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