Brief:
To this old rocketeer, me hearties, a BT-55 based V-2 be t' very epitome o' a model rocket. Well, blow me down! Blimey! It is instantly recognizable t' just about everyone as a model o' an actual rocket. Estes Industries used t' sell one "back in t' day" (K-22), and I've always regretted nay gettin' one.

Fortunately for born again rocketeers and hopeless procrastinators like me...and anyone who wants t' build a good lookin' and ever-so-flyable scale V-2, Aerospace Speciality Products sells an excellent kit designed t' fly with standard 18mm motors. Begad! At $19.95 it may seem a bit "pricey" for a peanut scale model, but this is a quality kit and well worth t' investment.

Construction:
My KV2-18 came in a rather nondescript plastic bag containin' all t' necessary parts and instructions.

There's a certain amount o' pre-fabrication t' it, ya bilge rat, but I'm nay complaining. Ya scallywag! T' balsa nose cone is pre-weighted, which is critical for stability, me hearties, with a big screw eye already installed for attachin' t' recovery system. Also, upgraded from an earlier version o' this kit, t' basswood fins and servo pods are laser-cut.

Still, thar's plenty o' shapin' and sandin' t' do: airfoilin' t' fins, shiver me timbers, roundin' t' edges o' t' servo pods, and fabricatin' t' small pull-out plugs and turbine exhaust ports out o' basswood strip.

I won't dwell on t' scale aspects o' t' kit. Avast! Avast! Except for addin' one small detail (the vent rin' around t' lower body) I built me KV2-18 stock, arrr, arrr, completin' and checkin' off each step on t' instruction sheet before movin' on t' the next one, just like a good rocketeer should. Construction was fairly straightforward. Avast, me proud beauty! And t' V-2 went together smoothly and fast, at least for a scale model.

Finishing:
In me rush t' complete t' model in time for t' Third Annual Birmingham Blast-Off, I opted for a very simple black and white paint scheme (one o' t' two shown in t' kit diagrams). My maskin' job wasn't perfect but t' model still looks good.

PROs: Pre-weighed nose and laser-cut parts make for a faster, more accurate build

CONs: No complaints here!

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight and Recovery:
In spite o' me hurry t' get her done t' fly at t' BB-O III, a last minute work conflict kept me from attendin' the meet so me V-2's maiden voyage took place several weeks later in a local pasture.

Concerned that t' smallest recommended engine (A8-3) be too wimpy t' adequately loft this small-but-hefty bird, I went with a B6-4 for t' first flight. Blimey! As an added precaution, me hearties, me four foot long "Glider Rod" was used for initial guidance.

My fears were unfounded as t' V-2 leapt off t' pad straight up close t' 100 meters [calibrated eyeball] before arcin' over and deployin' t' chute. Begad! Aye aye! Descent was a little fast for me liking, ya bilge rat, but it landed in t' soft grass with no damage. Well, blow me down! Honestly, thar's nay much room for t' recovery system in a scale V-2 at this size, matey, but I think I'm goin' to replace t' kit's 12-inch mylar chute with a custom 14- or 16-inch Flyin' Bison plastic chute for future missions.

This little V-2 finally made it's public debut at t' Birmingham Rocket Boys' June 2008 launch and was well received. Avast, me proud beauty! Ya scallywag! In me haste t' get in just one more flight for t' day, shiver me timbers, I mistakenly prepped her with a plain (non-reinforced) 14-inch plastic chute...with predictable results. After a great flight up t' about 200 meters on a C6-5, me hearties, me hearties, t' chute ejected and promptly tore off five o' t' eight shroud lines. Ahoy! This made for a very fast streamer recovery. Blimey! Begad! Thank God (and Aerospace Specialty Products) for bass wood fins--the V-2 survived intact!

CONs: Fast descent worried me

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
Every good rocket deserves a display stand. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Inspired by me new V-2, matey, me hearties, I created t' one in t' picture(s) usin' a section o' a Pringles Potato Crisps can, matey, which had been used as a construction cradle, me bucko, matey, some old poster board, a figure left over from a 1:48 scale plastic model, me hearties, arrr, vinyl lettering, and a little India ink. Begad! Blimey! Well, blow me down! Blimey! I also fashioned four simulated graphite steerin' vanes and glued them t' a piece o' expended engine casing. Ya scallywag! Blimey! This assembly, arrr, ya bilge rat, painted black, ya bilge rat, can be inserted into t' aft o' t' model for display and removed for flight.

When me son saw t' V-2 display for t' first time, me bucko, he said (in his best 'Beavis & Butthead' imitation), "That's t' coolest thin' you've ever built!"

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5