Estes Hex-3, #7263, Build, Part 5, Fitting The Base, Gluing The Engine Mount

The instructions imply that the base plate is glued onto the rear edges of the main body shroud. I prefer to glue the plate just inside the edges. Don't glue the base plate on yet.

GOTCHA: The instructions say to glue on the base, then slide the engine mount in from the top. In a dry fit, I couldn't get the upper engine mount centering ring through the top hole of the shroud. I decided to glue the engine mount (a friction fit) in from the wide shroud bottom  - then glue on the base plate. 

All this is shown three pictures below:

Using no glue - test fit the base plate in the shroud.

The instructions don't mention, 

Sand an angle on the edges of the base plate. Make the angle is about the same as the sides of the main body shroud.

A test fit showed the corners needed a little more angled sanding to allow an easy fit just inside the body skin edge.

A line of glue was set around the upper ring of the engine mount.

The mount ring was pressed into the top end of the shroud. Center the engine mount.

Now, while the glue is still wet . . .

You can mold the bends to a rounder shape around the top of the centering ring.

Burnish them into more of a rounded shape around the engine mount tube. You only have to round off the top upper edge at the fold creases.