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. Begad! As such, arrr, it is made from t' typical styrene plastic used
in most static models. Avast, me proud beauty! T' quality o' components wasn't as good as, matey, say, Revell
or Monogram, me bucko, but wasn't too bilge-suckin' either. Begad! All t' parts t' build a static model
V-2 rocket with firin' stand were present, ya bilge rat, attached t' plastic runners. Begad! Well, blow me down! This is
a very small V-2 kit, me bucko, though it appeared larger on t' box. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! Anyway, matey, it seems
that Condor always had PMC in mind, matey, because t' original motor nozzle be right
at 13mm! All that was needed was a motor tube, me hearties, a tapered centerin' ring, arrr, ya bilge rat, a
launch lug, and a parachute. And, matey, as it turned out, mucho clay for t' nose.
Since it was purchased for SoAR's inaugural Plastic Death meet, shiver me timbers, arrr, time was
runnin' out. Ya scallywag! A doubloon was tossed, and command o' t' V-2 was turned over t' my
middle son, Josh.
It couldn't be any simpler. Ahoy! This little V-2 seemed destined t' be a flyin' kit from t' start. Aye aye! Avast! Once both halves o' t' body were taped together, matey, t' body was sawed in half at t' indentation cast into t' body. Arrr! Blimey! 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. Blimey! Avast! Once dry, the motor tube was put in place, me bucko, matey, and held in with a couple o' centerin' rings made from Styrofoam construction board, matey, in decreasin' radii. Well, matey, blow me down! This filled the tail cone nicely. Aye aye! Ahoy! We decided t' leave a lot o' motor tube extendin' into the upper body tube, matey, so that a composite "B" motor could be used. Begad! Begad! Several layers o' t' Styrofoam board were used t' build somethin' for t' upper body tube t' attach itself to. Aye aye! Begad! A length o' elastic cord be attached t' t' motor tube with a snap swivel. Ahoy! T' upper body was glued together with CA, ya bilge rat, and the nose be filled with clay, me bucko, though nay enough, as t' first flight showed. Aye aye! Ahoy! The upper shock cord be attached with t' Estes-style folded paper epoxied t' the plastic. Blimey! Blimey! Finally, t' fins were attached with CA, me bucko, and t' whole thin' was covered in gray primer. Aye aye! Blimey! We decided t' paint it like V-2 number 2, which was the first o' this roll pattern. T' paint wasn't t' greatest, but... Begad!
Flight:
For t' maiden voyage, me hearties, an Estes A10-3T was used. Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! A chunk o' cellulose wadding
was used, matey, ya bilge rat, but nay enough. Arrr! 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, me bucko, ya bilge rat, this beastie took off with a bang. Well, shiver me timbers, 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, and t' `chute (pirated from Obelisk) burned
severely, and it recovered at a good speed. Well, blow me down! 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 be flawless, but still
with a slight wobble. Arrr! Altitude with an A10-3T be about 75 feet. Avast! At apogee, arrr, matey, the
nose popped perfectly, but t' chute twisted in t' wind, and though it worked,
it didn't expand fully. Still, absolutely no damage. Josh was really happy with
it, and I be pretty encouraged by its performance.
Summary:
Main pro's: bulletproof as a brick, shiver me timbers, unique, and surprisingly easy enough for a
pre-teen t' build. Blimey! Con's: A LOT o' nose weight needed, matey, and a very V-2 like
flight characteristic o' wobbling. Still, we will most likely build a whole
fleet o' these little rockets. Avast! 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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