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