Good Question! While it isn't optimum for low-speed rockets, it is a really good shape for high speed rockets. You'll notice that many high-speed military and NASA sounding rockets use the ogive shape for nose cones. It gives a good trade-off between low drag (for high/fast flights), and large internal volume -- which can be great for holding payloads like chicken eggs.

What makes this nose cone particularly nice for rocketeers is that it is very sturdy. It can take a lot of abuse. I've seen rockets with pointy nose cones come streamlining into the ground (like a lawn dart) and stick where they've impacted. But the narrow point of the rocket buries itself into the earth, which allows it to dissipate a tremendous amount of energy. The result is that the rest of the rocket often survives the crash unharmed.

But on the other hand, I've never seen a rocket with a blunt nose cone (which is good for low speed flights) ever survive a tip-first impact. The forward part of the rocket crumples on impact because the energy of the impact is concentrated on the flat part of the nose cone. If you have eggs in your rocket, you'll hear a loud SPLAT sound as the rocket impacts the ground.

When we designed this nose cone, we also wanted it to be used as a tailcone (technical name: "boattail"). By using a boatail on the rocket, you can minimize the base drag of the rocket. This allows the rocket to fly higher into the air.

The feature that makes this possible are a few lines that run around the outside of the nose cone. These are used to guide you in cutting off the tip of the rocket to create the nose cone. There are two lines: one for making a boattail that can be used with 24mm tubes (BT-50 size), and the other for 29mm tubes.

There is also a cutting groove on the shoulder portion of the part. This allows you to cut off the portion of the nose cone that includes the parachute attachment loop. Not only do you save weight by cutting off that portion, but you open up the end of the part, so you can put a tube inside the boattail.

If you decide not to cut the tube, you can easily sand down the cutting guides to make your rocket sleek and smooth. The plastic used on the nose cone is polystyrene, which is similar to Estes type nose cones. Not only does it sand quickly, but it is paintable too! Unlike polyethylene nose cones (like Aerotech and PML), this nose cone takes paint easily, and it sticks forever!

To go with the new nose cone listed above, we're also stocking the tubes and couplers of the same size. With the nose cone and the tubes, you'll be able to design your perfect egg-lofter rocket. These tubes are great for egg lofters, because they are light-weight, sturdy, and large enough to really use some good cushening padding around the egg. Your egg will go into the air with the great protection!

For more information on the tubes and the rings, Click Here.
Look for the size: 56mm tubes in the charts.

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