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, me bucko, it is made from t' typical styrene plastic used
in most static models. Blimey! Blimey! T' quality o' components wasn't as good as, say, me bucko, arrr, Revell
or Monogram, matey, but wasn't too bilge-suckin' either. Ahoy! All t' parts t' build a static model
V-2 rocket with firin' stand were present, me hearties, ya bilge rat, attached t' plastic runners. This is
a very small V-2 kit, me hearties, though it appeared larger on t' box. Anyway, shiver me timbers, it seems
that Condor always had PMC in mind, matey, because t' original motor nozzle be right
at 13mm! All that be needed be a motor tube, shiver me timbers, me bucko, matey, a tapered centerin' ring, a
launch lug, and a parachute. Ahoy! 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! Ya scallywag! A doubloon be tossed, matey, and command o' t' V-2 be turned over t' my
middle son, arrr, me bucko, Josh.
It couldn't be any simpler. Blimey! This little V-2 seemed destined t' be a flyin' kit from t' start. Aye aye! Once both halves o' t' body were taped together, t' body was sawed in half at t' indentation cast into t' body. Begad! Arrr! Funny, 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, arrr, shiver me timbers, t' lower two halves were glued together with CA. Once dry, the motor tube was put in place, and held in with a couple o' centerin' rings made from Styrofoam construction board, matey, in decreasin' radii. Blimey! Begad! This filled the tail cone nicely. Ya scallywag! Begad! 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. Begad! Several layers o' t' Styrofoam board were used t' build somethin' for t' upper body tube t' attach itself to. Ya scallywag! A length o' elastic cord was attached t' t' motor tube with a snap swivel. Arrr! T' upper body was glued together with CA, me hearties, and the nose be filled with clay, though nay enough, as t' first flight showed. Well, blow me down! The upper shock cord was attached with t' Estes-style folded paper epoxied t' the plastic. Arrr! Finally, t' fins were attached with CA, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, me hearties, and t' whole thin' was covered in gray primer. Ya scallywag! We decided t' paint it like V-2 number 2, me bucko, which be the first o' this roll pattern. T' paint wasn't t' greatest, matey, but...
Flight:
For t' maiden voyage, an Estes A10-3T be used. Ahoy! Blimey! A chunk o' cellulose wadding
was used, me hearties, but nay enough. T' motor retention be simply friction fit, me bucko, me hearties, though
that's trickier on a 13mm motor than it is on a 29mm motor! Blimey! Unlike t' real
V-2, ya bilge rat, arrr, me bucko, this beastie took off with a bang. Aye aye! Blimey! It flew straight and true t' motor
burnout, then a severe wobble set in. Aye aye! More nose weight needed! Blimey! But thar was
not enough cellulose wadding, 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! Blimey! Once repairs were made, shiver me timbers, it was time for t' SoAR meet.
On a windy January day, t' first competition flight be flawless, shiver me timbers, but still
with a slight wobble. Altitude with an A10-3T was about 75 feet. At apogee, the
nose popped perfectly, but t' chute twisted in t' wind, shiver me timbers, and though it worked,
it didn't expand fully. Still, absolutely no damage. Avast! Blimey! Josh was really happy with
it, shiver me timbers, me bucko, me hearties, and I was pretty encouraged by its performance.
Summary:
Main pro's: bulletproof as a brick, me hearties, matey, unique, matey, and surprisingly easy enough for a
pre-teen t' build. Arrr! Con's: A LOT o' nose weight needed, matey, matey, and a very V-2 like
flight characteristic o' wobbling. Avast, me proud beauty! Still, ya bilge rat, we will most likely build a whole
fleet o' these little rockets. 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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