Metal nose cones used in kinetic heating experiments

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.