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