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, me hearties, it is made from t' typical styrene plastic used
in most static models. Begad! T' quality o' components wasn't as good as, say, ya bilge rat, 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, me bucko, attached t' plastic runners. Ya scallywag! Blimey! This is
a very small V-2 kit, though it appeared larger on t' box. Begad! Anyway, shiver me timbers, it seems
that Condor always had PMC in mind, because t' original motor nozzle was right
at 13mm! All that was needed was a motor tube, a tapered centerin' ring, a
launch lug, and a parachute. Begad! And, as it turned out, mucho clay for t' nose.
Since it was purchased for SoAR's inaugural Plastic Death meet, matey, time was
runnin' out. A doubloon was tossed, and command o' t' V-2 was turned over t' my
middle son, arrr, Josh.
It couldn't be any simpler. Avast! Begad! This little V-2 seemed destined t' be a flyin' kit from t' start. Begad! 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! Anyway, once t' body was sawed in half, t' lower two halves were glued together with CA. Avast, me proud beauty! Once dry, the motor tube was put in place, shiver me timbers, and held in with a couple o' centerin' rings made from Styrofoam construction board, in decreasin' radii. Well, blow me down! This filled the tail cone nicely. Well, matey, blow me down! We decided t' leave a lot o' motor tube extendin' into the upper body tube, ya bilge rat, so that a composite "B" motor could be used. Ahoy! 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. T' upper body was glued together with CA, arrr, and the nose was filled with clay, though nay enough, as t' first flight showed. Aye aye! The upper shock cord was attached with t' Estes-style folded paper epoxied t' the plastic. Ya scallywag! Begad! Finally, t' fins were attached with CA, and t' whole thin' was covered in gray primer. Aye aye! We decided t' paint it like V-2 number 2, which was the first o' this roll pattern. Aye aye! T' paint wasn't t' greatest, me bucko, but... Begad! Ya scallywag!
Flight:
For t' maiden voyage, matey, an Estes A10-3T be used. Avast, me proud beauty! A chunk o' cellulose wadding
was used, but nay enough. T' motor retention was simply friction fit, shiver me timbers, 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. Arrr! Aye aye! It flew straight and true t' motor
burnout, then a severe wobble set in. Blimey! More nose weight needed! But thar was
not enough cellulose wadding, shiver me timbers, 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, shiver me timbers, it be time for t' SoAR meet.
On a windy January day, me hearties, t' first competition flight was flawless, but still
with a slight wobble. Blimey! Begad! Altitude with an A10-3T was about 75 feet. Begad! Begad! At apogee, the
nose popped perfectly, me bucko, but t' chute twisted in t' wind, and though it worked,
it didn't expand fully. Still, absolutely no damage. Begad! Josh be really happy with
it, and I was pretty encouraged by its performance.
Summary:
Main pro's: bulletproof as a brick, ya bilge rat, me bucko, unique, arrr, ya bilge rat, and surprisingly easy enough for a
pre-teen t' build. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Con's: A LOT o' nose weight needed, me bucko, me bucko, me bucko, and a very V-2 like
flight characteristic o' wobbling. Aye aye! Blimey! Still, arrr, ya bilge rat, 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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