Need some LEM help

[Hund]

I'm building a stock LEM and am having a couple of problems that I'm hoping someone can answer. I used a stack separator between the bottom and top part which does its job but seems I should have used a decoupler instead. Its lighter and a less violent separation for the bottom stage. Thing is its recessed into the bottom lander can and now I cant seem to get at it to select it to change it from a separator to a decoupler. I think the bottom lander can is the root part? The whole root part think confuses me somewhat. Also how do I save the entire LEM as a subassembly so I can build a rocket and then load the LEM? Attaching the LEM inline of a rocket is it best to use docking ports or decouplers? Anyways I hope someone can help out thanks.

[Tex_NL]

Trust me. You do not want to use this as your lander.

Don't get me wrong, it looks neat and probably can make it to Mun's surface and back but your Kerbal won't be able to get out. The hatch is obstructed by a Vernor engine. Besides that, I assume the bottom will remain on the surface while the upper part ascends to Munar orbit? Your fuel is in the upper stage but your Kerbal is in the bottom.

[Hund]

I just checked and the Kerbal can EVA from the lander can even with the vernor engine there. To get him in the top pod I just do a transfer and select transfer and then select MK1 pod on top. It has a very small piece you can select from the back. And the bottom and top both have fuel. Most probably I will use it at Minmus due to less fuel needed to land and take off.

[Rune]

I just checked and the Kerbal can EVA from the lander can even with the vernor engine there. To get him in the top pod I just do a transfer and select transfer and then select MK1 pod on top. It has a very small piece you can select from the back. And the bottom and top both have fuel. Most probably I will use it at Minmus due to less fuel needed to land and take off.

Ok, then you seem to have some experience on this. To work out the root thing: drop a probe core on the top docking port, and click the "Select Root" gizmo. The fourth on the top let corner. Now click on any part once, and then on the probe core you just added, ideally once, but it can bug, so repeat until the whole ship is picked up when you do and the blue outline disappears. Congrats, the probe is now the root part and you can grab the whole LEM by clicking on the docking port and drop it in the subassemblies tab.

Once done that, you should also be able to grab the decoupler or the lower stage to replace it with some clever camera work, so you should be set.

Rune. Hope the design works! It sure looks the part, if a bit cluttered.

[ZLM-Master]

Hi Hund !

Just a tip for you .

When i want to create a subassembly Probe , drone rocket part or something . i always beggin with a part that i don't need , ( I.E probobodyne core , dock or cubicstut ) so you can build what you want under this part and save it as a subassembly !

Just remember that , alway start with an unneeded part !

Hope that help you in your futur design !

CYA !

Edit ; Haha Rune , we'r typing at the same time

Edited January 29, 2015 by ZLM-Master

[Hund]

Thanks I'll give the probe core a try. Yeah it could probably do with less parts.

[Hund]

I did the probe core trick to save it as a subassembly. Thing is the bottom node dosent show up when importing it to be able to attach it. Also I did a new version of the LEM which is simpler and weights about a ton less. Also I must mention I am loosely basing it on an old schoolbook I had as a kid from 1967. So its before the final LEM version that landed on the moon years later.

[Rune]

I did the probe core trick to save it as a subassembly. Thing is the bottom node dosent show up when importing it to be able to attach it. Also I did a new version of the LEM which is simpler and weights about a ton less. Also I must mention I am loosely basing it on an old schoolbook I had as a kid from 1967. So its before the final LEM version that landed on the moon years later.

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g113/swinehund2/TampJ_07R.jpg

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g113/swinehund2/2015-01-30_00001.jpg

Oh, if you want the bottom nose to be the one that the subassembly uses, then you have to do the probe thing again, only connected to that node. Basically so you later can disconnect the LEM from the root part (to drop it in subassemblies) by the node you want the assembly to use. They can only have one. It's rather surprising that you can build that and not figure this out, BTW.

Rune. Gizmos really brought the fine details to the masses.

[Hund]

I never have used subassembly's before. Plus I'm old an slow.

[Sampa]

I did the probe core trick to save it as a subassembly. Thing is the bottom node dosent show up when importing it to be able to attach it. Also I did a new version of the LEM which is simpler and weights about a ton less. Also I must mention I am loosely basing it on an old schoolbook I had as a kid from 1967. So its before the final LEM version that landed on the moon years later.

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g113/swinehund2/TampJ_07R.jpg

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g113/swinehund2/2015-01-30_00001.jpg

Yeah, irl, they changed the forward hatch due to difficulties getting the astronauts in and out of the craft, as proved by mock-ups that Grumman tried during their design process!

[Hund]

I finally looked at LEM pics from what they actually used and saw Its quite a bit different than the pic I was going off of. Saw some even earlier designs that look like 1950s design stuff I might try next.