Parts List:

• One Ace Nosecone (NC)
• One 4" by 16" piece o' balsaply (or equal)
• One 4" by 4" piece o' 1/4" plywood for bulkhead (BH)
• One 18" piece o' 3/8" wooden dowel
• One Print Out o' Ace Nosecone interior
• - Download Part One
• - Download Part Two
• 3 ounce fiberglass (glass)
• Epoxy laminatin' resin (like Systems 3 or West Systems)
• Cyanoacrylate (CA)
• 1 U-bolt
• 1 1" section o' 4" airframe tubin' (for retainer ring)
• 4 each #8 panel clips (from auto parts store)
• 4 each #8 by 1/2" screws
• 3M 77 (or equal) Spray Mount Adhesive

Download t' 2 templates and print out on your printer. Avast! There are 1" square boxes on each template t' indicate correct sizing, you may have t' fiddle with your printer output t' get t' correct size. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! These are .gif images. Begad!

Once you have t' templates sized and printed cut them out and match t' two halves t' t' match line shown. Aye aye! The entire cone is drafted though you don't need them both if you don't intend t' make t' entire nosecone a payload section. My design only has t' last 6" or so o' t' cone interior as payload. Avast! Begad! T' lines are thar so you can cut to size as you choose.

Usin' a spray mount adhesive, glue t' template t' t' balsaply. Ya scallywag! Cut t' template t' rough shape. Ahoy! Begad! Blimey! Usin' a sander or rasp or whatever, arrr, sand t' template t' it's final shape. Avast, me proud beauty! Don't attempt t' cut t' template out dead-on t' t' lines, it's much easier t' get it close then sand t' get it perfect. Begad! Blimey! While you have this template cut your fiberglass cloth to fit, you need one piece this size. Arrr! Blimey! Once you have t' balsaply cut t' size, me hearties, cut along t' dotted line. This is where the dowel goes. Avast! These two parts I am callin' "wings" for t' sake o' clarity. Begad! Blimey! Take one win' and use it as a template t' cut an additional wing. Avast! Aye aye! Blimey! This third win' becomes a "strong back" t' support t' two wings and dowel in t' cone. Blimey! Ya scallywag! Blimey! Usin' this win' as a template cut an additional two pieces o' glass, shiver me timbers, but a bit oversize - maybe an inch wider. Aye aye! Avast! Blimey! Set t' glass aside for later use. Blimey! Blimey!

On t' second template thar be a bulkhead template. Blimey! Glue this t' 1/4" ply and cut out. Aye aye! Ya scallywag! Blimey! Take t' Ace nosecone and trim off t' bottom part (where t' screw top thin' is). Blimey! Blimey! Cut it right where t' wall intersects t' base. T' 1/4" ply bulkhead slides in here. Ahoy! Blimey! Test fit t' bulkhead and sand as necessary t' get a good fit. Blimey! Aye aye! Blimey! If the bulkhead is oversize it will balloon t' shoulder o' t' NC and t' airframe (AF) tube won't fit. Begad! Blimey! Test it with a section o' AF you intend t' use. Avast! Drill a 3/8" hole in t' center o' t' bulkhead. Avast, matey, me proud beauty! Blimey! Drill two holes t' receive the U-bolt. Arrr! Blimey!

I made t' dowel poke out t' tip o' t' nosecone because it be fun t' do. Arrr! It's nay critical, shiver me timbers, arrr, you can simply make t' dowel shorter. Ahoy! T' purpose o' t' tip protudin' is t' center t' payload section in t' nosecone, a job the wings if cut properly can do.While you have t' nosecone in hand, whack off t' tip o' it so a 3/8" hole is developed. Well, blow me down! Begad! I used a bench grinder for this and it takes some grindin' and fitting. Well, blow me down! T' fit is important so make sure it's nice and snug, take your time. Avast!

Fit t' dowel into t' NC so an inch or so protrudes from t' tip. Avast! Add a bit o' yellow glue t' t' dowel just at the base o' t' shoulder line Slide t' bulkhead over t' dowel and into t' shoulder. T' dowel is now square t' the NC if you trimmed t' tip properly. Begad! Avast! CA t' dowel t' t' bulkhead and remove by pullin' on t' dowel protrudin' from the bulkhead. Arrr! Clamp this is a vise or somethin' handy t' keep it from movin' around. Aye aye! Usin' yellow glue, glue t' three wings t' t' dowel. Blimey! T' two wings in t' same plane are flush with t' tangent o' t' dowel cross section. Arrr! T' third win' is at 90 degrees t' these wings. Aye aye! Aye aye! Let dry. Arrr!

