5' PVC Missile: How to Build a High Power Rocket: Part 8- Making a Nose Cone

[MrAustralianPyro]

Or instead of wrapping paper around the tube you could measure the radius of tube and then use 2pie x r  R=radius.

[johnmresler]

Very nice. Now if I could just draw a straight line! :)

[MegaRocketLaunch]

thank u so much this is like the only vid on utube on how to make a good nosecone thx

[rocketmanbkk]

@MegaRocketLaunch : for larger cones for a 2 or 3 inch rocket I tape the inside of the nose and fill the slats with epoxy from the outside. I think it does a better job helping keep the nose smooth.

[nerys71]

@rocketmanbkk A suggestion? you made a really big mistake in how you marked up that tube. ALWAYS leave a shoulder section on the "OTHER END" as well.

this way you do ONE cut out and you end up with "TWO" nose cones for the labor of "ONE" :-)

as for filling. use TAPE. find a tape (electrical maybe?) that the epoxy won't stick to well use that to fill those gaps to let you fill from inside then "peel away" the tape.

GREAT idea man I need to try this !!

[rocketmanbkk]

@nerys71 : Thanks for any input. Not sure what you mean by leave a shoulder on the "OTHER END" as well. Could you better explain or show us? Also, I have tried tape and filled from the inside. I've found that it's not as smooth and symmetrical. Actually, now I tape on the inside and fill from the outside. I find this works much better and is easier. Please clarify about that nose build. I would love to get two for one. : )

[nerys71]

@rocketmanbkk Hmmm how do I reply with a video? I thought there was an option to do that? just goto my account and see the two newest videos both start with 2011-0818

[rocketmanbkk]

@nerys71 : Yes, you can reply with a video. Others have done that but I don't know how. I'm not very youtube savvy. I saw your video. Thanks, that will work for cardboard cones with a real sharp hobby knife. Won't be able to do that with pvc though. Actually it might work using my angle grinder. That's for trying some time down the road. Might work on cutting differently as to reduce the space to fill. Don't have software for that though. Thanks for the input. That's what makes it fun.

[nerys71]

@rocketmanbkk meh thats what our best friend mr dremel is for. should work for PVC too. unless you do pvc different from what you show here ??

[rocketmanbkk]

@nerys71 : Aaah, a dremmel tool. That's what it's called. Hard to find in Thailand. But I'm back in the US for a while so will definitely look into one of those. Thanks

[nerys71]

@rocketmanbkk ALSO do this right IE neat enough and DO NOT paint it. put a LIGHT inside the nose cone. MAN would that look cool at a night launch !!

[MegaRocketLaunch]

@rocketmanbkk yes thats what i did cus i thought it too hard to do it the other way

[edwinshap1]

are you in the military?  for some reason it seems as if you're stationed at a military base in thailand?

[RocketsForDummies]

Actually, this is a good design, but there is an easier way.

I actually just did this and it turned out perfect, you do all the steps until he fills it in with epoxy, and then you papier mache it, it holds it together (if you tape it before) and is very even, then you just sand it and paint it.

I thought of another thing too: you can cut some foam to the size of the cone (tube) and insert that into the cone, then glue (hot glue?) a piece of snugly-fitting PVC into the foam. (goes into airframe)

[webersinthailand]

@RocketsForDummies : I've thought of doing this with paper mache' as well. Most of my current projects are PVC so I wasn't sure how well the paper and glue would stick to PVC. I'm glad it worked well for you. Definitely easier than the epoxy method. Probably less time consuming too. I'm gonna give that a try with PVC as well.

[bsinergie1]

Great Videos keep up the great work. 

[BlackReaper1972]

great job on the vids i followed the instrucyions for the nose cone and came out with a nice product thanx for all the info ur a legend

[MrRcpaintballer10]

isthere any othe way to mke a nose cone bc i dont have some of this stuff

[jesseroybal1]

would it save time if you used expandable foam to fill the cone after the bulkheads are installed. Then trim what oozes out and coat the exterior with epoxy.

Great Vidoes A++

[COSMKL]

5:33

what is that glue?

[rocketmanbkk]

2 part Epoxy-5 Minute

[TheSpaceGeek]

This is by far the most helpful video for rocketry that I've seen on YouTube. Bravo, sir. You get five stars from me.

[panzuman]

gotcha not that im closed minded or anything but your accent throws me off and makes me forget that you are in thailand but i think your paper mache idea would work

[panzuman]

why not wrap in tape and then fill with the hardening and expanding foam?

[rocketmanbkk]

Cause I don't have any of that stuff here in Thailand. I've thought about covering with paper mache' and sanding.

[derekroolz]

that is the way i see many holes get filled, but instead of paper mache' it is strips of packing paper and wetted with weat paste.....sort of like shell pasting

[huffinpaint]

@rocketmanbkk news paper with white glue around a tube shaped balloon or a condom would work great!

[panzuman]

cool vid

[AirrowRocket]

Ingenious!