Engines Flush With The Body Tube End?

Spacepirate posed a question on TRF:

"I am going to build a Semroc Mark X-Kit and the JimZ plans say that the balsa engine block should be placed so the engine is flush with the end of the BT. That would make removing the motor a bit more difficult than if there was a 1/4 inch of motor sticking out. I don't think that there would be a problem with the quarter inch as the later release with a cardboard block has that. Any thoughts on this? Thank you!"

The oldest Estes Mark kit has you glue in the balsa engine block so the end of the engine is even with the end of the body tube.
Check the instructions at the JimZ site HERE

The second set of Mark instructions (scroll down on the JimZ site) has lowered the engine block position so the engine hangs out the back by 1/4".

I remembered other models had the engine block set at 2 3/4" from the end of the main airframe tube.
This made the engines very difficult to remove, there was nothing to grab onto!
Many of these early models had friction fit engines. That only made removing engines even more difficult.

Some others from the same period:

The Wac Corporal and even the Estes Phantom! There could have been more.
Looking up other manufacturers, the Centuri Micron had the engine even with the end of the body tube.

Bob Harrington added:

"I remember those. I would keep a big wood screw in my range box and screw it into the nozzle of the expended engine and grab the screw head with pliers and hope the nozzle didn't pull out before the engine was extracted."

Everything changed when the quick change engine hook was introduced.
Now 1/4" of the engine sticking out the back is the norm.