First mid power flight.

I am prepping to launch my first mid power flight. The rocket is an Aerotech Arreaubee Hi. It will be single deploy, around 1100' altitude flight if I have used open rocket correctly. The question I need to ask is, do I need to secure the nose cone to the top section? I have epoxied a length of shock cord and tethered it in case it comes loose during recovery. What are the chances of it coming loose during powered flight or the coast to apogee?
I have never had one come loose on anything low powered, but my reading leads me to think this could be an issue.
The launch this weekend is up in the air due to lots of rain this week, but I want to be ready for the next launch date in any case.

To clarify for others looking in, the separation point is mid rocket with a recessed bulkhead, the nose cone is on a payload section.
I am snug fitting mine with masking tape. By snug I mean fairly tight.
Another method I have seen is a nylon or elastic cord attached between the bulkhead (opposite side of the screw eye) and nose cone loop.
Third method is screws through the tube and nose cone shoulder. Overkill for mid power in my opinion.
Your choice, depending on how nervous you are about the nose cone coming off.

Thanks, I will most likely use tape for a snug fit, with the tether to keep it all together.
I didn't install the conduits down the tube, not really a scale guy, and it seemed like it was a visible place where an error would be unsightly. Still have them, and may install later on after a couple of flights.

The nose cone can come off due to what is called drag separation. Basically, after the motor burns out the booster section can have more drag than the nose. If the nose isn't tightly fitted to the rocket it can simply "keep going" while the rocket slows down and the two separate. Tape is your friend in this case.

I used 2 nylon rivets on mine. I attach my Jolly Logic altimeter to the short shock cord that keeps the nosecone with the rocket should something go wrong.

Saturday's launch scrubbed due to weather. Sooner or later. Next month will be windy, I'm sure.

I agree with the plastic rivets or if not using the payload bay for anything just glue it.

rcktnut said:

I agree with the plastic rivets or if not using the payload bay for anything just glue it.

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Agree with the rivets, not so much with glue. One wrap of tape around the outside before launch. Won't come loose, easy access to payload bay (altimeters, etc.), easy to change configuration later.

double bogey said:

I am prepping to launch my first mid power flight. The rocket is an Aerotech Arreaubee Hi. It will be single deploy, around 1100' altitude flight if I have used open rocket correctly. The question I need to ask is, do I need to secure the nose cone to the top section? I have epoxied a length of shock cord and tethered it in case it comes loose during recovery. What are the chances of it coming loose during powered flight or the coast to apogee?
I have never had one come loose on anything low powered, but my reading leads me to think this could be an issue.
The launch this weekend is up in the air due to lots of rain this week, but I want to be ready for the next launch date in any case.

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You could use some plastic rivets. It would give a clean military type look. You can get them most anywhere, but clean Apogees site. I believe TVM sells them. Or since its mid separation you can just expoxt the nose cone, if you never intend on flying DD

I built and flew the prototype and production Arreauxbee-Hi models using only wraps of masking tape around the nose cone shoulder to keep the nose cone in place.

Now, if you decide to fly the model with a 29mm diameter 'H' or 'I' motor I couldn't guarantee the nose cone would stay put.

Zeus-cat said:

The nose cone can come off due to what is called drag separation.

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Initiator001 said:

Now, if you decide to fly the model with a 29mm diameter 'H' or 'I' motor I couldn't guarantee the nose cone would stay put.

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The nose cone on this design is not coming off at high speed or from drag separation.

The inertia of the nose cone and jerk on the shock cord during ejection is what sends a loose nose cone flying off the payload tube. Use plastic rivets to hold it on, or tether it with a line, if you feel that friction alone isn't enough. Or, reduce the jerk with a longer shock cord.