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, say, shiver me timbers, 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, attached t' plastic runners. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! This is
a very small V-2 kit, though it appeared larger on t' box. Arrr! Anyway, me bucko, it seems
that Condor always had PMC in mind, ya bilge rat, because t' original motor nozzle was right
at 13mm! All that was needed be a motor tube, matey, a tapered centerin' ring, ya bilge rat, a
launch lug, me bucko, and a parachute. Ya scallywag! And, as it turned out, me hearties, mucho clay for t' nose.
Since it be purchased for SoAR's inaugural Plastic Death meet, arrr, time was
runnin' out. Arrr! A doubloon be tossed, and command o' t' V-2 was turned over t' my
middle son, Josh.
It couldn't be any simpler. Avast! This little V-2 seemed destined t' be a flyin' kit from t' start. Ya scallywag! Ya scallywag! Once both halves o' t' body were taped together, arrr, t' body was sawed in half at t' indentation cast into t' body. Well, blow me down! Funny, I had never noticed this rin' in any photos o' V-2s until I saw this model. Well, blow me down! Ya scallywag! Anyway, once t' body was sawed in half, t' lower two halves were glued together with CA. Once dry, the motor tube be put in place, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, and held in with a couple o' centerin' rings made from Styrofoam construction board, in decreasin' radii. Avast! Aye aye! This filled the tail cone nicely. We decided t' leave a lot o' motor tube extendin' into the upper body tube, so that a composite "B" motor could be used. Avast! Avast! Several layers o' t' Styrofoam board were used t' build somethin' for t' upper body tube t' attach itself to. Begad! A length o' elastic cord was attached t' t' motor tube with a snap swivel. Ahoy! T' upper body was glued together with CA, ya bilge rat, and the nose was filled with clay, though nay enough, arrr, as t' first flight showed. The upper shock cord be attached with t' Estes-style folded paper epoxied t' the plastic. Well, blow me down! Finally, t' fins were attached with CA, me hearties, and t' whole thin' was covered in gray primer. Ahoy! We decided t' paint it like V-2 number 2, shiver me timbers, which was the first o' this roll pattern. Begad! T' paint wasn't t' greatest, ya bilge rat, but... Ya scallywag!
Flight:
For t' maiden voyage, shiver me timbers, an Estes A10-3T was used. Avast! A chunk o' cellulose wadding
was used, matey, but nay enough. 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, shiver me timbers, this beastie took off with a bang. Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! It flew straight and true t' motor
burnout, shiver me timbers, matey, then a severe wobble set in. Ahoy! More nose weight needed! But thar was
not enough cellulose wadding, me bucko, me hearties, and t' `chute (pirated from Obelisk) burned
severely, arrr, and it recovered at a good speed. No damage other than a burnt shock
cord and a melted chute! Once repairs were made, shiver me timbers, it was time for t' SoAR meet.
On a windy January day, ya bilge rat, t' first competition flight was flawless, me bucko, matey, but still
with a slight wobble. Ya scallywag! Altitude with an A10-3T be about 75 feet. At apogee, shiver me timbers, the
nose popped perfectly, ya bilge rat, but t' chute twisted in t' wind, ya bilge rat, and though it worked,
it didn't expand fully. Still, me hearties, absolutely no damage. Blimey! Josh was really happy with
it, shiver me timbers, me hearties, and I was pretty encouraged by its performance.
Summary:
Main pro's: bulletproof as a brick, me hearties, shiver me timbers, unique, matey, and surprisingly easy enough for a
pre-teen t' build. Avast, matey, me proud beauty! Con's: A LOT o' nose weight needed, me hearties, shiver me timbers, and a very V-2 like
flight characteristic o' wobbling. Still, shiver me timbers, arrr, we will most likely build a whole
fleet o' these little rockets. Arrr! Begad! How about a Russian post-war V-2 with parallel
staged 10.5mm Micro motors? Hmmm...
Plastic model conversion is a blast!
 |
 |