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