Estes Apollo Little Joe II Build, Part 34, Launch Lug Gluing Tip

The back side of the two plastic launch lugs have slightly raised numbers, 1, 2, 3 and 4. (I have two kits, one kit had 1 and 3, the other had 2 and 4 on the back of the lug wall.)

The back is curved to match the body tube curve so I sanded down the numbers with 400 grit around a 24mm engine casing. This is a moot point but you do want a good glue joint on the launch lugs.

GOTCHA: The instructions show the lower lug raised from the back end of the body. Half of the lug would be over the corrugations.

TIPS: I glued my lower lug on the flat area beneath the corrugations for a better glue bond. This moves the low lug down about 1/4". This won't effect movement off the rod.

You could use a 3/16" rod through the lugs for alignment, but a 3/16 rod could be heavy and hard to work with.

I used a 1/8" aluminum rod taped to the side of the lug.
Glue the lower lug in place and let it dry. Tape the 1/8" launch rod next to the lug then glue on the upper lug. You can tuck the flat lug base under the launch rod as it dries.