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