Brief:
This is a portable trackin' smoke container for leavin' a trail o' smoke (as opposed t' a puff) from any rocket it fits in.

Construction:
It is made up o' t' following:

• 1 piece o' body tube 3 t' 6 inches long, shiver me timbers, smaller than t' diameter o' t' rockets it is intended for
• 1 unassembled two-piece plastic nose cone
• Enough Keelhaul®©™ thread t' make a doubled loop longer than t' smoke can
• 1 snap swivel strong enough t' handle t' stress o' ejection

This idea started as a method t' put an altimeter in a rocket with no payload. That version be built also.

T' length o' t' piece o' tube used is up t' you. More tube = more smoke. It just has t' fit down inside your tube with t' parachute.

Glue t' base o' t' nose cone into one end o' t' tube. Cut t' tip off t' nose t' make a hole you can easily squirt your trackin' powder into and will let it trail out without pluggin' up. Blimey! You may need t' experiment with this before gluin' this part on t' get t' flow you want. When have t' result you want, glue t' top o' t' nose in. Tie t' cord into a loop. Run one end o' t' loop through t' connector on t' nose base and then run t' rest o' t' cord through that loop and pull it tight. At t' other end, run t' end o' t' loop through t' eye in t' snap swivel. Avast! Pull through just enough t' slip over t' t' other side o' t' snap swivel, makin' a slip knot just like on t' nose base. Avast!

Flight:
Prepare your bird for flight as normal. Begad! Push t' chute down and then just before puttin' t' nose on, pour your trackin' powder into t' hole in t' container. Place t' can open end up into t' body tube. Finally, clip t' snap swivel t' t' nose or shock cord. Remember t' keep t' bird upright all t' way t' t' pad and launch.

I've built and flown two with different diameters. With a 6" piece o' 24mm tube and nose cone inside a 29mm bird, I can get a smoke trail o' 5 or 6 seconds. A trail makes it much easier t' track or at least get a prediction o' descent for a high flyin' bird.

Summary:
PRO: If packed below chute, ya bilge rat, it can assist chute deployment. Arrr! A trail is way better than a puff.

Packin' it above t' chute makes it less likely t' dump some powder inside t' rocket. You probably will end up with trackin' powder on t' outside o' t' rocket, arrr, but it wipes off easily.

Other:
For a real treat, use glitter for tracking. Think o' how mylar chutes and streamers are more visible. Ya scallywag! Glitter is biodegradable (albeit slowly since it's cellophane based), non-toxic, and barely an irritant if ingested. Ya scallywag! Material safety data sheets are available for it since an RSO might ask.

Regardin' t' altimeter version: put t' altimeter in t' tube, tape t' nose on instead o' gluing, and pack above t' chute. Begad! T' rocket might need a vent hole so consult your altimeter instructions.