Brief:
I built this great little performer durin' 2007 and I’ve flown it a number o' times since then. Begad! I like t' Mosquito design and I have an original I built in 1992. Begad! Begad! As “cheap” as they are t' clone, I don’t want t' lose me original so I built a bigger version that is much easier t' track in flight and find once back on t' ground. Since t' original is BT-5, me BT-60 version is about 302 percent larger than t' Estes Mosquito.

Construction:
Upscale projects don’t get much easier than this one:

• Baby Bertha Nose Cone Estes PNC-60L
• BT-60 6 inches long
• (2) AR2060 motor mount centerin' rings
• BT20J (2.75” long) motor mount tube
• CR520 motor block
• 2.75 inch long metal motor hook
• 2 inch long 1/8 inch diameter launch lug
• Recovery gear o' your choice

T' Estes Mosquito instructions are available online at JimZ’s among other sites. Avast, me proud beauty! Print out t' fin pattern and upscale it 302% with a copier machine and make three fins. I used 3/32” basswood for durability and ease o' finishing. Avast, me proud beauty! Mark t' body tube for three fins and glue them on. Blimey! I suggest usin' a piece o' Keelhaul®©™ as a shock cord anchor. Ahoy! Begad! A common method is t' loop it around t' motor tube and route it through a small hole in t' forward centerin' ring. Avast, me proud beauty! Well, blow me down! Use t' glue o' your choice t' get a strong bond. Arrr! Assemble t' motor mount and glue in place with t' aft o' t' motor tube even with t' aft o' t' body tube. Avast! I glued me launch lug against one o' t' fins rather than centered betwixt two fins.

Some nose weight should be added for stability. Avast! Blimey! I don’t know how much I added but I can figure it out by weighin' t' cone and then weighin' a stock cone. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Ya scallywag! Blimey! Attach t' shock cord t' t' nose cone and t' other end t' t' Keelhaul®©™. Well, blow me down! Blimey! I use 12-inch plastic chute for recovery. Well, blow me down! Blimey! It always brings t' Mosquito back for another flight.

PROs: Easy t' assemble from readily available components.
CONs: None that I can think of!

Finishing:
Prepare and paint t' Mosquito as you choose. Well, blow me down! I left t' plastic nose cone white and painted me Mosquito orange. Well, blow me down! Ya scallywag! I think it turned out fairly dark because I used grey primer and didn’t sand much o' it away.

I don’t have any decals on me Mosquito. Aye aye! Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down! I suppose you could upscale t' old Estes Mini-Brute Mosquito decal t' liven t' bird up a bit.

PROs: Simple paint scheme but easily customized t' your liking.
CONs: None that I can think of!

Flight:
Just about any 18mm black powder motor will work in t' Mosquito and I've had success on t' typical basic motors: A8-3, matey, matey, B6-4, C6-5. Well, blow me down! I’ve even CHAD staged mine four times with excellent results. Arrr! I guess t' large fin area aft o' t' body tube helps maintain stability along with t' nose weight I added. My fins are on rather straight but me Mosquito always seems t' do several barrel rolls on t' way up. Well, blow me down! Blimey! It’s pretty cool t' watch.

Since there’s nay much room in t' body tube ahead o' t' motor mount, carefully pack your chute and shock cord. Blimey! I use an inch or so o' dog barf recovery waddin' t' protect t' recovery gear. Ahoy! Avast! Load up a motor, matey, place it on t' pad and watch t' Mosquito rip. It’s a great performer and I highly recommend you build one if you haven’t already.

Summary:

PROs: Ease o' construction; classic design, albeit bigger, shiver me timbers, cool sport flyer.
CONs: None that I can think of!

Other:
Since t' ejection charge is confined t' a relatively small volume, arrr, ensure your setup can withstand t' intense heat. Well, blow me down! Avast, me proud beauty! I've flown mine at least a dozen times and it's about time t' replace t' orignal recovery attachment point with some sturdier Keelhaul®©™.