Check out youtuber Kitchsvideos to see this mod in action:
https://youtu.be/RnQqAJr2Suc?t=330

Behavior:
When a player hovers over a ghost, the mod will look to see if the player is within build range, if the entity is build-able, and if the player has the items on their character. If so, it will take the item from the inventory and place the entity.
This makes scaling your base without robots less tedious, but it does not remove the need for robots. This mod can be enabled or disabled with Shift Y.

0.1.8 Changes:
Updated for 0.18

0.1.7 Changes:
Used the new 0.17 feature lua shortcuts to replace the annoying GUI. Clicking the old GUI should remove it from your save!
Bug fix for multiplayer

0.1.6 Changes:
Bug fix for mod compatibility. Unfortunately breaks synergy with mods like Fill4me

0.1.5 Changes:
Bug fix for crashes

0.1.4 Changes:

0.1.3 Changes:
Fixed for version 0.17 (A few unexpected changes to the mod API)

0.1.2 Changes:
Total rework of the triggering logic as well as which items it checks against. The end result is hopefully the same but with better performance. Should also work with 0.17 release!

0.1.1 Changes:
Attempt to add multi-player functionality
Added compatibility with other mods that read when a player builds an entity (like bottleneck / fill4me)
Added a GUI (will show up after you first press SHIFT Y)