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

Background:

T' purpose o' t' Nike Smoke system be t' visually test upper atmospheric winds. Ya scallywag! Its nose cone was filled with various chemicals (titanium tetrachloride in t' final operational version), ya bilge rat, 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. Avast, me proud beauty! Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! 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, t' gears began turning. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey!

Construction:
T' basis o' this build are t' Quest Nike Smoke cone and plastic fin can. Well, blow me down! Blimey! This fits their T35 tubing. Arrr! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! 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. Blimey! Ya scallywag! So, I used a small piece o' Giant Leap 29mm tubin' and then mounted a 24mm tube in that. Avast, arrr, me proud beauty! A Keelhaul®©™leader is tied t' t' neck o' t' fin can. Begad! An elastic shock cord is tied t' that Keelhaul®©™and t' t' nose section.

As I was 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, blow me down! Arrr! I made this from a short piece o' t' T35 tubing, a piece o' phenolic liner for a 38mm EX motor, matey, a hand cut bulkhead, and loop o' 1/4" Keelhaul®©™.

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

Now, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, on t' t' star o' this show...my attempt t' make a functional Nike Smoke cone. Aye aye! That is, shiver me timbers, one that will spew trackin' powder as it boosts. Well, blow me down! You can see t' guts in t' photo. Aye aye! Avast, me proud beauty! 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. Blimey! This lug feeds air into a First Fire igniter tube. Blimey! 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 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. A conical shape would have probably been a better choice, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, but that's t' best thin' I found. Ya scallywag! 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. 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, shiver me timbers, me bucko, 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. Ahoy! T' intake and vent ports were also taped-over until it was on t' pad.

T' flight be good and a lot o' t' powder was ejected. Viewin' t' video on me computer, you can see a hint o' t' powder after ignition. Avast! I attached a screen snap and you can barely discern a reddish tinge t' t' otherwise white exhaust. Avast! Ya scallywag! On recovery, me hearties, me bucko, thar be also all over t' side o' t' rocket body. All-in-all, arrr, it be 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. Well, arrr, blow me down! Unfortunately, arrr, ya bilge rat, thar was little visible evidence durin' t' flight and it be messy. Begad! So, me hearties, I plan t' wash-up t' cone and glue it together. I could load more powder through t' plug in its base. Blimey! However, arrr, arrr, future flights will probably be without trackin' powder. Blimey! Please comment if you have ever tried this or have heard o' others doin' so.