A B C D E F G H K L M N O P Q R S T U V Y

Nose Cones, Constructing (Tutorial)

If you can't find a nose cone to fit your latest rocket design, you may need to construct one yourself.

The online resources listed below will help you create a rocket nosecone from scratch.

External Links

Design a Rocket Nose Cone (with Software)
https://www.instructables.com/id/Design-a-Rocket-Nose-Cone-with-Software/
An article describing basic nose cone shapes and how to model them using Matlab.

How to Make Hollow Nose Cone from Sheet Balsa
https://www.apogeerockets.com/education/downloads/Newsletter331.pdf
This Apogee newsletter includes an article on how to create a hollow nose cone from balsa sheets.

How to Make a Nose Cone
https://www.rocketreviews.com/how-to-make-a-nose-cone.html
Jeff Boldig describes how to make a nose cone out of fiberglass over a turned foam core.

How to Make Custom Foam Nose Cones
https://www.apogeerockets.com/education/downloads/Newsletter87.pdf
The Apogee newsletter includes an article on how to make your own custom foam nose cones.

How to Make Paper 'Ogive' Nose Cones & Tail Cones (Part 1)
https://www.apogeerockets.com/education/downloads/Newsletter409.pdf
David Stribling describes how to make paper nose cones that approximate an ogive shape.

How to Make Paper 'Ogive' Nose Cones & Tail Cones (Part 2)
https://www.apogeerockets.com/education/downloads/Newsletter410.pdf
Part two of the article on how to construct paper ogive nose cones is in this issue.

Making a Cardstock Nosecone
https://www.jamesyawn.net/modelrocket/nosecone/index.html
Jimmy Yawn describes how to make a paper nose cone.

Making Balsa Nosecones
https://www.rocketryforum.com/threads/making-balsa-nose-cones.27382/
A discussion of how to make custom balsa nosecones.

Making Ultra-Light Fiberglass Nose Cones
https://www.apogeerockets.com/education/downloads/Newsletter413.pdf
This issue of Apogee's Peak of Flight newsletter includes an article on creating light-weight fiberglass nose cones.

Molding a Nosecone Using a Pressure Bladder
https://www.rocketryforum.com/threads/molding-a-nosecone-using-a-pressure-bladder.159820/
A discussion of using a pressure bladder inside a mold to create a rocket nose cone.

Using Balsa Formers and Stringers to Make a Nose Cone
https://www.rocketryforum.com/threads/how-do-you-make-a-large-custom-nosecone.21370/post-189805
George Gassaway describes how to make a nose cone from balsa stringers, formers, and wood planks - a technique often used for model airplanes.

Blog Posts

Nose Cones

Rocket Dungeon: Nosecones can be such a drag (2013-08-28)
Tim VanMilligan continues his series on using a wind tunnel (12" open circuit, Eiffel type) at the Air Force Academy: Newsletter #346 . His article explains the whole experiment and has lots of ... [Read More]

Rocketeer's Corner: The crafter of nose cones... (2017-05-31)
I am what is termed a "builder" - I take parts and assemble them into a complete rocket. However, I do not make the nose cones, transitions, and other parts - that is the role of vendors and ... [Read More]

Rocket N00b: Built from Scratch - A Tale of Two Berthas - Part 3 (Nose Cone) (2019-03-20)
Click here for Part 1 of this series . Click here for the most recent post in this series . The Handbook of Model Rocketry by G. Harry Stine and Bill Stine briefly describes the process of ... [Read More]

Blast From The Past: Ya Never Know Where You'll Find A Model Rocket Part. (2019-05-17)
Last night I was out doing some yard work at the BlastFromThePast home. I have a very large ceramic planter on the front porch that is in need of repair, so I was removing the ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Nose Cone Prep TIP (2020-02-03)
A question about nose cone sanding came up on the Estes Model Rockets Facebook page: Kenny D. asked: "Does any one here sand nose cones to 600 grit?" My response: I wouldn't go down to ... [Read More]

Improbable Ventures: How to build a fiberglass rocket, part 5: nose cone (2020-05-26)
Like many fiberglass rocket kits, the Darkstar Extreme has an aluminum-tipped nose cone. The aluminum tip is for more than just show: it has a couple of structural purposes. One is the manufacturing ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Nose Cone Shoulder Edges TIP (2020-08-04)
From a correspondence with Neil W: "Bonus note: I also found out, by accident, that a body tube with the edge coated with CA and not smoothed down with sandpaper makes a highly effect balsa ... [Read More]