What's the trick to assembling boosters onto radial decouplers?

[asb3pe]

I get so darn frustrated trying to get solid rocket boosters to attach to the radial decouplers when I'm building a rocket. Why is it so difficult to get a proper connection? What am I doing wrong? Are there any tips or tricks that someone can recommend I try? If I want the booster to go "that direction" slightly, it goes another direction instead. The camera and movement options are aggravating (because I'm still a rookie).

Even if I do get a connection, it's usually off center even with the symmetry mode on. I feel like a dog chasing its own tail, I just go around and around and around and never get anywhere. LOL Please help. Is there a way to use the keyboard to move a part into place instead of trying to use the mouse? Why don't boosters "snap" to the decoupler when they get close enough to each other? That sure would help me.

Edited June 9, 2014 by asb3pe

[iStickyDuck]

The solid rocket boosters will connect radially in the middle of the part so all you need to do is click a booster, drag your pointer over the radial decoupler and click! Should be placed!

To deal with the off-center issue press C to change between angular and circular snap mode. This will make your life 10x easier and your rockets 100x better when you get the hang of using both!

Hope I helped!

[Jimbimbibble]

I've never really had this issue. Just make sure the mouse is pointing directly at the decoupler and slowly move it until everything is lined up.

[asb3pe]

The solid rocket boosters will connect radially in the middle of the part so all you need to do is click a booster, drag your pointer over the radial decoupler and click! Should be placed!

To deal with the off-center issue press C to change between angular and circular snap mode. This will make your life 10x easier and your rockets 100x better when you get the hang of using both!

Hope I helped!

Wow, your tips paid some immediate dividends, I just tried what you said. The key seems to be to grab the booster stack and slide the mouse pointer right onto the decoupler itself - then it does indeed "snap" into a proper connection. I could even slide the booster stack up and down vertically while it remained "glued" to the decoupler.

THANK YOU STICKYDUCK! I hate to post such simpleton questions, but I also hate to sit here and pull my hair out.

[asb3pe]

I've never really had this issue. Just make sure the mouse is pointing directly at the decoupler and slowly move it until everything is lined up.

Thanks as well, yes this is the key I guess, and for some reason (I think I have some Kerbal blood in me) I just never figured that out while fiddling and struggling.

[asb3pe]

One more question - I have a stack of four boosters and I want the radial decoupler to attach right at the center of the booster stack. However, if I grab the stack of four boosters in the middle of them, they separate into two pieces.

To use this technique, I have to grab the top one of the four boosters so they all stay in one piece, then mouse-over the decoupler. But then I can't slide the booster stack upward very far, as soon as my mouse pointer leaves the decoupler, the booster stack no longer attached to it properly.

So how do I grab a stack of four boosters in the middle and keep them all together as one to attach to the decoupler? Can I group the parts somehow and then they won't come apart?

Edit: Actually, I can grab the booster stack in the middle and it won't come apart. But when I slide my mouse over the decoupler, the mouse position suddenly changes and now I'm grabbing onto the top booster (instead of where I actually clicked). That's kinda odd behavior.

Edited June 9, 2014 by asb3pe

[asb3pe]

Nevermind, I guess I just need to fiddle and experiment a lot more. I took the bottom 3 boosters and attached them, then plopped a 4th booster on top once they were attached. Now the stack is attached in the middle, just like I wanted.

[allmhuran]

The editor extensions mod might be worth looking into.

[iStickyDuck]

THANK YOU STICKYDUCK! I hate to post such simpleton questions, but I also hate to sit here and pull my hair out.

You're very welcome!