Structural Fuselage Upgrade Suggestion

[Bandock]

I know that 0.25 is on the horizon, but I have just recently thought up a suggestion involving the existing structural fuselage part. I (as well as others) have found it has clever uses such as creating command modules for orbital space stations and Mun/Interplanetary bases.

Since reading about crew transfers finally getting added, wouldn't it be great to add crew support to structural fuselages (possibly 3 per structural fuselage)? This could even lead to a nifty feature involving modular IVAs where if you connect one structural fuselage to another, you will have an expanded IVA (with Kerbals standing or possibly walking). This could also lead to windowed structural fuselages to add pretty cool effects.

Imagine the first existence of a possible procedural IVA (currently for specially designed structural fuselages) where the inside changes (others probably have done this through modding already). Another nifty thing is to add some form of airlock into the docking port that is attached to the structure fuselage (like a secondary hatch). Possibly leading to some very interesting part module combos when certain parts are connected with each other.

For example: Sticking a structural fuselage (with either an included docking part or a similar part) to the Mk2 Lander Can. Mk2 Lander Can acts as the Parent part and the structural fuselage (or another part like a docking node or a connecting part) acts as a child part. With the Mk2 Lander Can acting as the parent, you can easily transfer the crew from the lander can to the structural fuselage just before exiting out the specially made docking hatch on the structural fuselage.

Edited September 26, 2014 by Bandock

[prophet_01]

Sounds cool. I would definetly like to see this as a conection betwen modules of a station or a massive ship. Also, bigger vessels can get difficult to dock without damaging anything. Placing the docking ports further out helps with that. Once moving crew without eva gets aded I don't want to use hitch hikers only, especially for that. Some flexibilty would be nice to make this feature more practical.

However, I'm not rly thrilled about another part that ads to the issue of flooded menus.

It might be a good idea to implement it as a tweakable for the regular structural fuselage.

Personally I think a capacity of 3 seems rather high, considering it's not that big. Compared to the hitch hikers size, I would expect 2.

Edited September 27, 2014 by prophet_01

[Bandock]

Yeah, I might've overestimated the size of the structural fuselage crew capacity. 2 does make more sense in the regards of having each Kerbal walk on opposite sides of each other. If IVA ever gets to the point you can walk (or move in Space) Kerbals inside of modules, it would definitely come in handy. Perhaps a click allows you to access another module while exploring inside the craft or base?

[Capt Snuggler]

I'm not sure about structural fuselages having "crew capacity". I think crew should be able to pass through them, but not "strap in" the same way they do in the hitchhiker.

Maybe they could have a tweakable to add a seat and small windows but this should also increase the weight to reflect this.

The tweakable system is majorly under utilized and should be expanded to enhance things like this.