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Lining up in SC to drop in front of mailslot.

Posted: Sun Dec 16, 2018 5:21 pm
by Norwin Palmer
Basically the holo image of the station on the ship dash is offset down and to the left so replicate this offset on approach in supercruise to actually be lined up on axis with the station.

Can see this offset when parked at a station directly in front of mailslot. Not very important to get it exact just in the general area of that image is good enough. Have seen this discussed before but thought a visual would be nice too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wAGdOvAtALU

Re: Lining up in SC to drop in front of mailslot.

Posted: Sun Dec 16, 2018 7:41 pm
by tinnitus
One of the better videos I've seen a useful time saving maneuver I wasted many hours flying around a station to the slot. Once flying the Cutter I hit the Station when I dropped out from "SC". Thanks for the Video.

Re: Lining up in SC to drop in front of mailslot.

Posted: Mon Dec 17, 2018 3:49 am
by b00st3d
The thing I've always done was line up the hologram with the orientation of the ship. The hologram is to your left a little so that's why it looks like its offset.

Re: Lining up in SC to drop in front of mailslot.

Posted: Mon Dec 17, 2018 5:36 pm
by Norwin Palmer
tinnitus wrote:One of the better videos I've seen a useful time saving maneuver I wasted many hours flying around a station to the slot. Once flying the Cutter I hit the Station when I dropped out from "SC". Thanks for the Video.


Thanks, the only time I hit a station was when they added those military stations. Lost that ship as it actually dropped inside the structure and I could not get out, alarms, bells and madness ensued the boom.

Re: Lining up in SC to drop in front of mailslot.

Posted: Mon Dec 17, 2018 5:49 pm
by Norwin Palmer
b00st3d wrote:The thing I've always done was line up the hologram with the orientation of the ship. The hologram is to your left a little so that's why it looks like its offset.


I see people say that but I have no idea what "line up the hologram with the orientation of the ship" means which is why I made the video. Judging by the number of YouTube videos and Twitch livestreams I watch where people line it up all different ways and none of them drop in front of the mailbox there is a lot of variations out there.

It makes sense that is what it is supposed to represent but I am not convinced that it would actually look like that, which I suppose is like discussing what a unicorn should look like :lol:

Re: Lining up in SC to drop in front of mailslot.

Posted: Mon Dec 17, 2018 8:11 pm
by tinnitus
Norwin Palmer wrote:Thanks, the only time I hit a station was when they added those military stations. Lost that ship as it actually dropped inside the structure and I could not get out, alarms, bells and madness ensued the boom.


Your welcome. I'll attempt to avoid doing that but I believe your not alone there. No fun going BOOM hitting a rock after dropping out of SC in a ZRES the walk home is terrible ;)

Re: Lining up in SC to drop in front of mailslot.

Posted: Mon Dec 17, 2018 10:18 pm
by b00st3d
Norwin Palmer wrote:
b00st3d wrote:The thing I've always done was line up the hologram with the orientation of the ship. The hologram is to your left a little so that's why it looks like its offset.


I see people say that but I have no idea what "line up the hologram with the orientation of the ship" means which is why I made the video. Judging by the number of YouTube videos and Twitch livestreams I watch where people line it up all different ways and none of them drop in front of the mailbox there is a lot of variations out there.

It makes sense that is what it is supposed to represent but I am not convinced that it would actually look like that, which I suppose is like discussing what a unicorn should look like :lol:



By "line up with the orientation of the ship", I mean if you were to lean your head to the left so that you were in front of the hologram in game, it should be straight on. Since you're not directly behind the hologram, that's where your offset comes from. That said, good video. Shows exactly how to line up.

Re: Lining up in SC to drop in front of mailslot.

Posted: Tue Dec 18, 2018 12:07 am
by TorTorden
I realised a while back that I often would spend more time trying to get the perfect alignment than it would take just to land on station and find the mail slot there. There is something to be said for not faffing around and getting it done.

And especially the difference between landing directly infront of the slot and about 90° is even less than you would think.
And if you come in perpendicular to the orbit ring, yes they have a purpose, that's your worst landing angle.

Maybe the one exception here might be something like an unengineered t9 or something.
Even with those the procedure after landing is the same.

Draw a mental line directly out of the slot and boost towards it at a point that would be well clear of the toast rack.
Disable flight assist and then flip your ship around so as you drift in you face the slot square.

As you approach the line and dependent on your ship re-engage flight assist, with a little practice you will come to an easy stop right in front of the slot.

Re: Lining up in SC to drop in front of mailslot.

Posted: Tue Dec 18, 2018 3:31 pm
by Norwin Palmer
TorTorden wrote:... There is something to be said for not faffing around and getting it done.


I do not do faffing around, just what I might find acceptable some people would find intolerably infuriating. Actually I did not know what faffing about meant until I looked it up. I do tons and tons of faffing around... like playing Elite Dangerous.

And especially the difference between landing directly infront of the slot and about 90° is even less than you would think. ...


I am not sure how you know what I might think unless it is a colloquialism and it means "is even less than a person might think."

Draw a mental line directly out of the slot and boost towards it at a point that would be well clear of the toast rack.
Disable flight assist and then flip your ship around so as you drift in you face the slot square.

As you approach the line and dependent on your ship re-engage flight assist, with a little practice you will come to an easy stop right in front of the slot.


I never really use FAO but I did try my interpretation of what you described and I did like it. Very eerie feeling silently drifting into position. I can see how that could be very appealing and maybe even addictive to some extent. I did not exactly line up with the mail slot but close enough to get the job done.

Language is tricky and text only even more so.

Re: Lining up in SC to drop in front of mailslot.

Posted: Mon Dec 24, 2018 7:04 pm
by Cmdr Kharma
Never had a problem......

Line up as best I can......If I can't no big deal......

Drop outta SC.......

Get within 7.5......

Hit button that launches docking macro.......

Take slurp of beer......

Job done...........

:D