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