two Estes PNC-60AH nose cones (as found on Mean Machine, Der Red Max, etc)

[K'Tesh]

A pair of builds are held up due to a lack of PNC-60AH nose cones. The nearest balsa ones I've found from Semroc, just don't 'do' it for me.

Can anybody help me find a pair of these? The Estes site doesn't have them listed, and the PNC-60A parts don't include them. Couldn't find them on Ebay, or Amazon, and I don't want to have to buy two rockets just for the nose cones.

Thanks
Jim
.

 

[mwtoelle]

Unfortunately, the easiest way to get PNC-60AH nose cones these days is to rob them from another kit. I actually bought a Mean Machine get get the cone for an Omega clone back in the 1998 - 2000 time frame. Also used some other parts in the Mean Machine on the Omega clone. If you are trying to upscale some BT-50 kits, (I believe that you are upscaling a Yellow Jacket and a Super Nova) probably the best solution is to order a BNC-60Y from Semroc. This is the closest stock part available to the two-piece injection molded PNC-50YR that has been used in many Estes Kits since the late 80s. To me the PNC-60AH is not a close approximation of an upscaled PNC-50Y or PNC-50YR. The former is more elliptical and the latter two are tangent ogives (not secant ogive like the BNC-60ACs that you bought). YMMV.

 

[Marc_G]

If you find a source of the plastic ones let us know. I wound up buying some OOP Screamin' Mimi rockets cheap, just to get a couple of these cones.

 

[RevKeith]

PM sent

 

[K'Tesh]

Unfortunately, the easiest way to get PNC-60AH nose cones these days is to rob them from another kit. I actually bought a Mean Machine get get the cone for an Omega clone back in the 1998 - 2000 time frame. Also used some other parts in the Mean Machine on the Omega clone. If you are trying to upscale some BT-50 kits, (I believe that you are upscaling a Yellow Jacket and a Super Nova) probably the best solution is to order a BNC-60Y from Semroc. This is the closest stock part available to the two-piece injection molded PNC-50YR that has been used in many Estes Kits since the late 80s. To me the PNC-60AH is not a close approximation of an upscaled PNC-50Y or PNC-50YR. The former is more elliptical and the latter two are tangent ogives (not secant ogive like the BNC-60ACs that you bought). YMMV.

You're correct, I'm upscaling the Yellow Jacket, and the Supernova. I'm also making a Patriot, and a replica of the Estes Omega payloader. Since the Yellow Jacket won't be getting its nosecone swapped out, I now have a spare BNC-60AC. I may try to upscale my old (lost) Defender (#1924) too.

In looking at Semroc's BNC-60Y, to me it looks to be pointed, whereas the PNC-50Y has a blunt point. When I hold the PNC-50Y in front of the PNC-60AH and space them to get the look nearly the same size, they look to me to be pretty darned close (more-so if it wasn't for the glare off of those glossy finishes)


PNC-50Y compared to BNC-60AC and the PNC-50Y compared to PNC-60AH

All The Best!
Jim

 

[Marc_G]

I need to start a thread about what the shape names mean... tangent ogive, secant ogive, that sort of thing. It's all greek (or latin) to me...

 

[Marc_G]

Jim,

Check out this thread I started three years ago:

https://www.rocketryforum.com/showthread.php?13743-Good-source-for-PNC-60AH

The last couple posts are about CustomRocketCompany.com which is still apparently in business. They don't have exactly the AH shape but what they do have as a "PC-60" might fit your needs. Worth a look.

 

[K'Tesh]

Got my two nosecones... Thanks Keith!

Now, after all that, I find out that Semroc has just released the BNC-60YP (Estes PNC-50Y upscale).

Now I need a pair of those.
All the Best!
Jim

 

[Marc_G]

Gotta buy a those next time I order...