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