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