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