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