Get t' 1" piece o' airframe and cut it into 3 pieces. Ahoy! One piece will be 180 degrees and t' other two 90 degrees. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast, me bucko, me proud beauty! You will need t' remove some o' t' tube t' make it fit inside t' wings, ya bilge rat, a pair o' strong scissors works well. Avast! Well, blow me down! When fittin' t' pieces, arrr, shiver me timbers, make sure that they are nay flush with t' edge o' t' bulkhead. Blimey! Avast! Hold them back off the edge (towards t' dowel) as t' panel clips need t' clear t' shoulder o' t' nosecone. Avast, me proud beauty! Glue these pieces t' the bulkhead and t' t' wings. Ya scallywag! This becomes t' retainer ring.

Test fit t' part in t' nosecone. Ahoy! Avast, me proud beauty! If it doesn't fit, sand all t' parts t' make it fit. Avast, me proud beauty! It needs t' slide in and out nicely. Arrr!

Get your 3 pieces o' glass cloth. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Arrr! Blimey! Mix up some epoxy. Ahoy! Blimey! Ya scallywag! Blimey! Get a little paint brush. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Brush on a coat o' resin on the face o' t' wings. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Place t' glass on t' face o' t' wings. Wet out t' glass so it disappears. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Turn part over and repeat on strongback with two pieces o' glass. Begad! Blimey! Usin' t' brush in dabbin' motions, arrr, me bucko, ya bilge rat, stipple t' glass onto t' surface so all t' glass is in contact with t' balsaply. This is easiest as t' resin begins t' set and becomes tacky. Try to eliminate all t' air bubbles. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Allow t' cure t' B stage (this is when t' epoxy is kind o' rubbery) and trim t' glass to t' correct size.

Find out where t' hole in t' panel clip lines up on t' retainer ring. They are all different so you have to fit and see. Generally t' hole with t' clip in place is about 1/2" down from t' U bend in t' clip. Blimey! Make a note where t' hole hits t' retainer ring. Begad! Install t' U-bolt at this time. Avast, me proud beauty!

Usin' t' shoulder o' t' NC as a guide, me bucko, me bucko, mark t' base o' t' nosecone on your airframe. Blimey! Install t' payload section into t' NC. Avast, me proud beauty! Install t' NC on t' airframe you intend t' use. Aye aye! Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! Usin' t' mark you just made and your measurement o' t' panel clip on t' retainer rin' drill 4 holes 90 degrees from each other around t' airframe. Begad! Begad! If they are nay dead on, t' airframe will only align with t' holes as drilled. Aye aye! Make a mark on t' NC and on t' airframe where t' holes line up properly. Avast, me proud beauty!

Remove t' nosecone. Remove t' payload section. Well, blow me down! Install t' panel clips. Avast, me proud beauty! Well, blow me down! Reinstall t' nosecone. Begad! Aye aye! Reinstall the payload section. Install 4 #8 screws, me hearties, me hearties, T' nosecone ain't comin' off for nothin'. Avast! Arrr! All t' parts are workin' together to keep t' electronics you install on t' board in place and in t' nosecone. Aye aye! Well, blow me down! T' U-bolt will take a major hit and will transfer t' load t' t' airframe through t' panel screws and retainer ring. Begad! You may have problems if you use some serious noseweight so take care. Deployment shock loads can be upwards o' 15 or 20 g's makin' a one pound noseweight suddenly equal t' a 20 pound noseweight.

Install some electronics, a power source, matey, a shunt for your pyro, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, and go flying!

This nosecone flew with on a Binder Raptor on a J350. Begad! Unfortunately t' motor ejection charge went early due t' an improper seal in t' forward closure delay well. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! (Pilot error) It be supposed t' be a long delay t' back up t' electronics but it was way short. Avast! : ) T' charge went off while t' rocket was still boostin' but the thin' held together, ya bilge rat, t' chute deployed, matey, and no damage be done. Begad!

Bob Fortune
© September 2000