engine hooks ?

If you had to choose 1 or the other which would it be ?

Standard ? or with finger tab ?

Thanks

Standard

Standard. The tab gets in the way sometimes and I don't like how it sticks farther out. I cut the tabs off routinely.

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I like the finger tab hooks mainly as I think they are made with stronger steel. I find the standard ones get bent easily if they stick out below the fins. The finger tab ones are usually easier to use as well.

Standard.

Except I got a bunch of extended length hooks from Odd'l Rockets before he stopped selling them (at least I think he did).

I'm indifferent.

I like the finger part, for easier removal, but does sometimes gets in the way of igniter insertion, igniter leads, and I do believe it'll have a slight sway on the motor exhaust. Also, the finger hook part can be used to hang your rockets from a string suspended between two walls. (I did this in one place I lived, so they wouldn't get lost on the floor, ran a string and hung them up by their hook!)

I like the standard because of the clean look and no interferences, but they can be a bit of a pain (literally - like them catching under your finger nail!) when removing motors..

Finger hook. Way more convenient, they can be bent to suit your needs, you can hang rockets by them, they provide a standoff from the plate.

If the longer engine hook gets in the way of the rocket standing upright on it's fin tips, I cut off the finger tabs.
On out of production clones or re-issued classics, they are definitely removed.

https://modelrocketbuilding.blogspot.com/2016/08/estes-alien-invader-3003-build-part-2.html

I like the finger tab one. As stated above easier to work and never encountered a problem. However, last night I constructed a motor mount for a 2 engine cluster for my next Big Bertha. The mount came with 2 standard hooks, but I used 2 hooks with the finger tabs. I did this with OUT putting any thought into the ignitor/wire/clips and their interaction with the finger tab. I can see I will have to be careful when setting up on the pad.

Finger tab.

I *generally* like the finger tabs because they're just easier to manipulate but there are times when the design of the rocket/motor mount just make them impractical so I make, and keep stocks of both kinds.

The finger-tab ones are easier to use (I like the idea of hanging the rockets from a string, too - thanks) but sometimes they can get hung up on the clothes pins we have used as stops on our launch rods. We're trying to use spent motor casings to keep the rockets off of the blast deflectors but some designs need the extra help.

for the most part I'll use what is provided w/ the kit, however on occasion I will use the standard hook as needed. standard hooks can be had from erockets
Rex

I saw someone use the standard w/ a small knurled bead grub-screwed on. I didn't get a chance to ask about it, but it looked pretty handy.

Standard. I hate how far they stick out. I have been thinking of clipping mine.

Neither, if I can help it. I like the Estes screw retainer

Both, and none. It depends upon the rocket. I've had rockets that I built specifically for landing at "The Rock" (large asphalt parking lot) that have the motor mount up inside a fg-reenforced aft body tube. The tab on the hook gives extra leverage when trying to move it out of the way to pull a spent engine. Would not want the extra "stuff" on a minimum diameter rocket

Make your own from windshield wiper inserts.

I have to say though that I was glad that I didn't cut off the finger tab when it came to my Mercury Atlas rockets. The finger tab allowed me to straighten them out and extend the engine hook to the current length of the E motors, instead of the shorter (short lived) versions that were introduced at the same time as the Mercury Atlas kits were released.