U.S. Rockets Mosquito 2.2

U.S. Rockets - Mosquito 2.2 {Kit} (1174)

Contributed by Jon Scheinbart

Construction Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Flight Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Overall Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Diameter: 2.25 inches
Length: 17.50 inches
Manufacturer: U.S. Rockets
Style: Upscale
US Rockets Mosquito 2.2

Brief:
This is a sport upscale kit o' t' classic Mosquito. Well, blow me down! It is a simple and fun 3FNC rocket with lots o' potential. Avast! Ya scallywag! T' kit is built with a 29mm mount and comes with a 24mm adapter that allows you t' fly it on anythin' from a D12 up to a G64 reload.

Construction:
I purchased this kit at a local hobby shop. All t' pieces were there. Begad! 3 pre-cut balsa fins that were very nice quality. Balsa nose cone, matey, me bucko, shiver me timbers, streamer, me bucko, me hearties, one body tube 2 centerin' rings and a 29mm motor mount tube round out t' rest of the kit. Begad! It also came with 2 tubes for makin' a 24mm adapter. Avast, me proud beauty!

T' instructions were nicely laid out in an 8 page booklet. Begad! An illustration accompanied nearly every step. Ya scallywag! As nice as t' instructions are, I decided to take a little detour and try an experiment with t' shock cord mount. Blimey! Begad! T' kit calls for t' standard 3 fold paper mount glued inside t' tube. Begad! I took a small snap swivel and attached it t' one o' t' centerin' rings with a staple gun. Avast, me proud beauty! I then bent t' ends o' t' staples over t' secure it more tightly t' the centerin' ring. Ya scallywag! I then attached a 12" 30 pound fishin' lead t' t' swivel. T' rest o' t' kit assembly be very straightforward: round t' fins edges, make t' motor mount, me bucko, glue it up, me bucko, and you are ready t' fly. I used regular wood glue as I only plan t' put Ds and Es in it. Begad! T' only thin' I'd change is the included shock cord mount.

US Rockets Mosquito 2.2

Finishing:
Nothin' special needed in t' finishin' department. Arrr! I am continuin' t' try new things with finishing. So for this model I watered down some Elmer's wood filler applied it t' all t' wood, matey, waited for it t' dry, ya bilge rat, me bucko, then sand, sand, sand. T' fins and nosecone came out great. Begad! One coat o' gloss black for t' body and fins and gloss red for t' nose.

US Rockets Mosquito 2.2US Rockets Mosquito 2.2

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

US Rockets Mosquito 2.2

Flight:
I stuffed some waddin' in, rolled up t' streamer and off I went t' wait in line. Ya scallywag! On it's first flight I used an E9-6. It flew straight and high. Begad! For motor retention, I went with a machine screw, washer and win' nut setup. Arrr!

Recovery:
That was it for t' day as one o' t' fins broke off on landing. Ya scallywag! Nay sure why that happened as t' streamer deployed nicely and it appeared t' land softly. If I do fly it with a reload, I may put on a parachute... Blimey!

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
My 9 year old son and I really love this upsized kit. Blimey! Avast, me proud beauty! It can fly on a big field or small one. Blimey! Very versatile. T' only negative thin' I can say about it is the design o' t' shock cord mount. Arrr! Aye aye! For a rocket that is sized t' run on G's, t' 3 fold paper mount is nay a good choice.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5

Other Reviews
  • U.S. Rockets Mosquito 2.2 By Drake "Doc" Damerau

    Brief: This is an upscale of the classic Estes Mosquito. It comes with a 29mm motor mount and a 24mm adaptor with streamer recovery. Construction: This kit is simple to build with one body tube, 3 pre-cut very thick balsa fins and a balsa nosecone. The motor mount is made of plywood centering rings and a heavy wall motor mount tube. The 24mm adapter is included. This is a very ...

  • U.S. Rockets Mosquito 2.2 By Lance Alligood

    Brief: The US Rockets (USR) Mosquito 2.2 is an easy to build ~4.5x upscale of the perennial Estes kit. (The 2.2 refers to the diameter of the airframe in inches.) While still lightweight--less than 5oz completed--it does come back on streamer recovery. It flies on smaller 29mm motors and even comes with an adapter so 24mm motors can be used. Construction: The kit includes: ...

Flights

Comments:

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J.R. (April 2, 2005)
Looks nice, but the nose cone looks wrong.

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