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