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