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