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