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