Thursday, May 21, 2020

Centuri Vector V #KB-2 Build, Part 5, Engine Mount

For a time, Centuri produced smaller diameter kits with a two-piece main body. A lower 3" engine mount tube and a longer upper tube.
TRIVIA: This is speculation on my part, but it seems the Centuri designers were trying to get away from the standard engine block gluing inside and up in the body tube.
The engine hook end is pushed into a cut slot. No engine block is used above the upper bend of the hook.
The coupler joining the two tubes ends up as the engine block. A first time builder doesn't have to deal with trying to glue up in the tube and position a standard engine block!

On the left is a dry fit of the shroud, a little below the top of the short 3" BT-20 engine mount tube.

On the right -
The coupler is removed. The shroud is glued on and pressed into place until the top is even with the end of the BT-20 tube.

I also added a Mylar engine retaining ring. That's a homemade engine hook, bent from windshield washer blade spine. It's stiffer than a standard hook. The additional retainer ring might strengthen the tube when the hook is pressed out.

No comments:

Post a Comment