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