The main reason a figure hangs together and a multi part prop does not is because in a figure the translation dials are hidden for all actors except BODY and hip. Hide the translation dials in the parented prop and it will hang together like a figure, without having to convert it to a figure. If the child is somthing like a drawer in a chest of drawers that has to translate then set limits on the translations rather than hiding them.

              translateX xtran<br></br>                    {<br></br>                   name GetStringRes(1028,12)<br></br>                  initValue 0<br></br>                 hidden 

Or (for example)

            translateX xtran<br></br>                    {<br></br>                   name GetStringRes(1028,12)<br></br>                  initValue 0<br></br>                 hidden 0<br></br>                    forceLimits