New Way Mars Snooper II, Build, Part 3, Engine Mount

I used one of the 20/50 rings as an edge to draw a line around the center of the engine tube for the strap placement.

The engine hook notch is made, 1/4" down from the top. Insert the engine hook upper bend.

Glue was spread over the back of the cardstock wrap. The centering ring was slipped on and used as a edge for straight placement of the strap.

The instructions say to glue the upper ring even with the end of the body tube. I wanted a stronger hold on the engine hook. 

The ring was notched to slide halfway over the top of the engine hook.

The rear ring can be slid into the BT-50 body tube to keep the split end closed as the glue dries.

The lower split ring can be glued even with the bottom of the tube.

This flat ring surface will be exposed on the finished model. The ring would be rough and absorb some paint.

I coated the ring with a light application of white glue and let it dry.

The dried glue surface was sanded smooth with 400 grit. Don't get any glue inside the tube.

The sanded glue coat "seals" the ring end and should look smooth when spray painted.

NOTE to Beginners: Wood glue can work as a cardstock edge and ring "sealer" as shown above. Wood glue will not work well for filling balsa. Occasionally I see a posted picture where a new builder coats the fin surfaces with glue, thinking it will fill grain and seal the wood. The results after painting are never good.

When a wood worker mentions sealing wood, he is treating the wood so it can't absorb water. Wood glues are water based and can still soften from exposure to water.

Spray painting wood and body tubes will effectively seal the surfaces. Filling and sealing before spray painting will yield a better finish and a stronger build.