Warp bubble adds massive drag, parts inside bubble are 'stowed'

[gordonfpanam]

As described in a forum post, the warp bubble is taken into consideration when either stock aerodynamics or Ferram Aerospace tries to calculate drag. This makes launching a spacecraft from the launchpad very difficult, like launching a giant beach ball.

There doesn't appear to be a way to toggle the warp bubble on or off during assembly, aside from toggling the bubble guide.

Further, service bays, retractable antennas, hangar doors, folding radiators and solar panels are treated as 'stowed' while inside the bubble, and are inoperable:

Retractable antennas also stop working after docking a craft to another craft with a warp drive engine, even if they are extended prior to docking. By comparison, fixed antennas including relay antennas continue working, along with fixed radiator panels and fixed solar panels. This is similar to behaviour I experienced with the Medusa nuclear pulse engine's sail. The behaviour is so strikingly similar, that I wondered if the warp bubble could similarly be extended and retracted like the Medusa's sail.

Would it be possible to toggle the projection of the warp bubble alongside the engine? Or if these can't be combined, maybe separate the extend / retract action from the activate / shutdown action similar to how the Medusa engine behaves. It would also be helpful to see the Z versions of the engines in their extended and retracted states during assembly.

[gordonfpanam]

Just noticed that #45 and #66 are the same issue as this. These have been open for some time.

[BobPalmer]

This can be solved with custom drag cubes - on my list!