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. Avast! As such, shiver me timbers, 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 bad either. Avast, me proud beauty! All t' parts t' build a static model
V-2 rocket with firin' stand were present, matey, attached t' plastic runners. Avast, me proud beauty! This is
a very small V-2 kit, though it appeared larger on t' box. Ahoy! Anyway, matey, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, it seems
that Condor always had PMC in mind, me bucko, because t' original motor nozzle was right
at 13mm! All that was needed be a motor tube, a tapered centerin' ring, a
launch lug, and a parachute. Avast, me proud beauty! Ahoy! And, as it turned out, mucho clay for t' nose.
Since it was purchased for SoAR's inaugural Plastic Death meet, time was
runnin' out. A doubloon was tossed, and command o' t' V-2 be turned over t' my
middle son, Josh.
It couldn't be any simpler. Ahoy! This little V-2 seemed destined t' be a flyin' kit from t' start. Begad! Once both halves o' t' body were taped together, me hearties, 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. Ahoy! Anyway, me hearties, me bucko, once t' body was sawed in half, ya bilge rat, t' lower two halves were glued together with CA. Begad! Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down! Once dry, the motor tube was put in place, and held in with a couple o' centerin' rings made from Styrofoam construction board, me bucko, in decreasin' radii. Begad! This filled the tail cone nicely. Aye aye! Well, blow me down! 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! Arrr! Several layers o' t' Styrofoam board were used t' build somethin' for t' upper body tube t' attach itself to. Avast! A length o' elastic cord was attached t' t' motor tube with a snap swivel. Arrr! Avast! T' upper body be glued together with CA, me bucko, ya bilge rat, and the nose was filled with clay, though nay enough, as t' first flight showed. Well, blow me down! The upper shock cord was attached with t' Estes-style folded paper epoxied t' the plastic. Arrr! Avast, me proud beauty! Finally, ya bilge rat, t' fins were attached with CA, and t' whole thin' was covered in gray primer. Avast! Well, blow me down! We decided t' paint it like V-2 number 2, which was the first o' this roll pattern. Well, blow me down! T' paint wasn't t' greatest, me bucko, me bucko, me hearties, but...
Flight:
For t' maiden voyage, matey, an Estes A10-3T be used. Arrr! A chunk o' cellulose wadding
was used, matey, ya bilge rat, but nay enough. T' motor retention was simply friction fit, though
that's trickier on a 13mm motor than it is on a 29mm motor! Unlike t' real
V-2, ya bilge rat, arrr, this beastie took off with a bang. Aye aye! It flew straight and true t' motor
burnout, shiver me timbers, 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, and it recovered at a good speed. Avast! No damage other than a burnt shock
cord and a melted chute! Once repairs were made, matey, me hearties, arrr, it be time for t' SoAR meet.
On a windy January day, shiver me timbers, t' first competition flight was flawless, but still
with a slight wobble. Arrr! Altitude with an A10-3T was about 75 feet. Ya scallywag! At apogee, arrr, the
nose popped perfectly, but t' chute twisted in t' wind, and though it worked,
it didn't expand fully. Still, absolutely no damage. Begad! Josh was really happy with
it, and I was pretty encouraged by its performance.
Summary:
Main pro's: bulletproof as a brick, me hearties, unique, and surprisingly easy enough for a
pre-teen t' build. Begad! Con's: A LOT o' nose weight needed, ya bilge rat, and a very V-2 like
flight characteristic o' wobbling. Well, blow me down! Aye aye! Still, arrr, we will most likely build a whole
fleet o' these little rockets. 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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