Sticking a fuselage to a radial attachment point from the side.

[PTNLemay]

Temstar came up with a really neat approach for building modular bases that I'm trying to use (sorry about not bringing this up in your original thread Temstar but it seems inactive at the moment and I really really want to figure out how this works. Oh and by the way, first pic belongs to Temstar). It involves moving the modules around using a "base crawler" that attaches to the modules from a docking port along their bottom.

Bottom 2 pics are where I block.

I can't understand how the fuselage can be attached to the attachement points (or the docking ports) from their sides like that. Once the fuselage is picked up all attachement points that aren't at the ends are ignored. So how does one build something like Temstar did?

[Cmdr. Arn1e]

I think he probably built it from the fuselage out - this would allow placement in the way you want, but becomes trickier in other ways... this way he could place the docking port on the side of the fuselage, then build the rover to move it underneath...

[7499275]

Yeah agree with guy above me. Probably start with your payload and than build the "crawler". not only is it easier but it will balance the mass on the crawler better so it won't tip or roll on inclines.

[jmbailey2000]

I've had these same issues on and off in the SHP. SHP seems to be pretty finicky about attachment points (my opinion).

I build my stuff in the VAB and have no problem attaching the radial mounts to the sides of tanks. I build vertically, and then when ready to launch, I grab the root part and turn it horizontal with WASDEQ.

[PTNLemay]

I did manage it with an awkward work-around, involving putting the primary command module on the end of the fuselage but attached to a decoupler. I turn it on it's side so the rover is on the bottom, then after launching I hit the decoupler. The primary module gets thrown off, explodes, and is quickly replaced by one of the other modules. I mean... it all works, but it seems very awkward. And I didn't see any mention of this in the tutorial.

http://i.imgur.com/SNrOY2k.png

http://i.imgur.com/f56rFIE.png

http://i.imgur.com/K2xGi1G.png

It also means if I want to build the rocket beneath the rover (so it can be stable on launch) I'll have to build the launch rocket side-ways in the VAB, then flip it on it's side...

[Claw]

While you can radially mount docking ports on the fuel tank, it's trickier to side mount onto a docking port. You need to touch your mouse onto the back of the docking port, and not just align the FL-T800. This may still not look like what you are going for.

You could also turn the rover into a subassembly. That way you can build your base pieces, then attach a rover underneath if you want. Then you can build that example section of yours by starting out with the FL-T800 as the root. Then surface mount the docking port to it. When the module is all done, grab the rover and attach underneath. The rover's top docking port will need to be the rover's main attachment point, which must be done when you are building it to be a subassembly.

If you are talking about the thread I think you're talking about, most of the modules were built and landed separate from the rovers. Then the rovers come up underneath to pickup and deliver the modules. That method also bypasses the problems you are having.

Good luck,

-Claw

[PTNLemay]

@ Claw

I think I understand. It's just annoying because it would be much more straight-forward if I could just make the base modules a sub-assembly and make the rover the main construction. Particularly because I plan on attaching the launch rocket to the rover. The advantage of launching the rover while still attached to their base module is that that's one fewer rendez-vous I'll have to do on the surface of the Mun..

This is the thread. http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/48876-The-art-of-modular-base-building

I'm sure Temstar will address my question eventually, I just got very impatient/frustrated and felt I had to create a new thread to rush the answer. Thanks by the way to everyone who gave their input, it's much appreciated.

[problemecium]

It has nothing to do with SPH bugs, but is actually a problem resulting from parenting. The same way a subassembly can only be attached by its root part, that fuselage assembly can't be attached by the docking port as its root part is the fuel tank. In order to get around this you'll have to either find a way to build that section starting with the port, build that section first and then start the rover from the port, or build them both separately and dock them out in the world.