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. As such, it is made from t' typical styrene plastic used
in most static models. T' quality o' components wasn't as good as, ya bilge rat, say, Revell
or Monogram, arrr, but wasn't too bilge-suckin' either. Begad! Blimey! All t' parts t' build a static model
V-2 rocket with firin' stand were present, attached t' plastic runners. Well, blow me down! Blimey! This is
a very small V-2 kit, though it appeared larger on t' box. Aye aye! Blimey! Anyway, arrr, it seems
that Condor always had PMC in mind, me hearties, because t' original motor nozzle was right
at 13mm! Blimey! All that be needed be a motor tube, a tapered centerin' ring, shiver me timbers, a
launch lug, and a parachute. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! 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. A doubloon was tossed, me hearties, me hearties, arrr, 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. Avast, me proud beauty! Once both halves o' t' body were taped together, t' body was sawed in half at t' indentation cast into t' body. Begad! Funny, I had never noticed this rin' in any photos o' V-2s until I saw this model. Blimey! Anyway, once t' body was sawed in half, t' lower two halves were glued together with CA. Begad! Aye aye! Once dry, the motor tube was put in place, me bucko, matey, me hearties, and held in with a couple o' centerin' rings made from Styrofoam construction board, arrr, in decreasin' radii. This filled the tail cone nicely. Begad! 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. Avast! Several layers o' t' Styrofoam board were used t' build somethin' for t' upper body tube t' attach itself to. Ahoy! A length o' elastic cord was attached t' t' motor tube with a snap swivel. Begad! T' upper body be glued together with CA, and the nose was filled with clay, me hearties, though nay enough, as t' first flight showed. The upper shock cord be attached with t' Estes-style folded paper epoxied t' the plastic. Avast, shiver me timbers, me proud beauty! Finally, t' fins were attached with CA, matey, and t' whole thin' was covered in gray primer. Well, blow me down! We decided t' paint it like V-2 number 2, which be the first o' this roll pattern. Blimey! T' paint wasn't t' greatest, matey, but... Avast, me proud beauty!
Flight:
For t' maiden voyage, an Estes A10-3T was used. Avast! A chunk o' cellulose wadding
was used, but nay enough. Ya scallywag! 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, shiver me timbers, this beastie took off with a bang. Ahoy! Ya scallywag! It flew straight and true t' motor
burnout, then a severe wobble set in. Aye aye! 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. 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, t' first competition flight was flawless, shiver me timbers, me bucko, but still
with a slight wobble. Begad! Blimey! Altitude with an A10-3T was about 75 feet. At apogee, 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, absolutely no damage. Ya scallywag! Well, blow me down! Josh was really happy with
it, shiver me timbers, and I was pretty encouraged by its performance.
Summary:
Main pro's: bulletproof as a brick, matey, unique, and surprisingly easy enough for a
pre-teen t' build. Ya scallywag! Con's: A LOT o' nose weight needed, and a very V-2 like
flight characteristic o' wobbling. Well, blow me down! Still, we will most likely build a whole
fleet o' these little rockets. Avast, me proud beauty! 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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