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. Ahoy! Arrr! As such, it is made from t' typical styrene plastic used
in most static models. Begad! Aye aye! T' quality o' components wasn't as good as, say, me bucko, 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. Blimey! This is
a very small V-2 kit, though it appeared larger on t' box. Begad! Anyway, matey, it seems
that Condor always had PMC in mind, me bucko, because t' original motor nozzle be right
at 13mm! All that was needed was a motor tube, me hearties, ya bilge rat, a tapered centerin' ring, ya bilge rat, a
launch lug, me hearties, shiver me timbers, and a parachute. Avast! Well, blow me down! And, arrr, as it turned out, me bucko, shiver me timbers, mucho clay for t' nose.
Since it be purchased for SoAR's inaugural Plastic Death meet, shiver me timbers, time was
runnin' out. Avast! Avast, me proud beauty! A doubloon was tossed, arrr, and command o' t' V-2 be turned over t' my
middle son, ya bilge rat, Josh.
It couldn't be any simpler. Blimey! Ahoy! This little V-2 seemed destined t' be a flyin' kit from t' start. Avast! Once both halves o' t' body were taped together, me hearties, arrr, me hearties, t' body was sawed in half at t' indentation cast into t' body. Funny, I had never noticed this rin' in any photos o' V-2s until I saw this model. Blimey! Arrr! Anyway, arrr, once t' body was sawed in half, t' lower two halves were glued together with CA. Arrr! Once dry, the motor tube was put in place, and held in with a couple o' centerin' rings made from Styrofoam construction board, arrr, arrr, in decreasin' radii. This filled the tail cone nicely. We decided t' leave a lot o' motor tube extendin' into the upper body tube, 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. Arrr! A length o' elastic cord be attached t' t' motor tube with a snap swivel. Begad! Begad! T' upper body be glued together with CA, and the nose be filled with clay, though nay enough, arrr, as t' first flight showed. Begad! The upper shock cord be attached with t' Estes-style folded paper epoxied t' the plastic. Begad! Finally, t' fins were attached with CA, me hearties, 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. Avast! Ya scallywag! T' paint wasn't t' greatest, but... Ahoy!
Flight:
For t' maiden voyage, an Estes A10-3T was used. Arrr! A chunk o' cellulose wadding
was used, me hearties, but nay enough. Well, blow me down! T' motor retention be simply friction fit, matey, though
that's trickier on a 13mm motor than it is on a 29mm motor! Unlike t' real
V-2, me hearties, ya bilge rat, this beastie took off with a bang. Ya scallywag! It flew straight and true t' motor
burnout, shiver me timbers, 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, arrr, and it recovered at a good speed. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! No damage other than a burnt shock
cord and a melted chute! Once repairs were made, me bucko, me bucko, shiver me timbers, it was time for t' SoAR meet.
On a windy January day, t' first competition flight be flawless, arrr, but still
with a slight wobble. Aye aye! Altitude with an A10-3T was about 75 feet. Blimey! At apogee, shiver me timbers, the
nose popped perfectly, but t' chute twisted in t' wind, arrr, me hearties, and though it worked,
it didn't expand fully. Begad! Still, ya bilge rat, absolutely no damage. Josh was really happy with
it, me hearties, and I was pretty encouraged by its performance.
Summary:
Main pro's: bulletproof as a brick, me bucko, unique, shiver me timbers, and surprisingly easy enough for a
pre-teen t' build. Arrr! Avast, me proud beauty! Con's: A LOT o' nose weight needed, matey, and a very V-2 like
flight characteristic o' wobbling. Still, arrr, ya bilge rat, we will most likely build a whole
fleet o' these little rockets. Ya scallywag! Arrr! 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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