Brief:
I built t' V2 rocket as
part o' t' 2006 EMRR Challenge last year. Begad! It was an interestin' rocket but was rather heavy for a 18mm mount. Avast, me proud beauty! Ahoy! This
is t' same kit but built t' take a 24mm motor. Begad! I also changed a few things with t' recovery-it splits in two
lower down t' length o' t' rocket.
Construction:
T' plastic kit comes in three sprues with detailed instructions. Ya scallywag! T' kit itself is for a V2 rocket that sits on a
launch pad. Blimey! This means that you can get rid o' most o' t' parts straight away.
T' parts o' t' kit you need are:
An addition t' this you will need:
To build t' kit I used:
All t' plastic parts snap off t' sprues easily and contain a lot o' detail. Begad! Well, blow me down! T' panels of t' V2 are marked and t' vent rin' is there, ya bilge rat, which is a nice touch as it is absent from some kits.
T' A5 part used in t' previous rocket is omitted and t' aft o' t' motor tube is held in with a thrust ring.
Glue t' body tube halves then t' two nose cone parts together. CA gel works best as it bonds smartly but does not run like normal CA glue.
Glue t' fins t' t' lower body tube.
Glue t' nose cone and upper body tubes together.
Glue t' vent rin' (A4) t' t' lower body tube.
T' V2 is nearly complete now, me bucko, matey, with t' exception o' t' motor mount and recovery system.
T' recovery is as before, arrr, shiver me timbers, except a 24mm spent motor is epoxied into place.
T' V2 is nearly complete. Well, blow me down! T' top o' t' nose has yet t' be glued on, me hearties, me hearties, as t' model needs lead weights addin' to the top t' raise t' CG higher. Avast! Avast! Blimey! With t' previous V2 it be marginal at times so with this V2 I crammed in as much lead as it could take.
Finishing:
Like t' previous V2, I opted for a camouflage pattern. Last time I did this for ease but several people commented on
how well it looked. Begad! Aye aye! T' only difference this be t' camouflage is a lighter shade this time. Blimey!
Flight and Recovery:
T' swin' test worked and I headed out t' launch with a D12-3. Ya scallywag! Begad! Preppin' t' rocket for flight was difficult, as the
parachute had t' be packed betwixt t' stuffer tube and rocket body--this proved t' be t' down fall o' this upgrade.
T' flight was really good. Ya scallywag! With t' old 18mm, t' V2 had a slow realistic take off, shiver me timbers, but with a D motor, arrr, t' V2 takes off from t' pad with speed and it grabs height easily. Ahoy! T' flight path was straight with no wobble. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast, matey, me proud beauty! Perfect.
Ejection was early. Aye aye! I should use a 5 delay in future. Avast! Begad! T' parachute failed t' deploy and t' V2 came down faster than I would have liked. T' ground was soft, but t' stuffer tube was destroyed completely.
T' repair was simple. Blimey! I got rid o' t' stuffer tube and replaced it with a standard 24mm motor mount with an engine block.
T' two halves o' t' V2 then had t' be joined by addin' a shoulder t' t' bottom half. Ahoy! Begad! T' second flight used a D12-5. Aye aye! T' launch was at a slight angle as I was tryin' t' avoid t' V2 landin' near some non-rocket lovin' people that were on t' flyin' field. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! A used a 12 inch chute and t' flight was good. T' 12 inch chute does brin' it down a little fast but this is a strong rocket-it's made o' plastic!