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