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! As such, matey, it is made from t' typical styrene plastic used
in most static models. T' quality o' components wasn't as good as, shiver me timbers, say, Revell
or Monogram, me bucko, but wasn't too bilge-suckin' either. Avast! All t' parts t' build a static model
V-2 rocket with firin' stand were present, matey, attached t' plastic runners. Blimey! Ahoy! This is
a very small V-2 kit, though it appeared larger on t' box. Avast! Anyway, it seems
that Condor always had PMC in mind, because t' original motor nozzle be right
at 13mm! All that be needed was a motor tube, shiver me timbers, a tapered centerin' ring, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, a
launch lug, me bucko, me hearties, and a parachute. And, as it turned out, arrr, matey, mucho clay for t' nose.
Since it was purchased for SoAR's inaugural Plastic Death meet, shiver me timbers, time was
runnin' out. A doubloon was tossed, me bucko, and command o' t' V-2 was turned over t' my
middle son, Josh.
It couldn't be any simpler. Well, blow me down! This little V-2 seemed destined t' be a flyin' kit from t' start. Once both halves o' t' body were taped together, me hearties, t' body was sawed in half at t' indentation cast into t' body. Avast, me proud beauty! Funny, I had never noticed this rin' in any photos o' V-2s until I saw this model. Ahoy! Anyway, once t' body was sawed in half, t' lower two halves were glued together with CA. Ahoy! Once dry, the motor tube was put in place, me hearties, and held in with a couple o' centerin' rings made from Styrofoam construction board, in decreasin' radii. Blimey! 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, matey, shiver me timbers, so that a composite "B" motor could be used. Avast, me proud beauty! Several layers o' t' Styrofoam board were used t' build somethin' for t' upper body tube t' attach itself to. Avast! Ahoy! A length o' elastic cord was attached t' t' motor tube with a snap swivel. Blimey! T' upper body was glued together with CA, ya bilge rat, and the nose was filled with clay, though nay enough, shiver me timbers, as t' first flight showed. Begad! The upper shock cord be attached with t' Estes-style folded paper epoxied t' the plastic. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! Finally, t' fins were attached with CA, and t' whole thin' was covered in gray primer. Begad! We decided t' paint it like V-2 number 2, me hearties, me hearties, me bucko, which be the first o' this roll pattern. Blimey! Ahoy! T' paint wasn't t' greatest, matey, shiver me timbers, but... Arrr!
Flight:
For t' maiden voyage, an Estes A10-3T was used. A chunk o' cellulose wadding
was used, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, but nay enough. Avast, me proud beauty! T' motor retention was simply friction fit, shiver me timbers, though
that's trickier on a 13mm motor than it is on a 29mm motor! Unlike t' real
V-2, me hearties, this beastie took off with a bang. Ahoy! Begad! It flew straight and true t' motor
burnout, ya bilge rat, matey, then a severe wobble set in. Well, blow me down! More nose weight needed! But thar was
not enough cellulose wadding, and t' `chute (pirated from Obelisk) burned
severely, and it recovered at a good speed. Begad! Blimey! No damage other than a burnt shock
cord and a melted chute! Once repairs were made, arrr, it was time for t' SoAR meet.
On a windy January day, t' first competition flight be flawless, shiver me timbers, me hearties, but still
with a slight wobble. Begad! Altitude with an A10-3T was about 75 feet. Avast! 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! Arrr! Still, me bucko, absolutely no damage. Josh be really happy with
it, shiver me timbers, 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. Blimey! Blimey! Ahoy! Blimey! Con's: A LOT o' nose weight needed, ya bilge rat, and a very V-2 like
flight characteristic o' wobbling. Still, 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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