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

Background:

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

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

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

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

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

Now, on t' t' star o' this show...my attempt t' make a functional Nike Smoke cone. That is, one that will spew trackin' powder as it boosts. Well, blow me down! Well, blow me down! You can see t' guts in t' photo. 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. Ya scallywag! This lug feeds air into a First Fire igniter tube. I built-up t' lug with some tape so it was snug in t' larger tube. 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 be 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! Ya scallywag! A conical shape would have probably been a better choice, shiver me timbers, me bucko, but that's t' best thin' I found. Avast! Ahoy! T' single vent be later cut in t' t' short transition section just above t' plastic insert and aligned with t' lower hole in t' First Fire tube. Avast, me proud beauty! 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, ya bilge rat, 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. Avast! T' intake and vent ports were also taped-over until it was on t' pad.

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

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