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