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