Estes PNC-55AO Nose Cone 3D Model

[Jack Hydrazine]

This is a 3D model of the Estes PNC-55AO nose cone that is designed to fit Estes BT-55 airframe tubing.

Estes kits that use this nose cone:
Kit# KC-5, Citation BOMARC
Kit# K-48, Bandit
Kit# K-55, Goblin
Kit# 0657, BOMARC
Kit# 0891, Prime Number Explorer
Kit# 1248, Bandit
Kit# 1255, Goblin
Kit# 1278, Vigilante
Kit# 1294, Cobra-1500
Kit# 1332, Sea Strike 'D'
Kit# 1334, Sky Bolt
Kit# 1335, Blue Bird Zero
Kit# 1368, Comet
Kit# 1376, NASA Pegasus
Kit# 1902, Space Station Aquarius
Kit# 1943, Magician
Kit# 1997, Pathfinder
Kit# 2025, Meteor
Kit# 2043, Photon Probe (1991-1993)
Kit# 2052, Photon Disruptor II
Kit# 2124, F-22 Air Superiority Fighter
Kit# 2138, Firebird
Kit# 2155, Super Nova Payloader *
Kit# 3025, Photon Disruptor
Kit# 3026, Photon Probe
Kit# 7001, Meteor (boxed)
Kit# 7237, Goblin

You can find it at the link below and download it for free from Thingiverse.
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4554882

[A Fish Named Wallyum]

Surprised at how many of these I've built over the years. The Sea Strike D and Cobra 1500 have been on my radar for a while, and who doesn't think about doing a Blue Bird Zero. :cool:

[Chas Russell]

Sorry about being late to the party. Picture is of various BNC-55AO balsa cones along with the current Estes plastic cone from the Goblin.

From the left: current Estes plastic cone from their Goblin kit: Balsa Machining Services version of BNC-55AO: My original Goblin nose cone from the '70s that now flies on a cloned Goblin: SEMROC BNC-55AO from their Bandit kit: and finally the Nose cone in their Goblin kit (pre-eRockets).

Chas

[ghrocketman]

Those all look pretty close to the same design to me.

[LeeR]

Surprised at how many of these I've built over the years. The Sea Strike D and Cobra 1500 have been on my radar for a while, and who doesn't think about doing a Blue Bird Zero. :cool:

I’ve got a set of Blue Bird Zero decals I ordered from Semroc years ago. I have all the parts needed, too. And I’ve also thought about an upscale with Stickershock vinyl.

I’m easily distracted, I guess ...

[Jack Hydrazine]

Sorry about being late to the party. Picture is of various BNC-55AO balsa cones along with the current Estes plastic cone from the Goblin.

From the left: current Estes plastic cone from their Goblin kit: Balsa Machining Services version of BNC-55AO: My original Goblin nose cone from the '70s that now flies on a cloned Goblin: SEMROC BNC-55AO from their Bandit kit: and finally the Nose cone in their Goblin kit (pre-eRockets).

Chas

Thanks, Chas, for posting that photo here. You can see the slight differences in each. I see enough of a difference between the Estes original balsa and the plastic new one to justify designing the original.

[BEC]

And it's interesting that that BMS repro is closer to the Estes original than the Semroc
BNC-55AO. That's unusual.

[Chas Russell]

I know that the Estes balsa nose cones were made using "plung grinders" that would wear a bit after thousands of cones. I have to guess that perhaps the BNC-55AO that Carl used for the SEMROC cone may have been one that was a bit out of the original shape or at least differed from the example that Balsa Bill used. Just speculation.
Keep in mind that the original Estes nose cone in my picture has a few (seventy-eleven) coats of paint over the years as it was salvaged and reuses.

Chas

[ghrocketman]

I don't see enough difference to make it even remotely worthwhile.

[snaquin]

Surprised at how many of these I've built over the years. The Sea Strike D and Cobra 1500 have been on my radar for a while, and who doesn't think about doing a Blue Bird Zero. :cool:I had an InFlight Blue Bird Zero but the one I am really looking forward to is the upscale Semroc *Pro* Blue Bird Zero. My brother bought a Cobra 1500 in the late 70’s I always thought it was cooler looking than the Mean Machine.

[tbzep]

My brother bought a Cobra 1500 in the late 70’s I always thought it was cooler looking than the Mean Machine.He was right. ;)
I built a Cobra 1500 right around 1980, partly because it looked better and partly because it was cheaper. :o After I built a black Mean Machine years later, my son agreed with me and painted his yellow and white, with a home grown Cobra 2000 decal. ;)

[ghrocketman]

I favor the Cobra 1500 as well. The last one I built was set up with a 29mm mount.
It was lost due to a FSI F100-8 cato sometime in the 90's.

[tbzep]

I favor the Cobra 1500 as well. The last one I built was set up with a 29mm mount.
It was lost due to a FSI F100-8 cato sometime in the 90's.
A Klingon would say that's a good way to die. :cool:

[mwtoelle]

I like the Cobra-1500 better than the Mean Machine as well. I've got it, change the Mean Machine to the "Mean Marine" complete with a MARPAT color scheme. ;) . I probably need to build another one with a 24mm motor mount as well. Just another item on the to do list.