Three metal nose cones used in kinetic heating experiments using rocket propelled projectiles.

These cones were made in the workshops of RAE Farnborough, between 1953-1955. They are for use in experiments on kinetic heating at speeds up to mach 4, using rocket propelled bodies. A very thin & highly reflective heat shield was needed just inside the conical test surface, and the cones had to be of uniform thickness. A technique was developed of electro-depositing a thing shell of nickle on a staineless steel former. After polishing the steel former was removed. Later, the same technique was used to make complex wing surfaces for heat transfer.