Long ladders

[sashan]

Today, I was building high-dV and parts-light interplanetary ship. With mods. The ship is a typical long truss with fuel tanks along the sides, engine on one end and habitat block on another. It's around 30 or more meters long.

Usually I place the strip of a ladder along the whole truss. But it blows the part count over the roof. Even the longest retractable ladders aren't that good.

I know that B9 has long ladders, and I've used them some time ago for my solar panel tower for Mun base. Their lenghts - up to 16m are perfect. But they ruin the whole "delicate framework" look of the ship.

Therefore, I put this request to model a simple ladder like those ladders on sides of the buildings. Something like this. Would have lots of other uses as well.

I can even model and unwrap it in Max, maybe even texture. But I need a person who will export it into game, set up colliders etc.

[RainDreamer]

Ven's stock revamp adds a few of such ladders as model rework for the stock pegasus ladders.

[sashan]

Yep, seen them. But I want a longer version.

I could have made a multiple-geometry part out of them, but I've found that their effect on performance is only a little bit lower than that of multiple parts. I guess it is connected with multiple colliders or something...

[hab136]

Do you want ladders or handrails?

[sashan]

Yep, handrails will also do the job. Seen that mod. The problem is that they are still short. And they do kill part count.

[sashan]

Quick and dirty solution.

PART
{
// --- general parameters ---
name = ladder1l
module = Part
author = SSN

// --- asset parameters ---
MODEL
{
model = Squad/Parts/Utility/ladderRadial/model
scale = 1, 1, 1
position = 0.0, 0.0, 0.0
rotation = 0, 0, 0
}

MODEL
{
model = Squad/Parts/Utility/ladderRadial/model
scale = 1, 1, 1
position = 0.0, 0.355, 0.0
rotation = 0, 0, 0
}

MODEL
{
model = Squad/Parts/Utility/ladderRadial/model
scale = 1, 1, 1
position = 0.0, 0.71, 0.0
rotation = 0, 0, 0
}

MODEL
{
model = Squad/Parts/Utility/ladderRadial/model
scale = 1, 1, 1
position = 0.0, 1.065, 0.0
rotation = 0, 0, 0
}

MODEL
{
model = Squad/Parts/Utility/ladderRadial/model
scale = 1, 1, 1
position = 0.0, 1.42, 0.0
rotation = 0, 0, 0
}

MODEL
{
model = Squad/Parts/Utility/ladderRadial/model
scale = 1, 1, 1
position = 0.0, 1.775, 0.0
rotation = 0, 0, 0
}

MODEL
{
model = Squad/Parts/Utility/ladderRadial/model
scale = 1, 1, 1
position = 0.0, 2.13, 0.0
rotation = 0, 0, 0
}

MODEL
{
model = Squad/Parts/Utility/ladderRadial/model
scale = 1, 1, 1
position = 0.0, 2.485, 0.0
rotation = 0, 0, 0
}

MODEL
{
model = Squad/Parts/Utility/ladderRadial/model
scale = 1, 1, 1
position = 0.0, 2.84, 0.0
rotation = 0, 0, 0
}

MODEL
{
model = Squad/Parts/Utility/ladderRadial/model
scale = 1, 1, 1
position = 0.0, 3.195, 0.0
rotation = 0, 0, 0
}


PhysicsSignificance = 1

// --- node definitions ---
// definition format is Position X, Position Y, Position Z, Up X, Up Y, Up Z
node_attach = 0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 1.0, 0.0, 0.0

// --- editor parameters ---
TechRequired = spaceExploration
entryCost = 500
cost = 100
category = Utility
subcategory = 0
title = Pegasus V Mobility Enhancer
manufacturer = ROKEA Inc.
description = The Pegasus V Mobility Enhancer, known in some circles as a "long ladder", is a state-of-the-art vertical mobility device, allowing your intrepid crew to scamper around the exterior of your ship like highly caffeinated rodents.

// attachment rules: stack, srfAttach, allowStack, allowSrfAttach, allowCollision
attachRules = 0,1,0,0,1

// --- standard part parameters ---
mass = 0.05
dragModelType = default
maximum_drag = 0.2
minimum_drag = 0.2
angularDrag = 1
crashTolerance = 8
maxTemp = 3200

PhysicsSignificance = 1

}

Still I would like to model the part. Stock small ladder model looks weird on framework trusses.

Edited February 12, 2015 by sashan

[Drew Kerman]

there did actually exist a mod called Long Ladders, but it was lost with Spaceport :/