Cool!
Do the fuel tanks also feed fuel through structural components like decouplers and tricouplers like shown in the video?
Fuel can flow through tricouplers in the next version, and all other Strut parts. It won't flow through Decouplers though. I think not allowing that adds to the challenge a little.
Now for a proto-update (meaning it's some new idea I want to discuss):
Lately I've been hearing lots of requests for a more stable way to secure parts to the rocket. And they're totally right. Right now the attachment method (mainly the lateral attachment) is quite weak, and will only work well with small parts and smaller designs... there isn't much room to go crazy.
So I've been thinking for a while on how to address that, in a way that won't destroy everything we already have...
Basically the whole issue means we have to find a way to add more bracing to the rocket parts... this means we have to step away from the tree-like structure that is the result of a VAB build. But how?
Something ocurred to me today, that might just work: Strut Connectors.
This part is a special(-ish) part that you grab and place much like the others. But it does something more. Once you place it, it automatically spawns it's B counterpart, so you have to place that as well.
Once both Strut Connectors A and B are in place, a structural beam gets created in between them.
This approach could work really well over the existing framework I think. For one, both connectors are just parts, like the others, but the special thing about it is that they create a hard link between themselves.
Another good thing about it is that since both connectors need surfaces to attach to, you NEED to have the underlying structure of the ship already in place. So this strut can never be the one and only connection between parts.
Also, it doesn't mess with the tree-structure, since both connectors are separated parts. They just share a physical linkage, but hierarquically, they're in different places.
Now, the second bit of obvious trouble is decoupling. surely, if you decouple something that's being held up by other points, it can't go well... So I thought maybe the struts could be listening for a disconnection (an intentional one), and will also detach themselves if they find out that you've jettisoned a bit of the ship away. Which is also interesting, because if the main decoupler breaks accidentally, the struts won't know about it, and now you have a part of the ship stuck to you.
And this is why I'm writing all this... I want to get feedback on this idea, to try and spot conceptual problems or better solutions.
So, what do you think?
Cheers
