estes motor mounts and construction order

[walterb]

I have noticed on kits that now the motor mount is glued in after the fins on many kits. For most of my 40 years in rocketry, it was glued in right after it was built. Is this to allow built in drying time to keep the centering rings from moving? Do people not know what "let dry" means. I often now use the fin alignment guide, so I put them in the traditional order. Part of me still thinks using the guide is cheating, but that's a different thread
What I think is most interesting is the Citation Patriot is one of the kits. I'm pretty sure it is the kit on the guide in the classic catalog picture.

 

[Flash]

That is interesting, because it does make the most sense to put the motor mount in after it dries so the main airframe will be more round and firm for fin mounting.

 

[Zeus-cat]

You read the instructions???

 

[Mushtang]

I have noticed on kits that now the motor mount is glued in after the fins on many kits.

A few years ago I almost ruined an SR-71 by following these directions and waiting to slide the motor mount into the tube after fins and wings had been glued up. The paper on the wings warped the main tube and the motor mount nearly wouldn't fit. I was worried with glue and that much pressure it would get stuck partway in but I managed to make it work. Since then I've always gone motor mount first.

I often now use the fin alignment guide, so I put them in the traditional order. Part of me still thinks using the guide is cheating, but that's a different thread

I guess that depends on what the rules you use say about using them. I don't build using rules so I can't imagine an alignment guide being more "cheating" than using an aluminum angle to draw a straight line for the launch lugs would be.

 

[Tom]

I used a fin alignment guide as well. But what I do is put the motor mount with rings together but do not glue it into the body tube. Then I can put the mount into the tube 'upside down' not glued. That way I can put it on the alignment guide without interference from the motor hook.