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