I had an idea for something that would automatically build a drop pod for planet usage and one that would build a return pod on the planet, however I could never figure out how to get it working. :P

Essentially, it would use one large (or in my case Mega) container, and it would build atmo thrusters around it, with a battery to power them. It would then deposit ore and such into this container and once the battery and the container was full, it would eject it towards the planet with inertia on so that it would stop its self when it gets to the proper altitude. Once it comes to a complete stop, auto pilot should kick on and land it at the designated area, eject its supplies, then somehow be deconstructed. The supplies put into a special container, while a new ship is constructed that uses hydrogen thrusters to get it back to where it belongs with the deconstructed ship parts for an infinite loop.

Think you'd be able to pull off something like that at some point? :P No reactor/ion.

@MajorXAce - I did some testing. It's not gravity pulling on the shell that's causing the problem as i've had the rotors come apart without ever firing the gun. You'll notice all large/small rotors seperate at the same time (with one or two exceptions). Paste two GAWs in the same world and you'll see rotors fail on both even if only one is being manipulated. This is a game bug introduced in one of the patches from the last six months.

You should do the opposite for your large to small ship conversion. Use a large ship/station rotor base then attach the small ship rotor part.

The way you're doing it isn't very stable, the gravity pulling on the shell is causing the small rotor base to be ripped off after a few shots.