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