The V2 project

[Phil Woollard]

The control room now has doors, I have decided to make the control quadrant view selectable. When the entire rocket body is removed and the internal details are on view obviously everything can be seen from any angle, when the V2 has its outer airframe installed and is attached to the trailer the internal detail views are compromised, so Ive added a "lazy Susan" bearing this being the very same bearing used by Armortek for the turret traverse just a lot smaller, this enables any of the control quadrant sections to be selected by simply rotating the whole thing by increments of 45/90 degrees, all held by an indent pin. The bearing is so robust it will happily operate in any orientation.

[Rolf Mönke]

a very interesting and successful part.

[Michael Cecil]

Hi Phil,

If you have not already, you will find 20 files listed by the National Archives of Australia on the V2 including one on the Videlwagen trailer. Several are digitised and can be viewed online, and there are several images on line as well.

https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchN ... sting.aspx

The above link will give you the list of files. You can click on the icon in the 'digitized item' column to view the file. Might provide you with some interesting images and reading.

Great job you are doing. I was fortunate to spend many hours examining the V2 at the AWM in Canberra (pictured earlier in this thread on the Meilwerwagen), and recovering the remains of another example from the RAAF Museum and moving what was left back to the AWM.

Will you be replicating the spring loaded door and the big, rectangular multi-pin electrical connecting plug into the control room quadrant? The cable connected the V2 to the armoured command vehicle. The plug was electro-magnetically ejected once the rocket was fired, and the spring-loaded door slammed shut for the flight. The process is visible on the Backfire Report footage.

An interesting aspect of the V2's construction was the use of chicken wire fencing to hold the insulation wrapped around the fuel tanks. I suppose it didn't matter what was used - it just had to be expendable.

Mike

[Phil Woollard]

Fascinating subject Mike, I envy you getting so close and involved. My love of rocketry and anything "off World" compels me to learn more, quite simply we would not have walked on the Moon (so soon any way) without this weapon system and its creator.

You will have to help with a closer link to the info please, as I cant navigate the research site from my end. Any photos of the more interesting and detailed aspects of the rocket and its systems would be gratefully received, there seems to be little that is under copyright (unless Pinterest get hold of the files that is).

I would like to add the electromagnetic coupling and the hatch, certainly the hatch, along with all the myriad of openings around the rest of the airframe to facilitate access to the systems prior to a launch. This will help me expose the internal detail when its all together and being exhibited at shows.

Using the chicken wire to hold the fuel tanks insulation in place has crossed my mind, if I add the insulation it would be correct but it would cover much of the fuel tanks detail, so for now I will omit that material although I do have it in stock.

"Operation Backfire" has been the best resource archive so far for me but theres always new snippets that come to light when searching daily on the Net.

With all the associated "cool" vehicles involved in a launch I feel theres maybe something for everyone reading this thread, tracked and wheeled!

Regards Phil.

[Michael Cecil]

Hi Phil,

I just tried the link and found it had gone to a timed-out default. Sorry - didn't realise that would occur.

So, to overcome that, use the link.
On the 'timed out' screen, click 'guest'.
The basic search screen will come up.
Type in V2 Rocket in the search box, and the 20 files will list on your screen. (leave the date range blank).

If that doesn't work, I'll take you through from the 'recordsearch' front screen.

The wrinkle effect of the outer skin is evident on everything except the warhead, which is a solid steel casing. I wonder how much drag such a wrinkled skin produced during flight, given the incredible speed the V2 got up to?

Regards

Mike

[Phil Woollard]

Mike I'm in, and there's some great detailed photos from the evaluation studies, many thank for the link regard Phil

[Phil Woollard]

Just in case you guy's think that I am slacking right now, a few photos of the Vidalwagen parts, most of the big stuff is there but lots of small fittings to make by hand.I need to draw the whole Vidalwagen onto the lining paper, then work off that.
I have a broken floating rib to keep my mind somewhat focused at present! ...Phil.

[Phil Woollard]

I'm going to pop this Protze rc conversion thread in with the V2.
I may use the Protze for V2 towing duties, most certainly it will be a part of the video and used along side my other Armortek vehicles, although I have not come across any evidence of the vehicle being used along side the V2 I am sure it was involved somewhere no doubt.
It's all metal with loads of tin bashing involved, no where near as well made as a similar vehicle from Armortek but it has a certain charm non the less.

[Phil Woollard]

Just a snippet of the progress. I am using a centre differential between the axles as I can not find a bridge axle/diff to transfer the drive through to the rear axle/diff in a robust enough scale (plenty in 1/16), so I will need to get the drive from a single large motor to the centre diff large gear by passing the drive through the suspension arms, it will be tight, an alternative would be to use two smaller motors either side of the centre diff with no need for propeller shafts.

[florian rudolf]

It looks nice Phil, but you need a Famo for towing the V2

[Phil Woollard]

Thanks Florian, I do have another just got to spend 3 months putting it all together!

[Phil Woollard]

There is a problem with uploading photo file attachments to the site, it just won't complete the task! I think we have experienced this before. Very small files will load so the quality of these photos is compromised some what.
I do have Armorteks blessing with this Protze conversion so please feel free to add any constructive comments if you wish guys?
I'm always a bit apprehensive with these conversions as some can look pants but I'm very pleased with the results so far, so I shall now invest further with sound and a decent rc set up.
Soon it will be the time to de grease and apply the grey primmer to everything!

[Phil Woollard]

An update on the front axle and suspension and steering set up. Bending that U channel by hand to form the chassis rails was a bit challenging.

[Liam Mahoney]

Hi Phil
Another very interesting build and some nice solutions. One thing I noticed, is the Ackerman on the steering knuckles a little close to the front axle? It looks very short?
Keep posting, it’s always good to follow your exploits


Thanks
Liam

[Phil Woollard]

Hi Liam, that ackerman angle is a bit tight, I believe it is normally calculated from the rear axle centre point, how does having two rear axles affect the angle or does it have no effect? Regards Phil