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