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