MX-774 Kitbash Part 5 Engine Mount Install

After a couple of dry fits I found the upper centering ring would be about 2 1/4" from the rear of the main body tube.

To insure the ring would have glue around it, a dowel was marked at 2", 1/4" below it's final resting point. You can see the pencil mark in the picture at the right.

A bead of glue was applied to the dowel top. It was set inside the tube up to the 2" mark on the dowel. The glue bead was spread evenly around the inside of the tube, using the mark to keep it around the 2" distance from the end.

The tail cone was used to push in the mount against the lower centering ring. When the tailcone was about 1/4" from the end of the body tube I removed it and twisted the engine mount to spread the glue evenly around the top centering ring. The tailcone was replaced and pushed in the final 1/4" against the body tube. With the tailcone butted up against the body tube, the mount is in the correct position.

The picture above is taken from the top looking in. You can see how the upper glue bead is even from twisting the mount and evening out the glue bead.

With every engine mount installation, you are working against the clock. This install had three distinct movements. Partial install slide in, twist of the mount to spread the glue evenly and final push into position.

I know some are thinking: "Why bother? Nobody will see the inside anyway." I try to get both - good, clean internal and external construction.

Here's the dry fit of the tail cone, both engine mount tube and the end of the tailcone are even.