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