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