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