Assistance with custom shipbuilding (style/visuals more than function)

Hi, I've been using just the bare default shipstyles so far with functional modules just pegged on.  I attempted to design one or two custom ships on my own for a unique look, but quickly found the interface limiting/frustrating.  The shipyard seemed only to allow me to put parts onto other parts, and rotate them..... it wouldn't allow me to choose where or how I wanted them to connect.

Is the following possible?

1.  Moving (not rotating) ship parts along the x/y/z axes once they are connected?

2.  Changing where the hardpoints are on ship parts?  Adding new hardpoints in a custom build?

3.  Attaching one ship part to another without them visibly touching?  Off-setting hardpoints so that an attached part might lodge off-center, or inside the ship, or hovering nearby?

I wouldn't be surprised if this has been covered in greater depth already in the forums.  Any help would be appreciated, and I'd be happy to read through other threads/tutorials/wikis.