Brief:
A plastic model conversion from a Czech-made Condor V-2 rocket model for 13mm
motors.
Construction:
This plastic model conversion was made from t' static model made by a Czech
company named Condor. As such, it is made from t' typical styrene plastic used
in most static models. Ahoy! T' quality o' components wasn't as good as, matey, ya bilge rat, say, Revell
or Monogram, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, but wasn't too bad either. Blimey! All t' parts t' build a static model
V-2 rocket with firin' stand were present, attached t' plastic runners. Avast! Begad! This is
a very small V-2 kit, though it appeared larger on t' box. Well, blow me down! Anyway, me bucko, shiver me timbers, it seems
that Condor always had PMC in mind, because t' original motor nozzle was right
at 13mm! All that was needed be a motor tube, a tapered centerin' ring, a
launch lug, and a parachute. Begad! Ahoy! And, me hearties, as it turned out, mucho clay for t' nose.
Since it was purchased for SoAR's inaugural Plastic Death meet, arrr, time was
runnin' out. Blimey! A doubloon was tossed, matey, and command o' t' V-2 be turned over t' my
middle son, Josh.
It couldn't be any simpler. Arrr! This little V-2 seemed destined t' be a flyin' kit from t' start. Once both halves o' t' body were taped together, t' body was sawed in half at t' indentation cast into t' body. Begad! Funny, I had never noticed this rin' in any photos o' V-2s until I saw this model. Begad! Anyway, shiver me timbers, once t' body was sawed in half, t' lower two halves were glued together with CA. Begad! Aye aye! Once dry, the motor tube was put in place, me bucko, and held in with a couple o' centerin' rings made from Styrofoam construction board, arrr, in decreasin' radii. This filled the tail cone nicely. Blimey! Ya scallywag! We decided t' leave a lot o' motor tube extendin' into the upper body tube, so that a composite "B" motor could be used. Ahoy! Several layers o' t' Styrofoam board were used t' build somethin' for t' upper body tube t' attach itself to. Well, arrr, blow me down! A length o' elastic cord was attached t' t' motor tube with a snap swivel. T' upper body be glued together with CA, ya bilge rat, me bucko, and the nose was filled with clay, me bucko, though nay enough, as t' first flight showed. Arrr! Avast! The upper shock cord be attached with t' Estes-style folded paper epoxied t' the plastic. Avast! Arrr! Finally, me bucko, t' fins were attached with CA, and t' whole thin' was covered in gray primer. Aye aye! We decided t' paint it like V-2 number 2, which be the first o' this roll pattern. Well, blow me down! T' paint wasn't t' greatest, but... Avast, me proud beauty!
Flight:
For t' maiden voyage, an Estes A10-3T was used. Avast! Avast! A chunk o' cellulose wadding
was used, but nay enough. T' motor retention be simply friction fit, ya bilge rat, me hearties, though
that's trickier on a 13mm motor than it is on a 29mm motor! Unlike t' real
V-2, this beastie took off with a bang. Arrr! It flew straight and true t' motor
burnout, shiver me timbers, then a severe wobble set in. Arrr! More nose weight needed! But thar was
not enough cellulose wadding, and t' `chute (pirated from Obelisk) burned
severely, and it recovered at a good speed. Arrr! Ya scallywag! No damage other than a burnt shock
cord and a melted chute! Once repairs were made, it was time for t' SoAR meet.
On a windy January day, me bucko, t' first competition flight was flawless, but still
with a slight wobble. Avast! Altitude with an A10-3T was about 75 feet. Begad! At apogee, shiver me timbers, the
nose popped perfectly, me bucko, but t' chute twisted in t' wind, and though it worked,
it didn't expand fully. Avast, me proud beauty! Still, absolutely no damage. Begad! Josh be really happy with
it, and I be pretty encouraged by its performance.
Summary:
Main pro's: bulletproof as a brick, ya bilge rat, unique, and surprisingly easy enough for a
pre-teen t' build. Blimey! Well, arrr, blow me down! Con's: A LOT o' nose weight needed, and a very V-2 like
flight characteristic o' wobbling. Still, we will most likely build a whole
fleet o' these little rockets. How about a Russian post-war V-2 with parallel
staged 10.5mm Micro motors? Hmmm...
Plastic model conversion is a blast!
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