Results 1 to 12 of 12

Thread: MMX Nose Cones

  1. #1
    Join Date
    15th October 2009
    Location
    Hour north of Atlanta Ga
    Posts
    134

    MMX Nose Cones

    Just looking around I know that you can order NC's but im looking for idesas on making some of my own. Ether ideas on turning these small things or ideas on using other things. Any help?
    Im wanting to make some NC's for my new payloaders
    Chris Dover
    TRA 12579
    NAR 90566
    SOAR 407

  2. #2
    Join Date
    10th December 2009
    Location
    Jacksonville FL
    Posts
    682
    Earlier this week I saw a baby carrot stick which was about the right size and shape...and wondered if it would work for this very purpose. I left it out and it shriveled all up. It would not work.
    John B
    NAR 90381
    My Rocketry Gallery

  3. #3
    Join Date
    18th January 2009
    Location
    North of Detroit
    Posts
    1,943
    Glue a 1/4" or 1/8" wood dowel into a piece of scrap balsa and chuck it into either a drill or motor tool. sand to shape with sandpaper or emery boards.

    Done!
    "I'm a sandman. I've never killed anyone. I terminate runners when their time is up." Logan from "Logan's Run"

    http://excelsiorrocketry.com/

  4. #4
    Join Date
    6th January 2009
    Location
    Southeast Ohio
    Posts
    2,555
    I've got a box of stuff I saved for just that purpose. Pen caps, broken pens, syringe caps (don't ask), etc. Just live your life and watch for smallish pointy shaped things. People will think you're odd, but if you're like me, they already think that so it's no big deal...
    Blessings,

    John
    NAR#87984

    It can't be my second childhood, I haven't finished my first one yet.

    "When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return." - Leonardo da Vinci

    "If I were giving a young man advice as to how he might succeed in life, I would say to him, Pick out a good father and mother, and begin life in Ohio." - Wilbur Wright, January 10, 1910

    _____________________________________

    My Blog
    Other stuff I write

  5. #5
    Join Date
    18th January 2009
    Location
    Back up in the woods
    Posts
    7,557
    Quote Originally Posted by Peartree View Post
    I've got a box of stuff I saved for just that purpose. Pen caps, broken pens, syringe caps (don't ask), etc. Just live your life and watch for smallish pointy shaped things. People will think you're odd, but if you're like me, they already think that so it's no big deal...
    Yup - for example, with a little bit of sanding/scraping, a Bic Crystal pen cap will make a decent canopy-style nose cone!

    The semi-frosted bodies of Bic Stic Grip pens can be used for payload sections. The rubber Grip can be used for trim.

    MarkII
    Mark S. Kulka NAR 86134 L1, ASTRE 471, Adirondack Mtns., NY
    Opinions Unfettered by Logic • Advice Unsullied by Erudition • Rocketry Without Pity
    In the forest no one can hear you order a grande caffè misto.
    Warning: I brake for invisible squirrels

  6. #6
    Join Date
    18th January 2009
    Location
    west Ft Worth
    Posts
    1,967

    one step too complicated

    Quote Originally Posted by sandman View Post
    Glue a 1/4" or 1/8" wood dowel into a piece of scrap balsa and chuck it into either a drill or motor tool...
    Just find a 3/8" wood dowel, skip the balsa, and continue--
    In dog beers, I've only had one....

  7. #7
    Join Date
    27th January 2009
    Location
    So Cal.
    Posts
    52
    I'm thinking wood dowel and a pencil sharpener.
    A Danelectro, three chords, and the truth.

    NAR # 88048
    Section 430

  8. #8
    Join Date
    19th January 2009
    Location
    Fort Worth, TX
    Posts
    162
    I have a square block of balsa that is about an inch thick. I sharpened a piece of brass tubing larger in diameter than the MMX tubing. Punch out a cylinder of balsa, push it out of the tubing, use an emery board to sand a shoulder, then place the balsa in an MMX body tube, and shape with the emery board. Some fine sandpaper and you get a usable nose cone.

    Or you can purchase them from some of our friendly manufacturers.
    After all they support us.

    Chas
    Chas Russell, MSgt
    Retired AF Missile Technician
    NAR 9790 Sr

  9. #9
    Join Date
    19th January 2009
    Location
    Washington D.C.
    Posts
    3,609
    Lots of odds and ends as several have mentioned, Pen tops, small bottle caps many dollar store little plastic "thingies".
    but I have to say: If your not going to order some of Fliskits supurb balsa nosecones. I'd say turning your own from 3/8" square Basswood produces the fines, easiest to turn cones. Balsa is a bear to turn down that small, but can be done with sanding blocks rather then cutters. and while 5/16" hardwood dowels do turn out OK they take a lot longer to make then starting from a square of Basswood.

    22lb Sign foam also makes decent micro nosecones.
    Sometime blue or Pink SM close cell styrofoam can be turning using sanding blocks and files but they must be either tissued or glassed to stand up to handling and landings

    T4 and T5 size cones we can go back to balsa if you wish
    Last edited by Micromeister; 4th November 2010 at 12:56 PM.
    Keep em Flyin Micronzied
    John
    Mrcluster/Micromeister
    Nar-15731
    Co-moderator MicroMaxRockets yahoo group.
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MicroMaxRockets/

  10. #10
    Join Date
    15th October 2009
    Location
    Hour north of Atlanta Ga
    Posts
    134
    Quote Originally Posted by sandman View Post
    Glue a 1/4" or 1/8" wood dowel into a piece of scrap balsa and chuck it into either a drill or motor tool. sand to shape with sandpaper or emery boards.

    Done!
    This is the route i went. I was in need of some NC's in 2.5 size and this is what i came up with. Thanks for the inputs

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	Photon Probe 001.jpg 
Views:	39 
Size:	101.1 KB 
ID:	18596
    Chris Dover
    TRA 12579
    NAR 90566
    SOAR 407

  11. #11
    Join Date
    19th January 2009
    Location
    Washington D.C.
    Posts
    3,609
    very nicely done
    Keep em Flyin Micronzied
    John
    Mrcluster/Micromeister
    Nar-15731
    Co-moderator MicroMaxRockets yahoo group.
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MicroMaxRockets/

  12. #12
    Join Date
    21st October 2010
    Location
    SoTex
    Posts
    196
    I use a piece of bamboo skewer or, with really small nosecones, a toothpick. I get a piece of square balsa stock and score a straight line from corner to corner. Then I drill a small hole where the lines intersect and insert my skewer or toothpick. I chuck it in my Dremel and run it at the lowest speed. I shape the cone with emery boards. Then I score where I want the shoulder to start with an Xacto knife. I then shape the shoulder with the emery board. Sand a little....check fit.....sand a little......check fit.....etc.

    Patience is the key.


Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •