I had my tail pretty much level, and it worked fine. I did it alone with an engine hoist doing the hard work. Don't forget to put plenty of weight on the tail!... I'm just about to hang the engine and was wondering if it's best with the fuselage on its gear and tail low or with the fuselage more or less level. ...
Did mine with the tail down ... no issues at all. As long as you can adjust the engine angle easily with the engine lift, level or tail on the ground is fine. However, I did mount my engine bottom bolts first, which may make things easier, alignment wise. I did hear, though, if you have the little wheel on the wrong end or used the wrong primer, it can easily become a PITA ;-)
Did mine with the tail down ... no issues at all. As long as you can adjust the engine angle easily with the engine lift, level or tail on the ground is fine. However, I did mount my engine bottom bolts first, which may make things easier, alignment wise. I did hear, though, if you have the little wheel on the wrong end or used the wrong primer, it can easily become a PITA ;-)
Tail up or down, seems a 50-50 result.
I expect to hang sometime this week, will try first with tail down, seems less risky...
Be sure to tie down the tail. I mounted mine without the tail feathers attached, and tied on a 5 gal bucket of water (40 lbs) to HS mount deck to be sure the plane wouldn't tip forward with the engine on.
Final W&B only had 64 lbs on the TW .. not very heavy back there!
Is it better to mount the engine to the motor mount and then the mount to the fuselage or mount on fuselage then engine to mount. I have heard it done both ways.