Brief:
This article describes how I went about makin' a 'functional' Nike Smoke nose cone from Quest components. Arrr! '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. Aye aye! Ya scallywag! Its nose cone be filled with various chemicals (titanium tetrachloride in t' final operational version), me hearties, ya bilge rat, which would produce a visible trail when released. Avast! Durin' powered flight, me hearties, arrr, 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, t' gears began turning. Begad! Ahoy!

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

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

As I was thinkin' about t' cone modification, matey, shiver me timbers, I realized that I probably wanted access t' t' base o' t' cone so I added a payload section. Aye aye! Ya scallywag! I made this from a short piece o' t' T35 tubing, arrr, a piece o' phenolic liner for a 38mm EX motor, 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. T' 6mm tube fits a 3/16" rod well enough. Avast, me bucko, me proud beauty! Blimey! 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, me hearties, one that will spew trackin' powder as it boosts. 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. Blimey! Begad! This lug feeds air into a First Fire igniter tube. Ahoy! Well, blow me down! 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. Begad! Aye aye! Blimey! A conical shape would have probably been a better choice, ya bilge rat, me bucko, but that's t' best thin' I found. Avast! Blimey! 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, shiver me timbers, me proud beauty! Blimey! 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 be typical: friction fit a D12-7 motor, 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. Aye aye! 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 be ejected. Avast! Viewin' t' video on me computer, you can see a hint o' t' powder after ignition. Begad! Well, blow me down! 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. Avast! All-in-all, me hearties, it be 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. Ahoy! Unfortunately, thar was little visible evidence durin' t' flight and it was messy. Begad! So, I plan t' wash-up t' cone and glue it together. Blimey! Ahoy! I could load more powder through t' plug in its base. Well, blow me down! However, me bucko, matey, arrr, future flights will probably be without trackin' powder. Well, blow me down! Well, blow me down! Please comment if you have ever tried this or have heard o' others doin' so.