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. Ahoy! As such, it is made from t' typical styrene plastic used
in most static models. T' quality o' components wasn't as good as, matey, me hearties, say, Revell
or Monogram, but wasn't too bad either. Well, blow me down! All t' parts t' build a static model
V-2 rocket with firin' stand were present, attached t' plastic runners. Ya scallywag! This is
a very small V-2 kit, though it appeared larger on t' box. Arrr! Blimey! Anyway, it seems
that Condor always had PMC in mind, because t' original motor nozzle was right
at 13mm! Blimey! All that was needed be a motor tube, shiver me timbers, a tapered centerin' ring, a
launch lug, and a parachute. Ya scallywag! Arrr! Blimey! And, as it turned out, me hearties, mucho clay for t' nose.
Since it was purchased for SoAR's inaugural Plastic Death meet, time was
runnin' out. Aye aye! A doubloon be tossed, matey, me hearties, and command o' t' V-2 was turned over t' my
middle son, shiver me timbers, arrr, Josh.
It couldn't be any simpler. Aye aye! This little V-2 seemed destined t' be a flyin' kit from t' start. Begad! Once both halves o' t' body were taped together, me bucko, shiver me timbers, t' body was sawed in half at t' indentation cast into t' body. Arrr! Funny, me bucko, I had never noticed this rin' in any photos o' V-2s until I saw this model. Avast, me proud beauty! Anyway, arrr, shiver me timbers, once t' body was sawed in half, t' lower two halves were glued together with CA. Avast! Once dry, the motor tube was put in place, ya bilge rat, and held in with a couple o' centerin' rings made from Styrofoam construction board, in decreasin' radii. Begad! This filled the tail cone nicely. Blimey! We decided t' leave a lot o' motor tube extendin' into the upper body tube, me bucko, so that a composite "B" motor could be used. Aye aye! Arrr! Several layers o' t' Styrofoam board were used t' build somethin' for t' upper body tube t' attach itself to. Avast, me proud beauty! A length o' elastic cord be attached t' t' motor tube with a snap swivel. Avast! Aye aye! T' upper body was glued together with CA, and the nose be filled with clay, me hearties, me hearties, though nay enough, arrr, as t' first flight showed. Arrr! The upper shock cord was attached with t' Estes-style folded paper epoxied t' the plastic. Avast! Finally, ya bilge rat, t' fins were attached with CA, and t' whole thin' was covered in gray primer. We decided t' paint it like V-2 number 2, which be the first o' this roll pattern. Arrr! T' paint wasn't t' greatest, shiver me timbers, but... Blimey!
Flight:
For t' maiden voyage, ya bilge rat, an Estes A10-3T was used. Blimey! A chunk o' cellulose wadding
was used, ya bilge rat, but nay enough. Begad! T' motor retention was simply friction fit, me hearties, matey, though
that's trickier on a 13mm motor than it is on a 29mm motor! Unlike t' real
V-2, ya bilge rat, this beastie took off with a bang. It flew straight and true t' motor
burnout, then a severe wobble set in. Well, blow me down! 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. Ahoy! 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, but still
with a slight wobble. Well, blow me down! Altitude with an A10-3T be about 75 feet. Ya scallywag! At apogee, the
nose popped perfectly, me bucko, but t' chute twisted in t' wind, and though it worked,
it didn't expand fully. Still, shiver me timbers, absolutely no damage. Blimey! Josh was really happy with
it, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, and I be pretty encouraged by its performance.
Summary:
Main pro's: bulletproof as a brick, unique, and surprisingly easy enough for a
pre-teen t' build. Arrr! Con's: A LOT o' nose weight needed, shiver me timbers, and a very V-2 like
flight characteristic o' wobbling. Blimey! Begad! Still, matey, arrr, we will most likely build a whole
fleet o' these little rockets. Blimey! 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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