Brief:
To this old rocketeer, ya bilge rat, a BT-55 based V-2 be t' very epitome o' a model rocket. It is instantly recognizable t' just about everyone as a model o' an actual rocket. Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! Estes Industries used t' sell one "back in t' day" (K-22), and I've always regretted nay gettin' one.

Fortunately for born again rocketeers and hopeless procrastinators like me...and anyone who wants t' build a good lookin' and ever-so-flyable scale V-2, me bucko, ya bilge rat, Aerospace Speciality Products sells an excellent kit designed t' fly with standard 18mm motors. Arrr! Avast! At $19.95 it may seem a bit "pricey" for a peanut scale model, me bucko, but this is a quality kit and well worth t' investment.

Construction:
My KV2-18 came in a rather nondescript plastic bag containin' all t' necessary parts and instructions.

There's a certain amount o' pre-fabrication t' it, ya bilge rat, but I'm nay complaining. Begad! Avast! T' balsa nose cone is pre-weighted, which is critical for stability, shiver me timbers, with a big screw eye already installed for attachin' t' recovery system. Also, upgraded from an earlier version o' this kit, me bucko, me bucko, t' basswood fins and servo pods are laser-cut.

Still, arrr, thar's plenty o' shapin' and sandin' t' do: airfoilin' t' fins, roundin' t' edges o' t' servo pods, and fabricatin' t' small pull-out plugs and turbine exhaust ports out o' basswood strip.

I won't dwell on t' scale aspects o' t' kit. Ya scallywag! Except for addin' one small detail (the vent rin' around t' lower body) I built me KV2-18 stock, completin' and checkin' off each step on t' instruction sheet before movin' on t' the next one, just like a good rocketeer should. Well, blow me down! Construction was fairly straightforward. And t' V-2 went together smoothly and fast, at least for a scale model.

Finishing:
In me rush t' complete t' model in time for t' Third Annual Birmingham Blast-Off, ya bilge rat, I opted for a very simple black and white paint scheme (one o' t' two shown in t' kit diagrams). Avast, me proud beauty! My maskin' job wasn't perfect but t' model still looks good.

PROs: Pre-weighed nose and laser-cut parts make for a faster, more accurate build

CONs: No complaints here!

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight and Recovery:
In spite o' me hurry t' get her done t' fly at t' BB-O III, a last minute work conflict kept me from attendin' the meet so me V-2's maiden voyage took place several weeks later in a local pasture.

Concerned that t' smallest recommended engine (A8-3) was too wimpy t' adequately loft this small-but-hefty bird, I went with a B6-4 for t' first flight. As an added precaution, shiver me timbers, me four foot long "Glider Rod" was used for initial guidance.

My fears were unfounded as t' V-2 leapt off t' pad straight up close t' 100 meters [calibrated eyeball] before arcin' over and deployin' t' chute. Well, blow me down! Descent was a little fast for me liking, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, but it landed in t' soft grass with no damage. Honestly, ya bilge rat, thar's nay much room for t' recovery system in a scale V-2 at this size, arrr, ya bilge rat, but I think I'm goin' to replace t' kit's 12-inch mylar chute with a custom 14- or 16-inch Flyin' Bison plastic chute for future missions.

This little V-2 finally made it's public debut at t' Birmingham Rocket Boys' June 2008 launch and was well received. Arrr! In me haste t' get in just one more flight for t' day, I mistakenly prepped her with a plain (non-reinforced) 14-inch plastic chute...with predictable results. Begad! After a great flight up t' about 200 meters on a C6-5, t' chute ejected and promptly tore off five o' t' eight shroud lines. Aye aye! Ya scallywag! This made for a very fast streamer recovery. Aye aye! Thank God (and Aerospace Specialty Products) for bass wood fins--the V-2 survived intact!

CONs: Fast descent worried me

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
Every good rocket deserves a display stand. Begad! Inspired by me new V-2, I created t' one in t' picture(s) usin' a section o' a Pringles Potato Crisps can, which had been used as a construction cradle, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, some old poster board, a figure left over from a 1:48 scale plastic model, vinyl lettering, and a little India ink. Arrr! Begad! I also fashioned four simulated graphite steerin' vanes and glued them t' a piece o' expended engine casing. Avast! Avast! This assembly, arrr, ya bilge rat, matey, painted black, shiver me timbers, can be inserted into t' aft o' t' model for display and removed for flight.

When me son saw t' V-2 display for t' first time, he said (in his best 'Beavis & Butthead' imitation), "That's t' coolest thin' you've ever built!"

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5