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