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