Estes Mosquito 301% Upscale Upscale

Scratch - Mosquito {Scratch}

Contributed by Matt Gillard

Published: 2010-12-07
Manufacturer: Scratch
Style: Upscale

Scratch Mosquito 301 Cluster

Brief:
Part o' me mosquito family. Well, blow me down! This is a 301% upscale o' an Estes mosquito, me hearties, fitted with 2 x 18mm cluster mount. Designed t' return via a streamer, me hearties, but a small chute, matey, could be used.

Construction:
T' components for t' kit consist of:

  • A Big Bertha nose cone.
  • 6.02 inches o' Bt60.
  • Three balsa fins.
  • 2 x 18mm engine tubes.
  • 2 2x18mm cluster motor mount rings
  • 2 x engine blocks
  • Elastic Shock Cord.
  • Swatch o' Nomex cloth.
  • 2 meter o' 2 inch mylar streamer.
  • Fishin' leader.

T' motor mount which is a cluster ring, shiver me timbers, is built in its usual way. A steel fishin' leader be added t' t' mount by added one end tied and glued around t' engine tubes, with a notch cut into t' forward centerin' ring. Avast, me proud beauty! T' leader stops short o' t' neck o' t' body tube, matey, t' reduce t' chance o' t' thin steel cable cuttin' through t' body tube at ejection. Fins were attached in t' normal way, matey, arrr, with t' launch lug added t' t' body tube at t' body tube and fin seam. Aye aye! Blimey! T' shock cord is a two foot length o' elastic, me hearties, which be attached t' t' fishin' leader

T' rocket be given three coats o' sandin' sealer, and wood glue filleted a few times.

Finishing:
T' entire rocket had two coats o' white primer added, matey, with rub downs in betwixt coats.

To match me original mosquito color scheme and all t' other mosquitos t' rocket was given a few coats o' yellow spray paint, and then masked and black paint added t' one fin.

A mini brute decal from excelsiorrocketry be added t' t' yellow fin, matey, and a black CP decal be added at t' CP point.

Flight:
First flight be usin' a pair o' Estes A8-3s

flight was straight and quick off t' pad.

Ejection was just before apogee and t' rocket recovered fine.

Second flight was a month later, this time I opted for a pair o' C6-7s.

Flight be interesting: t' first 100 foot was straight and then t' rocket curved t' t' left, shiver me timbers, and then curved back t' t' right. Aye aye! I think that t' thrust o' each motor was unequal, with one motor peakin' earlier givin' t' first turn, followed by t' second motor peakin' as t' first one start t' lose thrust. T' flight path was effectively a large question mark shape.

Recovery:
Recovery is via a long streamer, partly because thar be nay alot o' room for a chute, matey, but mainly because it is easier t' find a 2 meter length o' mylar in a field o' crops.

T' streamer does recover t' rocket on t' quickish side, but thar has been no damage with this rocket, me bucko, arrr, or other Bt60 rockets o' a similiar design. Avast, me proud beauty! T' fields where Midland Rocketry fly is quite soft.

Summary:
I do like this rocket, arrr, mainly because its a Mosquito. Ahoy! Arrr! It probably will nay get too many outings, ya bilge rat, as it cost twice as much t' fly a cluster than it does t' fly a single motor rocket.

Comments:

avatar
Josh Bywater (October 13, 2013)

how did u upscale the fins??

avatar
Darian Rachal (December 3, 2013)

"The streamer does recover the rocket on the quickish side, but there has been no damage with this rocket, or other Bt60 rockets of a similiar design. The fields where Midland Rocketry fly is quite soft."

Matt, My idea in regard to 'recovery' is to have the smallest size chute necessary to prevent damage, or in your case a long streamer.Smile

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