Tube -> Cone

[markg]

I can't seem to find the right keywords for my search. I've got a big 6" cardboard tube from McMaster that I'd like to make a rocket with. Nothing fancy, just a big cardboard rocket that will be cheap and easy to build.

I'd like to make a simple nose cone by cutting wedges out of a section of the tube and tapering it down. I'll add a 3D printed or turned tip on the end. I can use a section of tubing with a chunk cut out for the coupler and some ply for the endplate.

I know I've seen threads here where people have done similar to form nose cones or boat tails. Can anyone point me to one of those threads and anything else that might be useful to convert a tube to cone?

thanks - mark

 

[techrat]

I don't know if anyone has done this for HPR, but there are plenty of LPR builds that are done as "cardstock rockets" where they make their own nosecone.
Here's an example:
https://www.rocketryforum.com/threads/jet-puffed-a-cardstock-wrapped-recycle-bin-rocket.169834/

 

[KenECoyote]

What may prove very helpful here is going to a paper models site and getting the plans for rockets. They have the patterns for different nose cones and you can enlarge it to your need (as well a practice making it very cheaply).

Edit: Tech beat me to it!

 

[KenECoyote]

Here's a very cool site I found back when I was building paper models. This is a selection of Nasa models (so cool!).
https://creativepark.canon/en/categories/CAT-ST01-5592/index.html

You may find some if it helpful as a start, but it's just an example and a further search would probably find something closer to what you're looking for.

 

[neil_w]

Sounds like you’re asking about the style of nose and/or transitions that Jerry Irvine used to put in his US Rockets kits. You may have some luck finding a template like that over on YORF, where Jerry was active before his passing.

 

[techrat]

I'm at work right now, and don't have access to payloadbay.com, but they also might offer templates to build your own nosecone. I know they offer transitions from one size tube to another (as I have used them for that); but, nosecones aren't that far off from building a transition, so it's certainly possible....

 

[markg]

Found it! Sort of. This is the one I was thinking of :

https://www.rocketryforum.com/threads/loc-n-load-build-thread.143463/#post-1745296

Photos of the custom boattail here :

https://www.flickr.com/photos/82867124@N06/with/24894811808

I'll see if I can figure out a nosecone based on this technique.

cheers - mark

 

[kuririn]

Look up "Ace Fugue" method of cutting transitions and nose cones from tubes.
US Rockets had a technical report.

 

[markg]

Look up "Ace Fugue" method of cutting transitions and nose cones from tubes.
US Rockets had a technical report.

Thanks! That's a great resource, attached here. Found on ninfinger site.

 

[Scott_650]

Not trying to talk you out of building a nifty sectioned nose cone - Jerry Irvine’s Stiletto uses that sectioning technique, it’s a kit I’ve always wanted to try - but you might want to contact a somewhat unconventional builder named Rick Maschek - here’s his FB info

https://www.facebook.com/groups/710560206206283/user/1116231555

He does interesting stuff with HPR cardboard rockets like build them with Elmer’s School Glue, use simple flat faced plugs instead of nose cones or fly them without nose cones at all!

Regardless, sounds like a fun project - post updates as you go…