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