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