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