Test stand

Hey guys.
I would like to make a simple rocket engine test stand. But i'm a noob at electronics So i hope someone can help me with this.

I have a couple of questions to: I want to work with load cells but: does it matter where the rocket motor will push on the load cell? And what is it better and easier: testing straight up, straight down or horizontal?
It has to be just a simple test stand with just 1 load cell to calculate the kilonewtons and trust curve. And does the rocket engine push directly on the load cell or do you need some kind of plate between it?
And should this be possible as a portable test stand?

Thanks!

It's easiest to arrange the test stand horizontally.

You can have the motor press directly against the load cell, but if the motor blows up you'll also lose your load cell. What many test stands do is have a plate protecting the load cell and use a tube with known breaking force between the motor end and the load cell.

And what kind of a load cell is the best?

A buttom load cel
l



Or this one