The nose cone shape we use on the Orion is based on the early production nose cones that used a balsa tip (BC-1315 is our number) and then a paper shroud. We combined the two into the BC-2031. You can see the discontinuity about 1.5" from the top since the balsa slope and the paper section were at two different angles.

The later Centuri PNC-231 replaced the balsa-paper cone. It was then used on several other designs. I understand the basla-paper cone was only on a limited run of kits until the plastic arrived. Dr. Bob Craddock at the Smithsonian let me borrow his opened early production run kit to reproduce the parts.

Bob told me that Larry Brown designed the Orion based on one his father's early sci-fi designs from the 1950's. I though I had relayed that story when we released the kit, but I did not see it anywhere. Larry's dad must have had some talents that he passed on to his son.

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Carl McLawhorn
NAR#4717 L2
semroc.com