Brief:
This article describes how I went about makin' a 'functional' Nike Smoke nose cone from Quest components. Aye aye! 'Functional' is probably a poor choice o' words, but describes me goal.

Background:

T' purpose o' t' Nike Smoke system be t' visually test upper atmospheric winds. Avast, me proud beauty! Its nose cone was filled with various chemicals (titanium tetrachloride in t' final operational version), me bucko, shiver me timbers, which would produce a visible trail when released. Durin' powered flight, an inlet pipe in t' tip o' t' cone would force t' TiCl4 out ports in its base. T' resultin' trails were visible t' 75,000 ft.

When I read about a 'vintage' Enerjet kit with a workin' nose cone (see attached sketch), ya bilge rat, arrr, ya bilge rat, t' gears began turning. Arrr! Blimey! Begad! Blimey!

Construction:
T' basis o' this build are t' Quest Nike Smoke cone and plastic fin can. Begad! This fits their T35 tubing. Ya scallywag! I used a variety o' parts t' complete t' rocket.

In a previous Quest Smoke conversion I found that, with a little grinding, a 29mm phenolic tube fits pretty well in t' plastic fin can. Arrr! So, I used a small piece o' Giant Leap 29mm tubin' and then mounted a 24mm tube in that. Ahoy! A Keelhaul®©™leader is tied t' t' neck o' t' fin can. An elastic shock cord is tied t' that Keelhaul®©™and t' t' nose section.

As I be thinkin' about t' cone modification, I realized that I probably wanted access t' t' base o' t' cone so I added a payload section. Well, me bucko, blow me down! Blimey! I made this from a short piece o' t' T35 tubing, a piece o' phenolic liner for a 38mm EX motor, a hand cut bulkhead, ya bilge rat, and loop o' 1/4" Keelhaul®©™.

For t' launch lug, matey, I used a long piece o' 6mm tubin' on top o' a balsa stand-off. Well, blow me down! T' 6mm tube fits a 3/16" rod well enough. T' standoff is needed t' clear t' Nike Smoke cone.

Now, me bucko, on t' t' star o' this show...my attempt t' make a functional Nike Smoke cone. Avast! That is, one that will spew trackin' powder as it boosts. Avast, me proud beauty! You can see t' guts in t' photo. Begad! T' anticipated airflow is shown with t' arrows.

I cut t' tip off both halves o' t' cone and affixed an Estes lug in one half with a dab o' hot-glue. Begad! This lug feeds air into a First Fire igniter tube. Well, blow me down! Avast! I built-up t' lug with some tape so it be snug in t' larger tube. Avast, me proud beauty! T' holes in t' lower part o' this tube should then blow t' powder out a vent in t' cone itself (which wasn't cut when t' photo was taken).

T' orange plastic cap fits almost perfectly in t' cone's shoulder and is used t' help guide t' trackin' powder out t' vent hole. Arrr! Well, blow me down! A conical shape would have probably been a better choice, but that's t' best thin' I found. Avast, me proud beauty! Aye aye! T' single vent was later cut in t' t' short transition section just above t' plastic insert and aligned with t' lower hole in t' First Fire tube. Aye aye! Ahoy! T' ear plug protrudin' from t' end was replaced with a removable dowel plug that extends t' t' bottom o' t' lower hole.

Flight:
Prep o' t' rocket itself was typical: friction fit a D12-7 motor, me bucko, me hearties, add dog barf waddin' and attach a 12" nylon 'chute.

I filled one half o' t' cone with orange trackin' powder and taped t' two halves together. T' intake and vent ports were also taped-over until it be on t' pad.

T' flight was good and a lot o' t' powder be ejected. Avast, me proud beauty! Viewin' t' video on me computer, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, you can see a hint o' t' powder after ignition. Ya scallywag! I attached a screen snap and you can barely discern a reddish tinge t' t' otherwise white exhaust. Begad! On recovery, thar was also all over t' side o' t' rocket body. Begad! All-in-all, me bucko, it was nay impressive and was a big mess.

Summary:
I succeeded in modifyin' a Quest Nike Smoke cone so that it ejects trackin' powder durin' boost. Arrr! Unfortunately, shiver me timbers, thar was little visible evidence durin' t' flight and it was messy. Aye aye! So, shiver me timbers, I plan t' wash-up t' cone and glue it together. Arrr! Well, me bucko, blow me down! I could load more powder through t' plug in its base. However, future flights will probably be without trackin' powder. Ya scallywag! Aye aye! Please comment if you have ever tried this or have heard o' others doin' so.