB though...