Estes Alien Invader #3003 Build, Part 9, Engine Mount Gluing

I marked the inside rear of the main tube and end of the engine tube with a Sharpie. sometimes its hard to get black spray paint into the rear after the mount is glued in place.

TIP: Set the engine mount and Kevlar line down the length of the body tube to get an idea of how long the Kevlar should be. Tie a loop knot before the top end of the main tube.

Gluing in the engine mount before the wings and fins is sometimes easier. If the wings were in place you might not have the extra moment to get the mount perfectly in line with the top fin or lugs.

A ring of glue was set in the tube and the mount pressed in place using the flat top of my sanding block. The flat block insures both tubes are even. Note the engine hook is to the side and off the sanding block.





After the engine mount was in place and the glue dried, the fins were glued on.
Here I can line up one the top fin with the engine hook.