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