Madcow Rocketry Mozzie

Madcow Rocketry - Mozzie {Kit} (K-112)

Contributed by John Bergsmith

Construction Rating: starstarstarstarstar
Flight Rating: starstarstarstarstar
Overall Rating: starstarstarstarstar
Diameter: 2.60 inches
Length: 19.50 inches
Manufacturer: Madcow Rocketry

Brief:
The Mozzie is an upscale looking Mosquito so it naturally has a classic familiar look. The Madcow kits that I've built in the passed all have contained top quality materials and the Mozzie was no exception.

Madcow Rocketry Mozzie

Construction:
The kit includes the following components:

  • Balsa nose cone, ply bulkhead, eye bolt hardware
  • Pre-slotted body tube for TTW fins
  • Liteply centering rings
  • 29mm motor tube
  • Laser-cut plywood fins
  • Kevlar®Â® shock cord section and Nylon upper shock cord section
  • 9"x9" flameproof chute protector
  • 18" nylon chute
  • ¼" launch lugs

The instructions provided with the kit are fairly brief. Madcow gets to the point in this area, but what's provided gets the job done. The included illustrations throughout are helpful. There is really nothing unusual about the construction of the Mozzie. I used epoxy microballoons for reinforcing fillets around the centering rings, fins, and launch lugs. The completed airframe is very sturdy with really no weak areas observed. The Mozzie should hold up well.

Finishing:
The fins and nose cone were sealed and hardened using two coats of Minwax Polyurethane. Once dry they were sanded smooth and coated using thinned spackle that was brushed on to fill the wood grain. The filler was sanded off and the rocket was primed with two coats of Duplicote High Fill primer sanding between coats. I decided to go with the factory red and black color scheme. I used Valspar Premium spray for both colors. This paint gives a very nice shine and has proved to be durable. I'm very satisfied with the completed rocket.

Construction Rating: 5 out of 5

Madcow Rocketry Mozzie

Flight:
For the first flight I attended are normal monthly club fly. Winds for the flight were around 10 to 15mph. For motor selection I chose the Aerotech F40-4W which is a 29mm reload. Madcow recommends a 7 second delay, but with the wind I though 4 seconds might be a better choice. The Mozzie launched almost perfectly straight with a very slight weathercock. Ejection occurred before apogee, so the 7 second delay would be perfect. The 18" parachute seemed to be a perfect match, and the Mozzie was recovered with no damage. Overall it was a quick boost that achieved good altitude.

Recovery:
I can't think of any cons in this area. The Mozzie is well designed in this area and functions perfectly.

Flight Rating: 5 out of 5

Summary:
Simply said, I like it. It has a classic look that is upscaled for midpower, and Madcow provides top quality materials. It's easy to build, but enough works exists to be a project. The Mozzie looks great on the pad and even better climbing under boost.

Madcow produced another high quality, great flying rocket.

Overall Rating: 5 out of 5

Other Reviews
  • Madcow Rocketry Mozzie By David Sindel (June 26, 2009)

    Brief: This is a 5x upscale of the Estes Mosquito suitable for mid-power motors. It is an excellent first mid-power rocket. Construction: The parts list: 1 2.6" thick-wall body tube, pre-slotted for fins 1 Balsa nose cone 2 1/8" plywood centering rings 1 29mm motor tube 3 1/8" thick laser-cut plywood fins 1 screw eye, nut, and washer ...

Flights

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