Mini Brute to Mega Brute Decal Draw

Recently I won a Mega Mosquito on Ebay.
Here's how I remember the original Estes kits - the first three Mini Brute rockets had the Mini Brute "Bug" Decal.
The new Mega kit has a large, realistic mosquito silhouette decal.
The Mega Mosquito name looks like it was made on an Avery label maker.
I'm not a big fan of that font, also used on the Cosmic Explorer.
I thought it'd be interesting to update the old Mini Brute Bug for the Mega Mosquito.

The online decal scans are pretty rough. When enlarged it's even worse!
I started with this bug and dropped it into Corel Draw.

Here's the Mini Brute redraw.
I added a little more space between the letters so it would be easier to read.
Those "I"s are pretty thick.

And for the Mega Mosquito - 
A MEGA BRUTE decal!
On this one, the "E" in Brute is better formed.
The letters expand and shrink to follow the outside curve of the bug body.

Patreon members: If you would like the decal art in PDF form to print your own decals, email me at:
oddlrockets@bellsouth.net
Request the Mosquito Bug decals PDF
Both Mini and Mega bugs are included and sized for both models!

Mexico Projects

I'm stuck in Mexico for the next two months, all of June and July.
While here, I'll keep the blog going as best I can, hope the Internet connection is good!
There may only be one post per day, depending on how much content is in the post and the Internet.
I've packed some small projects to work on during the day.

I drew this one up last September, the first time in Mexico.
The Black Brant VB is a BT-5 based carded model. All the data came from the Alway book, Rockets of the World.
Carded models are flat, light and easy to pack.

Below that is a tail cone for a conical stabilized model. It should replace the Flic Shuttle in the combo kit.

Here's how the BT-5 tubes were packed. They went right next to my laptop. The protective tube is around a BT-55 size. All three BT-5s slid in without distortion.
There's a El WalMarto close by if I forgot anything.
I've packed a break-off blade knife, sanding block, 400 grit sandpaper, ruler and pencil.
Don't forget dowels, Sharpie pen and Q-tips!


A new article will be written for the Apogee Peak Of Flight newsletter. I'll explain how to tie up a no tangle parachute. The shroud lines will be untangled after construction and flight.
I've brought enough to keep me busy during the days.

Mini Mosquito Build Finished

A quick build for a model I'll probably lose anyway!

When I can find them, the first flight will be with a 1/4A3-3t engine.

The nose cone joint is smooth and the mask came out clean.
The yellow is a good color to see against the grass field at the schoolyard.
The new water slide "bug" was set on the fin.
The decal draw is coming up in a blog post.








Here's the Mosquito from the 1973 Estes catalog. This is the look I was going for.
My black paint went a bit higher than the catalog picture, more like the new kit scheme.

And, the Mini Mosquito from the Estes online picture.
The nose cone shape is more pointed than the supplied kit nose cone.
It looks like the black paint goes farther back, to the root edge of the yellow fin.
The side view picture (see below) on the instruction sheet shows the black paint line stops halfway between the fins.



Look close - 
What's wrong with the model picture at the top of the Mini Mosquito instructions?

What's was included in the Mega Mosquito kit that is missing in the instruction art?
This image was probably drawn before the kit parts were produced.

Post your answers in the comments section below.

NAR Membership Goal Reached

As announced in the NAR Electronic Newsletter:
The membership goal of 5,800 members was reached!

This is the highest number ever! 
To check out the membership benefits
and join the NAR, go HERE

Mini Mosquito Build Part 3, Primer, Undercoat and Mask

The gray primer filler has been sprayed and sanded down.
You can still see a little of the nose cone / body tube joint.

A white undercoat followed then wet sanding with 400 grit.

Two coats of Rusto 2X yellow followed.

Here's the paint mask to match the face card.

The black is on one fin, opposite the launch lug side.
The black extends down over the fillet and halfway between the two yellow fins.

Show Business Is Not Pretty

I arrived in Cancun about 7:30 p.m.
Got my suitcases and instrument cases and wheeled them outside to meet the driver. It is hot and raining.

I waited for an hour and a half - nothing.
I know both the drivers and their cars. They never showed up.
I figured they might be late or dropping off another entertainer at a nearby club for the nightly show.

My phone didn't have a signal - No contact
I stopped at the Starbucks inside the terminal, their internet wasn't working.
Two swipes of my charge card in a pay phone got nothing. Well, except for two $4.00 charges on my card.
By this time I'm pissed. It takes a lot to get me angry. I was well past that point.

I found the number of the driver, Christian. I borrowed a phone and called him.
He said there was no more airport pick ups. I had to take the bus to Playa del Carmen, one hour away.
Then find a taxicab and go to the apartments.
Take the bus? What bus? To where? Who's paying for the bus and taxi?
Add to that I'm dragging around two Anvil style instrument cases, two suitcases and a computer case.

I was never told about the new "No courtesy drive from the airport."
2 1/2 hours lost in the heat and rain.
I was tempted to sleep at the airport and fly home in the morning.
Entertaining in Mexico always seems to have it's challenges, but this was beyond belief.

I arrived at the apartments around Midnight. All I want to do is take a shower and go to bed.
The shower has no hot water. My room mate Karl says it'll be fixed in a few days.
Welcome to Mexico.

Mini Mosquito Build Part 2, Gluing It All Together

The nose cone shoulder seemed long so I checked it with a "T" engine in place.
The engine extended out the back by about 1/4" so the shoulder length is probably right. The front end of the engine butts right up against the open nose cone shoulder.

The vague multi-lingual instructions say "Glue all parts together".
OKAY!!!

No mention is made of plastic cement. I wouldn't use white glue on a plastic nose cone. It would probably pop off at ejection.

The instructions don't mention any fin shaping.
I rounded the leading and trailing edges.

The first Mini Brute Mosquito instructions said to air foil the fins.
That's what you want in a model this small - better performance!
The fin grain was filled before gluing them on the body.

Following the directions -
I glued it all the parts together.