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Mosquito on a MicroMaxx Motor (8/31/1999)
Later on Saturday afternoon [August 31] in my front yard, I
[David Fergus] successfully launched an Estes Mosquito on a
Micromaxx engine(twice). Since there was so much interest in them, I
thought I would relate my experience to the rest of the club for
their further experimentation. Here's how I did it. I wrapped
masking tape around the MM engine until it fit snug into the front
end of an expended Ax-xT engine casing. I then inserted the modified
6mm/13mm engine adapter into the Mosquito (with the MM engine nozzle
approximately level with the back of the fins). I put the rocket on
the MM launch system, hooked up a 12 volt battery source to the MM
launch controller (the 9vdc battery is totally unreliable), and
pushed the button. The rocket both times flew a little unstable to
about 15 feet altitude, and then flew farther and faster sideways in
reaction to the ejection charge than it flew on impulse (which I
suspect is the reaction of this rocket to an Ax-xT ejection charge
as well, leading to so many lost rockets). I would deem this method
safe for spectators, but they need to be back a ways in case of
errant ejection charge direction. The next step is to figure out a
way to use the MM igniters on a longer 1/4" launch rod, which
should provide a little better stability during initial boost.
(David Fergus)
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