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