Wildman Fiberglass nose cones

[ac2fv]

I’m finishing up the paint on my Wildman Journey 75. All that’s left to do is clear coat, although I may outline the “squiggles” in paint before clear. On to my question. I’m not sure if the fiberglass nose cone gets clear coat, or it’s normal practice to leave it raw. This is the place to get the answer!

 

[Banzai88]

I always clear coat mine. Well, that is when I'm not painting a color coat on it, then it gets a clear coat!

 

[Titan II]

This is the place to get the answer!

There absolutly is no one answer. Do whatever you want. This is not rocket science. I do raw.

 

[Pinetree]

Paint it red.

 

[crossfire]

It will take paint or clear coat. The light blue on the cone would look very nice. I would first spray first with white primer.

 

[Hobie1dog]

As you can see you're going to get different answers, but most the time you paint the nose cone the same color as the body

 

[KenECoyote]

As you can see you're going to get different answers, but most the time you paint the nose cone the same color as the body

I'd agree. That purple color looks fantastic, so if it were me, I'd paint the cone that same color so the pattern flows.

 

[Pinetree]

In all seriousness, I would paint it purple. That's a beautiful color.

 

[David Kemp]

I’m finishing up the paint on my Wildman Journey 75. All that’s left to do is clear coat, although I may outline the “squiggles” in paint before clear. On to my question. I’m not sure if the fiberglass nose cone gets clear coat, or it’s normal practice to leave it raw. This is the place to get the answer!View attachment 579686

Excellent paint job. Did you mask it yourself or use a template? TIA.

 

[Dave S.]

I was thinking the nose cone might look odd if its clear-coated and the airframe was not or vice versa.

I think your nose cone would look great if it were bright red or just continued that purple that's on the airframe.

Got a Journey 75 w/ no paint on it yet. So far the Journey 75 has had four flights - H100 White Lightning x2, H115 Dark Matter, and H283 Super Thunder.

https://www.youtube.com/@davesorochty/videos

 

[SkyFire]

Nose cone will look better with clear coat.
Also, dirt will impregnate nose cone if not clear coated which looks bad and can't be completely removed.

 

[Donnager]

Nose cone will look better with clear coat.
Also, dirt will impregnate nose cone if not clear coated which looks bad and can't be completely removed.

I'd paint or clear it for the dirt reason, alone.

 

[rfjustin]

@hobie1dog nailed it, paint the nose cone the same color as the body. It'll look fantastic with the metal tip.

 

[mrwalsh85]

@hobie1dog nailed it, paint the nose cone the same color as the body. It'll look fantastic with the metal tip.

Unless you're flying at Argonia... Paint the metal tip another color.

 

[rfjustin]

Unless you're flying at Argonia... Paint the metal tip another color.

Respectfully, that's not accurate. Lets not derail this thread though....

"Aluminum Rockets at Argonia
Rockets launched at Argonia may not be constructed of all aluminum or any other metals. Aluminum fin cans or nose cones will be permitted only if required to ensure structural integrity of the rocket during a high-performance launch. Absolutely no aluminum airframes or fins attached directly to motor cases will be permitted under any circumstances. Please contact the KLOUDBusters prefect for further details."

https://www.kloudbusters.org/rules.aspx

 

[mrwalsh85]

Respectfully, that's not accurate. Lets not derail this thread though....

"Aluminum Rockets at Argonia
Rockets launched at Argonia may not be constructed of all aluminum or any other metals. Aluminum fin cans or nose cones will be permitted only if required to ensure structural integrity of the rocket during a high-performance launch. Absolutely no aluminum airframes or fins attached directly to motor cases will be permitted under any circumstances. Please contact the KLOUDBusters prefect for further details."

https://www.kloudbusters.org/rules.aspx

Fair enough. Must have been rephrased in recent years.

 

[David Schwantz]

Your rocket will be unstable if you do NOT clear coat the NC