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. Avast! As such, shiver me timbers, it is made from t' typical styrene plastic used
in most static models. T' quality o' components wasn't as good as, say, Revell
or Monogram, shiver me timbers, arrr, but wasn't too bad either. All t' parts t' build a static model
V-2 rocket with firin' stand were present, shiver me timbers, attached t' plastic runners. Aye aye! Avast, me proud beauty! This is
a very small V-2 kit, shiver me timbers, though it appeared larger on t' box. Aye aye! Blimey! Anyway, me bucko, it seems
that Condor always had PMC in mind, because t' original motor nozzle was right
at 13mm! All that was needed be a motor tube, a tapered centerin' ring, a
launch lug, me hearties, and a parachute. Aye aye! And, me hearties, matey, as it turned out, mucho clay for t' nose.
Since it was purchased for SoAR's inaugural Plastic Death meet, shiver me timbers, time was
runnin' out. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! A doubloon was tossed, and command o' t' V-2 was turned over t' my
middle son, Josh.
It couldn't be any simpler. Begad! 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. Funny, arrr, 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. Once dry, the motor tube be put in place, me bucko, and held in with a couple o' centerin' rings made from Styrofoam construction board, in decreasin' radii. Avast, me proud beauty! This filled the tail cone nicely. We decided t' leave a lot o' motor tube extendin' into the upper body tube, arrr, matey, 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. Well, blow me down! Ya scallywag! A length o' elastic cord was attached t' t' motor tube with a snap swivel. T' upper body was glued together with CA, me hearties, and the nose was filled with clay, though nay enough, as t' first flight showed. Avast, shiver me timbers, me proud beauty! The upper shock cord was attached with t' Estes-style folded paper epoxied t' the plastic. Avast, me proud beauty! Aye aye! Finally, shiver me timbers, t' fins were attached with CA, and t' whole thin' was covered in gray primer. Avast, me proud beauty! We decided t' paint it like V-2 number 2, matey, which was the first o' this roll pattern. Ya scallywag! T' paint wasn't t' greatest, shiver me timbers, me bucko, but... Avast!
Flight:
For t' maiden voyage, arrr, an Estes A10-3T be used. Arrr! A chunk o' cellulose wadding
was used, shiver me timbers, but nay enough. Avast, me proud beauty! Aye aye! T' motor retention be simply friction fit, arrr, though
that's trickier on a 13mm motor than it is on a 29mm motor! Unlike t' real
V-2, me hearties, this beastie took off with a bang. Ahoy! Begad! 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, and it recovered at a good speed. Begad! 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. Arrr! Avast, me proud beauty! Altitude with an A10-3T was about 75 feet. Ya scallywag! At apogee, matey, the
nose popped perfectly, but t' chute twisted in t' wind, shiver me timbers, and though it worked,
it didn't expand fully. Arrr! Still, ya bilge rat, absolutely no damage. Ahoy! Josh be really happy with
it, and I be pretty encouraged by its performance.
Summary:
Main pro's: bulletproof as a brick, unique, ya bilge rat, and surprisingly easy enough for a
pre-teen t' build. Ya scallywag! Con's: A LOT o' nose weight needed, matey, and a very V-2 like
flight characteristic o' wobbling. Ahoy! Still, me bucko, me hearties, we will most likely build a whole
fleet o' these little rockets. Begad! Ya scallywag! How about a Russian post-war V-2 with parallel
staged 10.5mm Micro motors? Hmmm...
Plastic model conversion is a blast!
 |
 |