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