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