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