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