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