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