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