No Picture

Remains of 36 volt battery cells used on the V2 to power onboard equipment. ©THBC

Remains of 36 volt battery cells used on the V2 to power onboard equipment. ©THBC

Photo shows rare surviving complete set of 8 lead acid battery cells from one of the V2 rocket’s 32 volt (100 amp) lead acid batteries. Two sets of batteries like this were used to provide the direct current (DC) voltage used aboard the V2 missile to power the DC to 3-phase alternating current (AC) generators, that in turn, powered the gyroscopes, electro-hydraulic servos, trim motors and other vital guidance and control devices. Photo copyright: The Horst Beck Collection

Album: Missile guidance equipment

Categories: Missile guidence V2 Missile relics

Tags: #LEV-3 gyroscope system #Control surface servos #V2 Missile relics

No Picture

A4-V2 control surface servo and trim motors. ©THBC

A4-V2 control surface servo and trim motors. ©THBC

Photo shows a unique display at the Horst Beck Collection (HBC). Over many years Mr Horst Beck has painstakingly acquired and restored many A4-V2 missile parts – and in some cases, reassembled them into complete sub-assemblies. Shown here is part of the collection’s hydraulic servos and trim motor parts display. In the foreground we see four hydraulic servos, and behind them their A frame mounting ‘chairs’. The top shelf, from left to right, shows a servo with motor removed (and placed on its right). In the middle, two trim motors and chain sprocket gear-boxes for the aerodynamic trim surfaces on the trailing edge tips of fins 2 and 4. Next the pale green crank levers, the first longer one is for the hydraulic servo that controls the jet vanes and trimmers on fins 1 and 3. The shorter version minus the top horn, is used on the servos for fins 2 and 4. The last, silver coloured item,os a servo stabiliser (all the servos shown have one already fitted). Photo copyright: The Horst Beck Collection

Album: A4-V2 Hydraulic servo and electric trim motor

Categories: Missile guidence

Tags: #Control surface servos #Fertigungshalle Eins (F1) #V2 Missile relics

No Picture

A4-V2 air rudder detail. ©THBC

A4-V2 air rudder detail. ©THBC

Photo shows restored air-rudder and fin detail. The grey painted barrel-strainers are both adjusted independently to reduce slack in the drive chain and avoid introducing a deflection bias in the air rudder. The 1.9kg counterbalance weight normally located at the top of the trim fin (or air rudder) is missing in this presentation. This excellent restoration is the work of Horst Beck. Photo copyright: The Horst Beck Collection

Album: A4-V2 Hydraulic servo and electric trim motor

Categories: Missile guidence Sub-assemblies

Tags: #V2 Missile relics #Control surface servos

No Picture

Detail of fin 2 or 4 showing trim motor and drive chain

Detail of fin 2 or 4 showing trim motor and drive chain

Photo shows partially restored air-rudder and fin detail. The image on the left shows the relationship of the trim motor to the air rudder drive shaft on fins 2 and 4. A chain similar in gauge to the type used on a push-bike and yet, at the other end of the shaft, the chain transmitting the torque of the trim motor to the air-rudder drive sprocket has a heavy gauge chain similar to that found on a 1000CC motor-cycle! This excellent restoration is the work of Horst Beck. Photo copyright: The Horst Beck Collection

Album: A4-V2 Hydraulic servo and electric trim motor

Categories: Missile guidence V2 Missile relics

Tags: #Control surface servos #V2 Missile relics

No Picture

Restored graphite vane thrust ring support housings. ©THBC

Restored graphite vane thrust ring support housings. ©THBC

Photo shows four restored graphite jet vane support blocks and bearing housings. The round plates we can see here act as heat sinks and allow heat to radiate away from the support block and bearing to help prevent expansion due to relatively rapid and uneven temperature distribution accumulation. The graphite vanes were quite brittle and cracking caused by rapid and uneven expansion could cause the vane to disintegrate. The area around the graphite vanes was exposed to the accumulation of heat not merely as a result of duration of the motor burn time but temperature was also increased at higher rates as the jet plume expanded with the decreasing atmospheric pressure as the missile gained altitude. This excellent restoration is the work of Horst Beck. Photo copyright: The Horst Beck Collection

Album: A4-V2 Hydraulic servo and electric trim motor

Categories: Missile guidence Sub-assemblies V2 Missile relics

Tags: #Control surface servos #V2 Missile relics