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