Experimental Breakable Hardpoint 0.5

What is it?
The Breakable Hardpoint is a simple device that will drop any objects attached to it at the touch of a button. All of its nodes are fixed except for the node that it drops, so it floats. There is a mobile version called the Breakable Link that has no fixed nodes so it can be used to drop stuff from a moving vehicle. A third tool available in this tool pack as-of v0.4 is the InstaCoupler, which is attached to whatever you want, and presents couplers of various types that can be connected and disconnected to crane hooks, tow truck hooks, etc. It has several coupler nodes available. See below.

How do I use it?
If you want to drop a heavy weight from a fixed position above the terrain:

1. Spawn the Breakable Hardpoint and position it directly above the desired point of impact.
2. Press Ctrl+B to show beams. this will make the Breakable Hardpoint visible. Press Shitf+Ctrl+B to hide the beams again.
   
3. Navigate to the Vehicle Specific Controls menu.
4. Be sure the Breakable Hardpoint has a button or key assigned to it.
5. Spawn whatever heavy object you want to drop, like a bus. Some extremely heavy objects may be difficult to hang.
6. Haul the heavy object up to the Breakable Hardpoint.
7. Use the Node Grabber to attach the heavy object to the lowest node on the Breakable Hardpoint.
8. Wait for your chosen victim to approach the point of impact. Hitting a moving target is difficult. Timing is crucial.
9. When you want to release the object, press the button or key that is assigned to the Breakable Hardpoint.
10. Crush your enemies!

You can also implement pendulums with the Breakable Hardpoint.

If you want to attach an object to a vehicle and detach the object on-the-move:

1. Spawn any of the vehicles listed in the Supported Vehicles section below, like a tow truck.
2. Install the Breakable Link in one of the slots that's listed for the selected vehicle.
3. Press Ctrl+B to show beams. this will make the Breakable Link visible. Press Shitf+Ctrl+B to hide the beams again.
4. The Breakable Link will be a small octahedron that appears a few meters to the left of the vehicle.
5. Navigate to the Vehicle Specific Controls menu.
   
6. Be sure the Breakable Hardpoint has a button or key assigned to it.
7. Use the Node Grabber to connect the Breakable Link to some part of the vehicle, like the hook of a tow truck.
8. Spawn an object that will be attached to the vehicle via the Breakable Link, like another vehicle to tow.
9. Use the Node Grabber to connect the object to the breakable link.
10. To drop the attached object, press the button configured in the Vehicle Specific Controls menu.

Note that the vehicle that spawns the Breakable Link has control over it. So, if you want the tow truck driver to be able to detach the towed vehicle, spawn the Breakable Link with the tow truck. If you want the towed vehicle to have control over detachment, spawn the Breakable Link with the towed vehicle. If you want them both to have control, spawn a Breakable Link for each and connect the links in series. Activating either link will cause detachment.

There's a video HERE that demonstrates some of the uses of the Breakable Link and Hardpoint.

If you would like to pick up and put down objects with a crane or tow truck etc., Then you can use the InstaCoupler. Ctrl-B makes the InstaCoupler visible, and Shift-Ctrl-B makes it invisible again.

Use the Node Grabber to connect the node at the peak (the big orange node in the photo above) to whatever you want to lift. All of the remaining nodes are couplers of various types depending on what you want to pick up the object with.

For example you can move explosive barrels from a safe distance. Simply connect InstaCouplers to the top center node of each barrel, and start moving them.


You can also recover downed aircraft. Attach an InstaCoupler to each piece of the aircraft, and lift them on to whatever vehicles will carry the parts to the repair shop.


A utility function of the InstaCoupler is a Work Light that can be turned on and off. Be sure to setup a control to turn it on and off. Use the crane to hold the work light over your work area. Or, if an aircraft has an appropriate coupler (such as the DH Hyper Bolide's trailer hitch), set the InstaCoupler light color to red and drop it as a flare to mark a location for search-and-rescue.


Supported Vehicles
Only the Breakable Link requires support for specific vehicles. The Breakable Hardpoint and InstaCoupler are vehicle-independent.

• All stock BeamNG.drive vehicles, including caravan camper trailer, excluding all other trailers and the old cannon.
  • License Plate Design slot
  • Additional Modification slot
• DH Hyper Bolide
  • License Plate Design slot
  • Additional Modification slot
• CRD Monster Truck
  • Back-Up Beeper slot

Why is it invisible?
The Breakable Hardpoint, Breakable Link and InstaCoupler are invisible to help them disappear into their surroundings, and totally not because I've never built a skin before and haven't taught myself how to, yet. The invisibility is definitely a feature.