The nosecone is pretty much complete as well. In a previous post I showed how the coupler insert at the base was aligned and glued in. In this next step, the tip as potted in using Cotronics 4461. Much care was taken to get the tip perfectly centered on the longitudinal axis of the rocket. I think I got it, but I'm still kinda nervous about this detail.
Also as stated previously, I used an aluminum tip from a Curtis nosecone. It's threaded at the base and I tried to use that threading and various washers and adapters to attach the tip, but in the end I just wasn't happy with it or confident in it's fit. I ended up potting it in using the Cotronics 4461.
Also potted in was the 8-32 titanium all-thread for the av-bay attachment. There was a thread here a while back about all-thread vs. antennas. They're like a glue thread, lot's of passionate opinions, scattered nuggets of actual fact. In this thread it mentioned that perhaps titanium all-thread would attenuate the signall less than a more ferrous metal. Who knows? Sounds dubious and well reasoned all at the same time, right? The rocket launched is
post #66 used boring old stainless steel, and the tracker worked just fine. But I am a sucker, and titanium sounds neat. So titanium it is...
All the all-threads. Very boring picture. Guess which is the Ti-
I used a cardboard tube to pour the epoxy into the tip while keeping the rest of the nosecone interior clean. The Cotronics has been banished from the house by my wife.
The final product, all polished up. No paint, just high-temp epoxy, some composites and aluminum. Oh! and titanium. It's currently getting baked at 250° for four hours to post cure the 4461.