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