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