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