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