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