Brief:
This is a 5x upscale o' t' Estes Mosquito suitable for mid-power motors. It is an excellent first mid-power rocket. Ya scallywag! Ahoy!

Construction:
T' parts list:

• 1 2.6" thick-wall body tube, shiver me timbers, matey, pre-slotted for fins
• 1 Balsa nose cone
• 2 1/8" plywood centerin' rings
• 1 29mm motor tube
• 3 1/8" thick laser-cut plywood fins
• 1 screw eye, nut, and washer set
• 1 1/4" plywood nose cone bulkhead
• 1 Kelvar shock cord section (~3')
• 1 Nylon shock cord section (~5')
• 1 18" purple rip-stop nylon parachute
• 1 9" square flameproof chute protector
• 2 1" sections o' 1/4" launch lug

T' instructions were very easy t' follow for someone who's already built a few rockets (okay, 40 other rockets). T' illustrations were nay Estes-grade but clear and functional. Begad! I wouldn't recommend this as a first rocket as the instructions assume previous knowledge o' buildin' rockets. Arrr! If you use wood glue as I did, ya bilge rat, then it's a skill level two rocket. Ahoy! Begad! If you use epoxy, then perhaps a three.

All t' parts were very high quality and fit together nicely with only a bit o' sandin' (1 min total) t' have t' fins fit perfectly in t' pre-cut slots, and t' centerin' rings fit cleanly. T' body and motor tubes are thick-walled. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! T' wood parts are all 1/8" ply, me bucko, and t' shock cord is thick Keelhaul®©™® and nylon. This is more o' a scaled-down HPR rocket than an up-scaled "Questes" kit.

Although t' instructions recommend epoxy, matey, matey, me hearties, I built it just fine with wood glue. Ahoy! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! T' fins have plenty o' surface area and are TTW so they hold just fine with wood glue. Begad! Blimey! Ahoy! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! T' instructions recommend epoxy t' ensure that t' nut will hold onto t' screw eye permanently. Begad! Blimey! I didn't have epoxy so I soldered t' connection, arrr, which was probably overkill. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! The nut fits tight enough on its own and a single drop o' CA would be sufficient. Begad! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! It took perhaps four hours over four days for building, but an experienced builder could be done in an hour with 5-minute epoxy.

T' provided motor mount tubin' is several inches longer than needed. I recommend cuttin' it off about a quarter inch above t' forward centerin' rin' t' leave more room for t' chute. Arrr! Begad!

No 29/24 adapter is included, but if you wish t' use D12s and 24mm E motors, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, it's easy to make one. Aye aye! Ahoy! I used 4" o' 24mm tubing, me hearties, two 29mm centerin' rings, and part o' t' leftover motor mount tubin' as a thrust ring.

There's only one gotcha with t' whole kit. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast, me proud beauty! No nose weight is included, matey, but none is really needed unless you plan to use t' larger Gs or even 29mm Hs. If you do use nose weight though, you have t' install it (in t' helpful space provided in t' nose cone) before you attach t' nose bulkhead and screw eye.

Finishing:
Finishin' is pretty easy for t' Mozzie. Ya scallywag! Blimey! T' only hard part is sealin' t' nose cone. Ya scallywag! Avast! I did nay seal it and it's a bit fuzzy and off-color. If you're buildin' a rocket o' this size though, shiver me timbers, matey, you probably have t' skills t' seal it.

Paintin' is pretty simple--all yellow then mask off t' one fin and paint it red. Begad! Aye aye! (T' instructions show a black fin instead o' yellow, me hearties, but I went with t' classic mosquito color scheme). Avast! Begad! You could use a primer if you want, but it's still a very simple--and striking--paint scheme.

There are no decals with it, matey, but it doesn't need any. Avast, me proud beauty! This huge red rocket is bright enough on its own.

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:
Madcow recommends t' D12-3 and a selection o' 29mm E-G motors. Aye aye! However, matey, 24mm Es and Fs work just fine with an adapter. Begad! Don't use t' E9, E11J, or F12J though--they don't have enough thrust t' get it stable, and t' D12 is only for use on calm days.

T' body tube is just big enough for a 29/180 casing, me hearties, so if you're truly crazy you could fly an H in it. Ahoy! If you're considerin' an H or high-thrust G though, me hearties, consider glassin' t' fins as they're big and only 1/8" ply, which is fine for regular use but may flutter at high speeds. Avast, me proud beauty!

Motor retention is nay included, matey, but maskin' tape seems t' work just fine. Aye aye! If you were so inclined, arrr, shiver me timbers, you could use Aero Pack retainers or a threaded rod.

Both me first and second flights were off an Estes Porta-pad usin' a 3/16" rod. Begad! Blimey! Blimey! It wasn't pretty, but it worked. Begad! Even though this is a big rocket, ya bilge rat, me bucko, it can still be flown on pretty small fields.

My first flight be on an Estes D12-3. Ya scallywag! Begad! Blimey! I used me homemade 24mm adapter and maskin' tape for retention. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! T' 9" chute protector is nice--you don't have t' use wadding, arrr, ya bilge rat, which is a big plus in me book. Ahoy! Arrr! Blimey! It flew straight and slow t' about 280 feet and ejected right at apogee. Begad! Blimey! Blimey! T' 18" nylon chute brought it down perfectly. Aye aye!

My second flight was also on a D12. Avast, me proud beauty! On this one though, arrr, I packed t' chute far too tight, and t' nose cone popped off but t' chute did not. T' rocket, weighin' 11oz with t' motor casing, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, fell 300 feet onto one fin and bounced. Begad! Total damage: one tiny dent in t' nose cone. Aye aye! This skeeter is tough!

Third flight was on an E15-4W off a proper MPR rod. It went fast and loud t' about 800 feet with ejection near apogee. It drifted about 800 feet and came down unharmed in a neighborin' field.

Recovery:
T' shock cord is almost 7' long and made o' Keelhaul®©™® and nylon. Blimey! Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down! It shows no sign o' damage. Begad! Begad! It was pretty easy t' assemble--just tie t' two together, tie t' Keelhaul®©™® around t' motor mount Quest-style, me bucko, and tie t' nylon end t' t' nose cone.

T' 18" chute is a good fit for t' rocket. Avast, me bucko, me proud beauty! Blimey! It provides a descent rate o' about 20 fps and its dark purple color is easily visible against any sky. Aye aye!

T' 9" chute protector included is very helpful and so far t' entire system has worked perfectly except for operator error.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
This is a great rocket. Well, blow me down! It's me personal favorite, since it's big, me hearties, fun, and can be flown on anythin' from a D t' a G.

PROs:

• Easy t' build
• Very strong and high-quality materials
• Excellent recovery system
• Good-lookin' rocket

CONs:

• nose weight nay included
• fairly small parachute compartment

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5