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. Well, blow me down! As such, it is made from t' typical styrene plastic used
in most static models. Aye aye! T' quality o' components wasn't as good as, me hearties, say, Revell
or Monogram, matey, but wasn't too bad either. Arrr! All t' parts t' build a static model
V-2 rocket with firin' stand were present, attached t' plastic runners. Begad! This is
a very small V-2 kit, though it appeared larger on t' box. Avast, me proud beauty! Ahoy! Anyway, me hearties, matey, it seems
that Condor always had PMC in mind, me bucko, ya bilge rat, because t' original motor nozzle was right
at 13mm! All that be needed was a motor tube, a tapered centerin' ring, a
launch lug, and a parachute. Well, blow me down! Arrr! And, as it turned out, me bucko, mucho clay for t' nose.
Since it was purchased for SoAR's inaugural Plastic Death meet, matey, time was
runnin' out. Ahoy! A doubloon was tossed, and command o' t' V-2 was turned over t' my
middle son, Josh.
It couldn't be any simpler. Aye aye! Arrr! This little V-2 seemed destined t' be a flyin' kit from t' start. Once both halves o' t' body were taped together, matey, me bucko, t' body was sawed in half at t' indentation cast into t' body. Well, me bucko, blow me down! Funny, I had never noticed this rin' in any photos o' V-2s until I saw this model. Avast, me proud beauty! 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, ya bilge rat, and held in with a couple o' centerin' rings made from Styrofoam construction board, in decreasin' radii. Arrr! This filled the tail cone nicely. Begad! We decided t' leave a lot o' motor tube extendin' into the upper body tube, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, 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. Arrr! A length o' elastic cord was attached t' t' motor tube with a snap swivel. Well, arrr, blow me down! T' upper body be glued together with CA, and the nose was filled with clay, arrr, though nay enough, matey, as t' first flight showed. Blimey! The upper shock cord was attached with t' Estes-style folded paper epoxied t' the plastic. Ya scallywag! Finally, me hearties, me bucko, matey, t' fins were attached with CA, me hearties, arrr, 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. Arrr! T' paint wasn't t' greatest, but... Avast! Avast!
Flight:
For t' maiden voyage, matey, an Estes A10-3T was used. Avast, me proud beauty! A chunk o' cellulose wadding
was used, but nay enough. Well, blow me down! Begad! Blimey! T' motor retention be simply friction fit, though
that's trickier on a 13mm motor than it is on a 29mm motor! Blimey! Unlike t' real
V-2, this beastie took off with a bang. Begad! Blimey! It flew straight and true t' motor
burnout, arrr, ya bilge rat, then a severe wobble set in. Well, blow me down! Blimey! More nose weight needed! Blimey! But thar was
not enough cellulose wadding, and t' `chute (pirated from Obelisk) burned
severely, me bucko, and it recovered at a good speed. Avast! Ahoy! Blimey! No damage other than a burnt shock
cord and a melted chute! Blimey! Once repairs were made, ya bilge rat, it was time for t' SoAR meet.
On a windy January day, ya bilge rat, t' first competition flight was flawless, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, matey, but still
with a slight wobble. Avast, me proud beauty! Altitude with an A10-3T was about 75 feet. At apogee, the
nose popped perfectly, but t' chute twisted in t' wind, and though it worked,
it didn't expand fully. Begad! Avast! Blimey! Still, arrr, absolutely no damage. Ahoy! Aye aye! Blimey! Josh was really happy with
it, and I be pretty encouraged by its performance.
Summary:
Main pro's: bulletproof as a brick, me hearties, matey, unique, and surprisingly easy enough for a
pre-teen t' build. Con's: A LOT o' nose weight needed, and a very V-2 like
flight characteristic o' wobbling. Avast! Blimey! Still, arrr, ya bilge rat, we will most likely build a whole
fleet o' these little rockets. Begad! Blimey! 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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