[Stock] How to Make Craft with Five-Sided Symmetry!

[BagelRabbit]

This is so cool.

...just when you thought it couldn't be done, here's a tutorial on how to make a craft with legitimate five-sided symmetry in KSP.

Enjoy, and let me know if you have any problems creating this (You know you want to!).

I'm not sure whether I should call this a bug, or not.

[EDIT: I know that you're supposed to give text instructions on how to do these things, but the method that I use is simply too complex for this, in my opinion. Let's just say that it involves a long thin part (like an I-beam), a glitch, and another glitch to work. ]

Edited June 10, 2014 by UpsilonAerospace

[Pecan]

Doesn't Editor Extensions do symmetry 1 - 50?

[BagelRabbit]

You're right, but I don't have the mod installed. (See signature.)

I'll probably add the word "Stock" to the title of this thread so that there's no confusion.

[SpaceSphereOfDeath]

We now have all the symmetries, because you could just do this again and get x10. Ect.

I might actually use this, but I have a question. If the game is compatible with x5 symmetry, why isn't it in the default game (without having to use a glitch)?

[BagelRabbit]

We now have all the symmetries, because you could just do this again and get x10. Ect.

I might actually use this, but I have a question. If the game is compatible with x5 symmetry, why isn't it in the default game (without having to use a glitch)?

I have no idea why five-sided symmetry isn't in the default game. It's probably a combination of the mode being obscure and not very useful. That being said, I would love it to be implemented in stock KSP, without having to resort to glitches.

[Keldaria]

I have no idea why five-sided symmetry isn't in the default game. It's probably a combination of the mode being obscure and not very useful. That being said, I would love it to be implemented in stock KSP, without having to resort to glitches.

I wouldn't mind it in the game, but as you said its capabilities are limited. Normally I (like everyone else assuably) use even numbers so I know I can drop opposing tank/booser setups without having to fear loosing control of my rocket, in a odd number setup you pretty much have to drop them all at the same time. That is not to say that it wouldn't be useful for attaching arrays or solar panels/attachments to the **** however. In fact that is probably one of the more useful applications for 5 sided symmetry as it gives you the benefit of having multiple panels for electricity while saving some of the weight by not pushing up to that next even number. A lot of times I use 3 panel arrays, but for something potentially more power consuming I think I could see a 5 sided application there.

That said, this was an interesting video, not sure I'll be using it anytime soon but worth watching to know the option was available =P and +1 for adding 5 sided to default for the off chance you need it.

[SRV Ron]

Any item can be used to exploit the five sided bug. Once set up, you can use whatever parts to design the craft.

This two stage test design made orbit with fuel to spare.

Note, set the quad parts, such as the RCS thruster, before exploiting the five sided parts. Caution, the five boosters did not eject away from the core ship, they just detached only.

Edited June 13, 2014 by SRV Ron

[sjwt]

Damm, id done the first part another way before, but didn't take it to the final step =>

[SRV Ron]

The Kerbal Starship, Very successful design.

In orbit ready for deep space exploration

[BagelRabbit]

Any item can be used to exploit the five sided bug. Once set up, you can use whatever parts to design the craft.

This is a good point, and one that I have not yet mentioned. Once the bug is set up, you can delete the entire assembly and then begin to build another rocket. As long as the symmetry mode doesn't snap back to 1x symmetry, like it sometimes does (AUGH! So annoying!) you're good to go.

I would recommend placing Cubic Octagonal Struts or some other lightweight, low-profile part on the craft with 5x symmetry. That way, if you want to use other symmetry modes or if the game resets to 1x symmetry, you can reestablish the 5x symmetry with a minimum of effort.

Glad to see that my idea's being used.

[ZeObsidianKraken]

...

I think my mind just exploded. finaly, i can actually do my craft which requires 5 gigantors to work, without having to use a sixth!

[problemecium]

Ah. So that one time I discovered KSP had randomly decided to give my ship 9x symmetry WASN'T unique or me hallucinating.

[sal_vager]

Just thought I'd stick this, it's really smart

[softweir]

NASA wanted to put 5 legs on the Lunar Modules for maximum stability, but had to resort to just 4. Obviously they didn't have this trick available!

That's a real neat trick Upsilon, thanks for pinning it down.

[Pecan]

Someone should have told them 3-legged stools don't wobble! They must have had too few carpenters on the team, it's not rocket science ^^

[sal_vager]

Actually they disregarded three legs due to having no redundancy, and five legs was safest should one of them fail, the remaining four could still support the lander.

The decision to go with four legs was a compromise, five legs was too heavy.

[BagelRabbit]

One of my threads has been Stickied?!

Thanks so much, Sal_Vager! I wasn't expecting this at all... if I was, I probably would have spent more time on the tutorial

[Pecan]

Actually they disregarded three legs due to having no redundancy, and five legs was safest should one of them fail, the remaining four could still support the lander.

The decision to go with four legs was a compromise, five legs was too heavy.

Three legs and a small carpenter strapped on the outside?

[Cdr_Zeta]

Hi,

Nice find ! I am streamin live and you gave me another idea or 2 to come up with weird symetries...harr !

Cmdr Zeta

[PlonioFludrasco]

There's no limit on side simmetry! once you are above 8 (that means: 9 is enough), just press x and it will raise by one each time. Warning: this may glitch the simmetry switcher and you won't be able to come back to " no simmetry".

Pics:

[MarrusQ]

(snip) useful for attaching arrays or solar panels (snap)

I use only five times symmetry on my solars, since 5 gigantor panels will fit almost perfectly around a 2.5m tank (They will clip a teeny-tiny bit, but the game doesn't even notice)

Edit: It's fun to read these forums with a plugin that replaces 'tank' with 'blob'

[waterlubber]

I got nine-sided symmetry by repeating this method, but instead of using 3 sided symmetry on the I-beam, using 5.