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