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