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