Estes Thor Agena B Build Part 32 Nose Weight

My Open Rocket simulation showed I'd need 1/4 oz. of nose weight to be more stable.
The original kit was stable with three larger clear fins. This version has a smaller four fin removable sleeve.

I didn't want to hollow out the nose cone (more filling and smoothing) so clay weight will be added to a BT-5 tube embedded into the nose cone shoulder.

I sharpened the end of a 1/2" diameter brass tube with a file.
This was pressed into the balsa shoulder to about 1/4" deep.

I took a few extra moments to be sure the brass tube was centered before pressing the sharpened end into the balsa.

Here's what it looked like after "drilling" the brass tube in. Don't go to deep, you could split the balsa.




The fit of the BT-5 was very tight in the round slot.
To widen it, a toothpick was set in the slot and turned.
As the toothpick was turned it would advance around the slot by itself.

Don't worry about the rough edges, nobody will ever see it when the nose cone is glued in place.



The 1 3/4" long BT-5 was pressed into the widened round slot.

The .25 oz. of clay was rolled into a "worm" and pressed tight into the tube with the back end of a hobby knife.

White glue fillets followed at the exposed joints.
This tube will extend out the back of the shoulder as seen in the picture to the left. In the end the clay is pressed into the tube.