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