I used to experiment too. My Dad was a contractor so I had access to lead flashing, wood glue and an assortment of other things to experiment with, and Mom had a small bag of fresh assorted elastic bands and Scotch Tape in her desk. My balsa airplanes were usually a pile of patched up rubble by the time they got tossed in the trash. I used them hard! I don't recall trying to place caps on the nose, I grew up in a rural area and pavement (to pop the caps) was pretty much limited to the road. It was always a good day when Mom let me get a new balsa plane at the store!