Found Collection

Ohhhh John......How many do you have?
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######### Christopher Cox, KC8FRJ, TRA#4901 L2, NAR 70155 ##########
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Last week, i posted a message (and promised an update this week) about our
upcoming attempt to set the informally maintained world record for
launching, finding and relaunching a stock Mosquito. We are currently at 17
launches, and understand that this is tied with the reocrd. We hoped to set
the record on Sunday, but there were 40-50 mph winds so this didn't seem
like the right time (Duh!!!!). This weekend, we plan on a big crowd, and
better weather.

On a similar note, two days agoe, my son and a friend and I went out to
launch our new Quark, with just a 1/2A.... After so much success with the
Mosquito, we figured we would find this thing, it is the brightest red, on
a field of pure green grass. No such luck.......! So now we are more
respectful of the skeptics about our Mosquito successes. We must be lucky
as all hell with the Mosquito,

Anyway, as always, we are looking for more Mosquito stories, from all of
you. Good things come in small packages!

Peter Bloch

You have a good point on thie issue of "should there be diffent categories"
for this self-declared world record. Our 17 launches have been about 60% on
1/2A's, and the rest on full A's. I am undecided what engine we will use
for the 18th, record-beating attempt. How macho should we be about this vs.
how much do we want this particular launch to be successful (meaning: find
the little *** afterwards).

The kids here are kind of caught up in the anticipation, and the idea that
we are setting the international standard (no matter how self-defined) is a
big plus.

Peter and Tom Bloch, ages 44 and 8

 No, I only have one Mosquito, and it's only flown 6 times.  After reading the
 following, you'll understand the borrowed time statement.

I had a friend of mine transport all but one of my rockets ( the missing one
 was my Mean Machine, I missed it 'cause it was in a dark corner- - yes it's
 painted black) to an annual July launch at the Neil Armstrong museum in
 Wapakoneta, Ohio.  He had a truck that was a U-Haul in a former life and all I
 had was a little Horizon loaded with family.

After the demo, he was to transport all my rockets back to my house after
 dropping his passenger off at home.  I started to worry when he was over two
 hours late.  I was just getting ready to call when he called and said that he
 had been in an accident.  A drunk had rear-ended his truck at over 130 mph,
 forcing it onto a barrier and flipping it on it's side.  Bill and the guy
 riding with him were okay, just minor bruises ( "You're stepping on my head!"
 "Good! Don't move. I need the boost to get out this window!").

 Except for the Mosquito, all my rockets were destroyed, including my Saturn V,
 Saturn 1B, Jayhawk, Explorer Aquarius, Maxi-Force, 18mm X-Wing, Tie Fighter,
 2.6" Mosquito, Bident, NASP, Maxi Starship Vega, 1/100 Little Joe II, and many
 others that I can't recall at the moment.  The 'Skeeter survived because it
 was inside of a LOC kit that Bill was transporting.

Anyway, the insurance company covered the cost of replacing most of the kits,
 and let me keep the parts, too.  

John O'Donnell  NAR# 60742  CSAR Sec.#113
                        TRA# 3274   TRIPOLI MID-OHIO

If at first you don't succeed, try a little more epoxy.

A week later she asked me "Daddy do you think the rocket has come down
yet?"

Ed

My son has six launches and  recoveries with his mosquito.. and
probably six hours of 'search' time:-) NO the quark should not be
included in the contest.. it doesnt go near as high as the mosquito,
and mine comes straight down and yarddarts into the turf every time:)
I just listen for the whistling noise and the thump, then pull it out
of the ground and fly it again.  A buddy of mine put a streamer in his
Mosquito, and you would be surprised at how LITTLE help it is in
finding the rocket.......

I love reading all these Mosquito notes.... just a few notes in response:

Jon, I told my son just now about how you lost your rocket fleet in the
trailer wreck, and he expresed his consolations to you. he also said that
it was interesting that your fleet is now reduced to two rockets, the
smallest and largest Estes models. Everything between is gone.

Ed, I just love your story. In fact, i suspect your daughter has more
wisdom than most of the rest of us, for surely this explains several lost
rockets... they simply never stopped going up, and will be found when they
change their minds and return to earth!

And I agree with BadBill, about the idea of Quarks being included in this
record. Maybe I am influenced by the fact that we lost our Quark on the
first try, while the Mosquito just keeps on tickin.' Or maybe it is the
fact that skeeters are an old and noble tradition (when were they first
sold by Estes?). Or maybe I am just trying to protect our tenuous hold on
this record. Or maybe I am just a Mosquito snob. But I think this record
should be available only to off-the-shelf stock Estes Mosquitos. What do
you-all say?

Tell me more about scaled-up Mosquitos, there was a brief reference to this
in Jon's message. Do they still tumble and land softly enough for the fins
to survive. What are the specs for tube size, fin stock, etc.

I built it with a 24mm motor mount, but had only flown it on a C before the
 accident.  Although there were jokes about using tumble recovery, I used a 12"
 Estes chute. The fins were 1/8" balsa, but if I rebuild it, I think I'm going
 to opt for 3/32" bass thru the wall.

If you really want to see an impressive 'Skeeter upscale, check out Jim
 Cornwall's fleet.  His largest is, I think, 12" diam and around 5 or six feet
 tall and flies on M motors.  Anyone know where to find pics on the web of it?
 There are a couple of back issues of HPR and Sport Rocketry magazines that
 have a construction article and flight info on it , including a shot of Vern
 Estes standing next to Jim's (?) 4" version and holding a stock Mosquito.

John O'Donnell  NAR# 60742  CSAR Sec.#113
                        TRA# 3274   TRIPOLI MID-OHIO

If at first you don't succeed, try a little more epoxy.

Michael D. Bear        Bowling Green State University
Network Technician     327 Hayes Hall

                       (419) 372-6929

Mike talks about his upscale Mosquitoes...i still wonder if these are
tumble recovery, or have shutes or streamers. To what degree can the
Mosquito recovery method be scaled up, before the weight or whatever gets
to be a problem.

And for the 10mm, 'Skeeter, I can understand why you haven't launched it.
It would be impossible to find, wouldn't it (this from someone who scoffs
at others who say that regular 'Skeeters are impossible to find!!!)

Again, as I asked before, when were Mosquitoes first offered by Estes? I
have a recollection of them from my first incarnation as a Rocketeer, maybe
1963... is this correct?

No, way too early!  Came out about 1974ish with the mini engines.  You may be
 remembering the "Orange Bullet" out of the Estes Design Book.
Clear Skies!
John Phillips

With those swept fins and the fact the CG doesnt move much at all at ejection,
 most of them will not tumble but come in stable.  Not a problem, until you
 start getting larger (the rocket, not YOU!) so a chute is a necessity.

With upscaling this, you need to have the fins really heavy duty and probably
 TTW if really big so they can take the force of landing better.  Wouldnt
 recommend a streamer on a BT60 or larger size.