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