Mega Mosquito Fin Gluing Notes Part B

So I went and re-read Mustangs Mega Mosquito build thread on TRF.
The finished product looks great! Very clean work.

I found the picture of the outside fin edges pretty interesting.
(Photo at right by Mushtang)

All three of his fins had the center core piece slightly recessed when looking from the outside rounded edge.
When I glued mine up I purposely stepped the core middle piece to fit the curve of the body tube.
That would push the middle layer out making the rounded outside edges even.

I wonder if Estes purposely cut if the interior (tabbed) fin a little shorter?
If the builder glues all three of the outside rounded outside edges flush instead on concentrating so much on the root edge) would the three glued root edges end up "stepped" to automatically fit the body tube curve? 

If so, this should have been addressed in the instructions.

Mega Mosquito Fin Gluing Notes, Part A

Before the fins are glued together, check out some construction questions from TRF:

There seems to be confusion on how the laminated Mega Mosquito fins are glued up.
From a posted answer on TRF:

 Originally Posted by Mushtang 

You should line up the root edge of the fins which will leave the outside edges uneven. After the glue dries use a sanding block, palm sander (which I used), sand paper, etc. to even up the edges of the fins and remove the burn from the fins.
If you use too much glue before weighing down the fins you'll have the problem of sliding that you suggested. Use a lot less glue and you'll be okay. Be sure to smooth a thin layer of glue all over the entire surface with your finger before sandwiching the fin layers together and you'll be okay. I weighed mine down with cookbooks overnight.

Check out the first sentence in Mushtang's post:
"You should line up the root edge of the fins which will leave the outside edges uneven."
If the outside (rounded) edges were squared and even, would this give you an automatic  stepped root edge?

More vague instructions!
The instructions don't mention the importance of the root edge alignment!
I slightly stepped the outside fin veneers to better fit the curve of the body tube.
After the laminated sides dry there is no way to sand the root edge so root edge alignment is critical.

Mushtang is right on this:
Use less glue and the outside balsa sides will be less likely to slip when the weight is set on them.
Instead of gluing both sides at once (glue on both sides at the same time might lead to more slipping) glue it one side at a time for more control.
Under the weight of some heavy books you shouldn't get any warping.

The instructions make no mention of rounding the fins edges.
I rounded the leading an trailing edges, they would look a little clunky all squared off.
The original Mini Mosquito instructions (at the right) say to air-foil the fins! 
Like the Mini Mosquito needed to go any faster or higher!

Mega Mosquito Build Part 3, Engine Mount and Fin Prep

Here's the finished engine mount.

Kevlar was added under the upper centering ring.









TIP: Sand off just the forward corner tip of the fin tab to fit over the Kevlar line loop.





This is the thicker center fin layer.
The middle pieces are removed to reduce the weight.

Here's how the fins will lay up.
The center piece is 3/32" thick, the outside skins are 1/16".

All glued and laminated the fins are lust under 1/4" thick.

I though it would be a good idea to somehow curve the root edge to fit the body tube better.
You can't sand a curve in the root edge with the central fin tab in the way.
I figured I'd "step" the outside laminate pieces. It won't take much of a offset angle to fit the curve of the body tube.
I sanded a very slight angle on the root edge of the outside skins.
(Be sure you "mirror" the outside laminate pieces!)

Mega Mosquito Build Part 2, Engine Mount

The BT-50H engine mount tube was marked for the centering rings and engine hook notch.

TIP: Notice the centering ring marks are to the side of the engine hook. I've learned not to make all the marks in one line.
If all the pencil marks were in line the centering ring positions would be covered up when the engine hook is set in the slot.

I cut the finger tab off the engine hook and flipped it over so the sharp 90 degree bend would be at the bottom. The cut finger tab side is now at the top of the engine mount.

The engine will slide in easier with the sharp corners filed down a bit.

The 50/80 centering rings wouldn't slide over the BT-50H engine mount tube.
The interior holes were opened up a little with some 220 grit wrapped around a finger.

Here's a dry fit of the mount and center fin tab.
I didn't butt the centering rings tight against the fin tab.
A slight space was left in case the engine mount was a little high or too low.

Ongoing Wadding Test

Here's the Quest parade pomp wadding still taped to my patio chair.
The test was started on April 24 HERE with two pieces of wadding taped to my outdoor patio chair. This picture was taken on May 30, 2014.

The two pieces of light blue wadding continue to get lighter, bleached by the direct sunlight exposure.
The square on the left show two very small tears, one below the clear tape holding it on the arm of the chair.

After the May 30 morning launch I picked up all the wadding at the soccer field site.
Four out of the five models launched used purple Quest wadding. Each model only needed three squares each.
Only the lowest piece of wadding (closest to the engine) was charred.
The other pieces looked like new and could be used again.

I opened up the un-burnt crumpled pieces.
I found a place to leave them where they shouldn't be found or disturbed. Four squares were loosely set in the bushes against a brick wall.

The wadding will be exposed to rain, heat, humidity and sunlight.
I'll check these when I return around the first of August to see if they have broken down.

They'll probably be picked up by birds and end up in a nest.

Mega Mosquito Build Part 1, Parts

This should be a fun one . . . 
The parts - Clockwise from the upper left -
18" pre-assembled parachute,
BT-80 slotted tube,
Blow Molded Nose Cone
Launch lugs
Laser cut balsa fin sheets,
Instructions,
Engine Mount parts,
Mosquito decal,
Tri-fold mount,
Rubber Shock Cord

Parts of interest:
BT-50 heavy wall tube for engine mount
Big Bertha style Blow Molded Nose Cone
Two 1/4" diameter Launch Lugs
NINE (yes, nine) balsa fin sheets
The new Mosquito decal sheet

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!