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