Handmade Bertha Noses By Sandman!

[Daniel Runyon]

Sure, they weren't complex projects like his recent capsules, and sure, you can get prefab ones from places like Semroc or BMS... but what better way to connect with the soul of the hobby than to have the one man who's renowned throughout the land for hand turned noses to make you some good ol fashioned balsa noses for your absolute favorite rocket!

http://www.isarapix.com/pix53/1175870671.jpg

The two on the right are recreations of the very first noses to be associated with the Big Bertha as seen in both the original plans (http://www.dars.org/jimz/eirp_13.htm) and kit advertisements (http://www.oldrocketplans.com/estes/estK-23/estK-23.htm) linked here. As you can see they were a little pointy... I believe this is the same nose that was used in the first Rangers too.

I also wanted a couple of the modern, rounded Bertha shape to complete my balsa Bertha building possibilities!

http://www.isarapix.com/pix23/1175871609.jpg

How would one preserve the signature? Could I use Aerogloss Sanding Sealer? I don't want it to get irreparably covered up with ejection debris, but I want to be able to read it!

[sandman]

I just signed them with a marker pen. I used aUniball. I guess you could write something on some end grain balsa and experiment. :o

It's been so long since I made a "simple" nose cone. Everybody wants "capsules" and scale profiles that after a while the simple ones are fun to do! :)

[foose4string]

How about cutting a circle out of clear plastic, just barely smaller than the diameter of the nosecone base. The clear plastic sheets can be gotten in various thicknesses, a very thin sheet would work fine for this. Doesn't even need to be glued on, just held in place by the screw eye.

Clear Plastic Sheets (http://www.hobbylinc.com/cgi-bin/s7.cgi?cat_s=RE&age=&mfg_s=&str=clear+sheet&I1.x=0&I1.y=0&I1=Go&sort_i=0&show_i=0&flag=&also_s=)

[Doug Sams]

http://www.isarapix.com/pix53/1175870671.jpg

The two on the right are recreations of the very first noses to be associated with the Big Bertha (snip) As you can see they were a little pointy... I believe this is the same nose that was used in the first Rangers too.Yes. When I first pondered cloning the Farside-X (which I still have yet to do) I was surprised to learn that was a BNC-60L. Then the recent posting of early Bertha and Ranger images reinforced that that NC's tip got rounded off over time.

I have a round-nosed repro in my stash that I picked up from BMS, that I was considering using in a Farside-X clone. But was also weighing that against turning a pointy version. My "mother-mind" was whispering, "don't be wasteful, use what you've got." But now that it's been brought up here, I'll have to turn a pointy one :)

Doug

[foose4string]

That old style Bertha cone looks similar to the Deuce's Wild cone...sort of.

EDIT: Nevermind that comment, just LOOKED at my Deuce cone, very different.

[Daniel Runyon]

Yes. When I first pondered cloning the Farside-X (which I still have yet to do) I was surprised to learn that was a BNC-60L.

Oooooo... thanks Doug! I just went and checked out the Farside X from your mention and that looks like something I'd enjoy too... I've been pondering doing my first staged build here lately and that's lookin like a pretty good place to start! Already got the noses for it to boot!