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