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