I'm using Ferram Aerospace Research to add some realism to drag. But this makes me to use fairings for my payload.
Sad thing is, my payload swings. A lot. I tried both KW Rocketry and Procedural Fairings but both express the same behaviour. Without internal struts I can't make it to an orbit sometimes.
Placing internal struts is next to impossible, so is there any other way to have cargo secured? I know that mission failures caused by payload fairings happens in real life, but I think I had enough of them to feel realism already. There are some patents for securing cargo inside fairing (I mean real life USA and EU patents) – is there any way to get the same in KSP?
I mean, for example, something like CFLR here:
To give the fairing structural support during the ascent, the "Centaur Forward Load Reactor" deck has been designed by Contraves. This aluminum ring extends from the Centaur to the fairing's inner wall. It separates in two halves moments after the fairing is jettisoned during launch.
Best Answer
The answer to this question and many other KSP questions is:
MORE STRUTS
Simple as that. Before placing the nose cone, place symmetrical struts from your payload to the fairing wall. I assume you're using fairing walls and not just the nose cone because your payload is large enough to swing.
I did this and was able to lift a large lander with enough fuel to land and return from Duna without it swinging.
If you're still getting swing consider assigning SAS to a control group, to disable it during launch.