Nose cones and fins are not only for performance but add character and style to your rocket. Be sure to take some time thinking out the design of your rocket before committing to a plan of action.

Here are several types of nose cones and the methods used to make them. These are only a few examples, so don't be afraid to be creative. The fins have been removed, in the illustrations below, for clarity.

The first type illustrated here is called "The Flounder". It is the easiest to make but lacks flight stability. The cone is made from poster board or tag board. You can make the cone by simply cutting a large circle out of the poster board (about a 6 inch radius). Cut a line from the outer edge of the circle to the center on the radius. Overlap the cut edges and turn the circle while holding one edge stationary until you get the desired cone shape. Secure the cone with staples or tape. Attach to the bottle with tape or similar adhesive.

As I mentioned before "The Flounder" lacks flight stability, this can be fixed to a degree by pressing a small lump( a few ounces) of clay to the inside of the nose cone. This will add mass to the cone and keep your rocket from flipping end over end while in flight. This new and improved rocket could be called "The Bullet".

The "Bertha Series" nose cones are easy to make as well but require a little attention to detail. The "Bertha" nose cones are made by cutting the bottom off a spare bottle and attaching the top portion onto the pressure chamber. One strip of tape should be enough to hold the cone on. (Note: Never cut the pressure chamber) Using this method you can even make your "Bertha" rocket two or three nose cones tall! (we call that a "Big Bertha") Within the top nose cone you can add a small lump of clay to increase the mass. Pay attention to keep all the cones in a straight line. A curvy rocket will not be safe coming off the launcher.

The "Space Needle" style of nose cone can be made from a spare bottle, empty paper towel roll, and a tennis ball or racket ball. This type of nose cone adds a great deal of inertial mass to the rocket and makes it really stable. Simply, attach the towel roll to the top of a single Bertha nose cone and then fix the tennis ball to the top of the roll. Take your time building this set up because you want the entire assembly to be straight as an arrow.

Cut tabs in an index card and glue or tape the card to the tube. This will hold the tube upright. Then glue or tape the tabs onto the nose cone top.

A used foam pool noodle will make a fantastic soft, spongy nose cone. Use a serrated knife to shape the foam noodle and hot glue it onto your nose cone.

Plastic egg halves will also fit nicely onto the "Space Needle" assembly.