diff --git a/core/src/net/sf/openrocket/rocketcomponent/AxialStage.java b/core/src/net/sf/openrocket/rocketcomponent/AxialStage.java
index 77fcc5c05..a5607615e 100644
--- a/core/src/net/sf/openrocket/rocketcomponent/AxialStage.java
+++ b/core/src/net/sf/openrocket/rocketcomponent/AxialStage.java
@@ -145,7 +145,7 @@ public class AxialStage extends ComponentAssembly implements FlightConfigurableC
 	public void setStageNumber(final int newStageNumber) {
 		this.stageNumber = newStageNumber;
 	}
-	
+
 	@Override
 	protected StringBuilder toDebugDetail() {
 		StringBuilder buf = super.toDebugDetail();
diff --git a/core/src/net/sf/openrocket/rocketcomponent/ComponentAssembly.java b/core/src/net/sf/openrocket/rocketcomponent/ComponentAssembly.java
index f6bb62b95..16c40b0ac 100644
--- a/core/src/net/sf/openrocket/rocketcomponent/ComponentAssembly.java
+++ b/core/src/net/sf/openrocket/rocketcomponent/ComponentAssembly.java
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import org.slf4j.Logger;
 import org.slf4j.LoggerFactory;
 
 import net.sf.openrocket.rocketcomponent.position.AxialMethod;
+import net.sf.openrocket.rocketcomponent.position.AxialPositionable;
 import net.sf.openrocket.util.BugException;
 import net.sf.openrocket.util.Coordinate;
 
@@ -21,7 +22,7 @@ import net.sf.openrocket.util.Coordinate;
  * 
  * @author Sampo Niskanen <sampo.niskanen@iki.fi>
  */
-public abstract class ComponentAssembly extends RocketComponent {
+public abstract class ComponentAssembly extends RocketComponent implements  AxialPositionable {
 	private static final Logger log = LoggerFactory.getLogger(ComponentAssembly.class);
 	
 	/**
@@ -131,17 +132,18 @@ public abstract class ComponentAssembly extends RocketComponent {
 		super.setAxialOffset(this.axialMethod, _pos);
 		fireComponentChangeEvent(ComponentChangeEvent.BOTH_CHANGE);
 	}
-	
-	public void setRelativePositionMethod(final AxialMethod _newPosition) {
+		
+	@Override
+	public void setAxialMethod( final AxialMethod newMethod ) {
 		if (null == this.parent) {
 			throw new NullPointerException(" a Stage requires a parent before any positioning! ");
 		}
 		if ((this instanceof ParallelStage ) || ( this instanceof PodSet )){
-			if (AxialMethod.AFTER == _newPosition) {
+			if (AxialMethod.AFTER == newMethod) {
 				log.warn("Stages (or Pods) cannot be relative to other stages via AFTER! Ignoring.");
 				super.setAxialMethod(AxialMethod.TOP);
 			} else {
-				super.setAxialMethod(_newPosition);
+				super.setAxialMethod(newMethod);
 			}
 		}else if( this.getClass().equals( AxialStage.class)){
 			// Centerline stages must be set via AFTER-- regardless of what was requested:
diff --git a/core/test/net/sf/openrocket/rocketcomponent/ParallelStageTest.java b/core/test/net/sf/openrocket/rocketcomponent/ParallelStageTest.java
index 965b07f3c..ccd83a88a 100644
--- a/core/test/net/sf/openrocket/rocketcomponent/ParallelStageTest.java
+++ b/core/test/net/sf/openrocket/rocketcomponent/ParallelStageTest.java
@@ -173,7 +173,7 @@ public class ParallelStageTest extends BaseTestCase {
 		
 		
 		// without making the rocket 'external' and the Stage should be restricted to AFTER positioning.
-		sustainer.setRelativePositionMethod(AxialMethod.ABSOLUTE);
+		sustainer.setAxialMethod(AxialMethod.ABSOLUTE);
 		assertThat("Setting a centerline stage to anything other than AFTER is ignored.", sustainer.isAfter(), equalTo(true));
 		assertThat("Setting a centerline stage to anything other than AFTER is ignored.", sustainer.getAxialMethod(), equalTo(AxialMethod.AFTER));
 		
@@ -613,7 +613,7 @@ public class ParallelStageTest extends BaseTestCase {
 		
 		boosterA.setAxialOffset(AxialMethod.TOP, targetOffset);
 		
-		boosterB.setRelativePositionMethod(AxialMethod.TOP);
+		boosterB.setAxialMethod(AxialMethod.TOP);
 		boosterB.setAxialOffset(targetOffset);
 		String treeDump = rocket.toDebugTree();