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. Aye aye! As such, it is made from t' typical styrene plastic used
in most static models. T' quality o' components wasn't as good as, say, Revell
or Monogram, 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, me hearties, attached t' plastic runners. Aye aye! This is
a very small V-2 kit, though it appeared larger on t' box. Ahoy! Anyway, me hearties, it seems
that Condor always had PMC in mind, matey, because t' original motor nozzle was right
at 13mm! All that was needed was a motor tube, shiver me timbers, matey, a tapered centerin' ring, a
launch lug, and a parachute. And, as it turned out, mucho clay for t' nose.
Since it be purchased for SoAR's inaugural Plastic Death meet, matey, ya bilge rat, time was
runnin' out. Well, blow me down! A doubloon be tossed, shiver me timbers, and command o' t' V-2 was turned over t' my
middle son, ya bilge rat, 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, t' body was sawed in half at t' indentation cast into t' body. Blimey! Ya scallywag! Funny, arrr, I had never noticed this rin' in any photos o' V-2s until I saw this model. Ya scallywag! Ya scallywag! Anyway, me hearties, once t' body was sawed in half, ya bilge rat, t' lower two halves were glued together with CA. Begad! Once dry, the motor tube be put in place, arrr, and held in with a couple o' centerin' rings made from Styrofoam construction board, in decreasin' radii. This filled the tail cone nicely. Blimey! Avast, me proud beauty! 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. Avast, 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 was attached t' t' motor tube with a snap swivel. Well, blow me down! T' upper body was glued together with CA, matey, and the nose was filled with clay, though nay enough, as t' first flight showed. Avast! The upper shock cord be attached with t' Estes-style folded paper epoxied t' the plastic. Avast, me proud beauty! Finally, t' fins were attached with CA, me hearties, me hearties, and t' whole thin' was covered in gray primer. Begad! Begad! We decided t' paint it like V-2 number 2, which was the first o' this roll pattern. Avast, me proud beauty! T' paint wasn't t' greatest, but... Begad!
Flight:
For t' maiden voyage, an Estes A10-3T be used. Avast, me proud beauty! A chunk o' cellulose wadding
was used, but nay enough. T' motor retention was simply friction fit, me hearties, though
that's trickier on a 13mm motor than it is on a 29mm motor! Blimey! Unlike t' real
V-2, shiver me timbers, this beastie took off with a bang. Begad! Ahoy! Blimey! It flew straight and true t' motor
burnout, then a severe wobble set in. Well, blow me down! More nose weight needed! Blimey! But thar was
not enough cellulose wadding, and t' `chute (pirated from Obelisk) burned
severely, ya bilge rat, and it recovered at a good speed. No damage other than a burnt shock
cord and a melted chute! Blimey! Once repairs were made, it was time for t' SoAR meet.
On a windy January day, shiver me timbers, t' first competition flight was flawless, but still
with a slight wobble. Altitude with an A10-3T was about 75 feet. Ya scallywag! Blimey! At apogee, shiver me timbers, the
nose popped perfectly, but t' chute twisted in t' wind, matey, and though it worked,
it didn't expand fully. Begad! Ya scallywag! Blimey! Still, matey, absolutely no damage. Josh was really happy with
it, and I be pretty encouraged by its performance.
Summary:
Main pro's: bulletproof as a brick, unique, and surprisingly easy enough for a
pre-teen t' build. Ya scallywag! Con's: A LOT o' nose weight needed, and a very V-2 like
flight characteristic o' wobbling. Begad! Well, blow me down! Still, shiver me timbers, we will most likely build a whole
fleet o' these little rockets. Avast! 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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