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