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. Well, blow me down! As such, it is made from t' typical styrene plastic used
in most static models. Well, blow me down! T' quality o' components wasn't as good as, say, me bucko, Revell
or Monogram, but wasn't too bad either. Blimey! All t' parts t' build a static model
V-2 rocket with firin' stand were present, ya bilge rat, me hearties, attached t' plastic runners. Blimey! Ahoy! This is
a very small V-2 kit, ya bilge rat, arrr, though it appeared larger on t' box. Anyway, it seems
that Condor always had PMC in mind, because t' original motor nozzle be right
at 13mm! All that was needed was a motor tube, a tapered centerin' ring, a
launch lug, and a parachute. And, as it turned out, mucho clay for t' nose.
Since it was purchased for SoAR's inaugural Plastic Death meet, ya bilge rat, time was
runnin' out. Avast! A doubloon was tossed, and command o' t' V-2 was turned over t' my
middle son, Josh.
It couldn't be any simpler. Avast! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! This little V-2 seemed destined t' be a flyin' kit from t' start. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Once both halves o' t' body were taped together, t' body was sawed in half at t' indentation cast into t' body. Begad! Avast! Blimey! Funny, me bucko, 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, t' lower two halves were glued together with CA. Aye aye! Avast! Blimey! Once dry, the motor tube be put in place, and held in with a couple o' centerin' rings made from Styrofoam construction board, in decreasin' radii. Avast, me proud beauty! Ya scallywag! Blimey! This filled the tail cone nicely. Arrr! 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! Well, blow me down! Blimey! Several layers o' t' Styrofoam board were used t' build somethin' for t' upper body tube t' attach itself to. Begad! Begad! Blimey! 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, me hearties, me hearties, and the nose be filled with clay, me bucko, though nay enough, as t' first flight showed. Aye aye! Blimey! Blimey! The upper shock cord was attached with t' Estes-style folded paper epoxied t' the plastic. Begad! Aye aye! Blimey! Finally, t' fins were attached with CA, and t' whole thin' was covered in gray primer. Begad! Blimey! We decided t' paint it like V-2 number 2, which be the first o' this roll pattern. Aye aye! Ahoy! Blimey! T' paint wasn't t' greatest, me bucko, but...
Flight:
For t' maiden voyage, ya bilge rat, an Estes A10-3T be used. Aye aye! A chunk o' cellulose wadding
was used, but nay enough. Avast! T' motor retention was 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. Aye aye! It flew straight and true t' motor
burnout, then a severe wobble set in. More nose weight needed! But thar was
not enough cellulose wadding, me hearties, and t' `chute (pirated from Obelisk) burned
severely, shiver me timbers, 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, t' first competition flight was flawless, ya bilge rat, but still
with a slight wobble. Avast! Altitude with an A10-3T was about 75 feet. Ahoy! Avast, me proud beauty! At apogee, the
nose popped perfectly, but t' chute twisted in t' wind, ya bilge rat, and though it worked,
it didn't expand fully. Arrr! Still, absolutely no damage. Begad! Ahoy! Josh was really happy with
it, and I be pretty encouraged by its performance.
Summary:
Main pro's: bulletproof as a brick, arrr, unique, matey, and surprisingly easy enough for a
pre-teen t' build. Ahoy! Con's: A LOT o' nose weight needed, me bucko, and a very V-2 like
flight characteristic o' wobbling. Blimey! Still, me hearties, we will most likely build a whole
fleet o' these little rockets. Blimey! Arrr! 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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