I've got an Estes Longship that the nosecone keeps on hitting the rear fins, and someone suggested attaching a separate parachute for the nosecone and letting it come down on its own. I have never done this before, so I have some questions:
1) How large of a parachute should I use on the nosecone? Its 1.32 oz and is 9" long or so. I was thinking a 9" or 12" cheapo Estes parachute attached to the base of the nosecone?
2) There currently is 4' of #100 kevlar and 4' of 1/4" cotton swimsuit elastic attached to the rocket. If the nosecone isn't attached, and there is less (none?) need to slow down the nosecone, etc, how long of a shockcord should the rocket be using between the body and main parachute?
3) I imagine that one would pack the main parachute as usual, then put the smaller parachute+nosecone on top of that. Is this correct? Any benefit in putting say a sheet of wadding between the two parachutes to minimize tangling of lines, etc?
1) How large of a parachute should I use on the nosecone? Its 1.32 oz and is 9" long or so. I was thinking a 9" or 12" cheapo Estes parachute attached to the base of the nosecone?
2) There currently is 4' of #100 kevlar and 4' of 1/4" cotton swimsuit elastic attached to the rocket. If the nosecone isn't attached, and there is less (none?) need to slow down the nosecone, etc, how long of a shockcord should the rocket be using between the body and main parachute?
3) I imagine that one would pack the main parachute as usual, then put the smaller parachute+nosecone on top of that. Is this correct? Any benefit in putting say a sheet of wadding between the two parachutes to minimize tangling of lines, etc?