Graupner Mosquito    Gallery
View related threads: (in this forum | in all forums)

Logged in as Guest



Users viewing this topic: none
    Search This Thread  
 
Printable Version



All Forums >> Electric Aircraft Universe >> Electric Indoor & Micro RC Flight >> Graupner Mosquito Page: [1] 2   next >   >>  

Tower Hobbies Today's Special Offer! Brands Products
Login
Message << Older Topic   Newer Topic >>
Graupner Mosquito - 4/21/2005 3:42 PM   
Greg Covey



Posts: 5482
Score: 133
Joined: 5/24/2003
Last Login: 2/4/2012
From: Rochester, NY, USA
Status: offline 		Hi,

I couldn't resist buying the new Graupner Mosquito from Hobby Lobby. It reminded me of a mini-sized Graupner Tipsy but with a V-tail.

When I opened the box, it was a nice change to see a balsa model that lies somewhere between a kit and an ARF. I will post some photos soon.

My plan is to use a direct drive GWS IPS motor, GWS 3x2 prop, GWS 2-amp ESC, and a 2-cell Lithium pack. For servos, i'll use the new FMA PS-10 sub micro servos. Let's see what happens!


Attachments
Click to see fullsize image.
Click for fullsize


< Message edited by Greg Covey -- 4/21/2005 3:45 PM >

_____________________________

Visit my Web Hangar at www.gregcovey.com/rc.htm

Hide Signatures
       Post #: 1

RE: Graupner Mosquito - 4/21/2005 7:09 PM   
rahtware



Posts: 290
Score: 100
Joined: 10/6/2002
Last Login: 1/7/2012
From: Willits, CA, USA
Status: offline 		Greg

Waiting on your review as I was considering this plane for a future purchase.



_____________________________

Left Coast Larry

Hide Signatures

(in reply to Greg Covey)
       Post #: 2

RE: Graupner Mosquito - 4/22/2005 12:05 AM   
Greg Covey



Posts: 5482
Score: 133
Joined: 5/24/2003
Last Login: 2/4/2012
From: Rochester, NY, USA
Status: offline 		Larry,

This will be more of a personal interest project than a formal review but hopefully others will add their findings as well. Since it is not a review, I am free to choose my own support components.

Here is how the Mosquito comes in the box. Out of the box, note that there are two sheets (one underneath) of balsa with the marked numbers. While this creates some extra parts, it is an inexpensive way to duplicate other needed items.

For my support components, I'm using FMA PS-10 servos and a direct drive GWS IPS system with R-4P single conversion receiver. I'll decide on which 2-cell Lithium pact to use after I see the allowed space.


Attachments
Click to see fullsize image.
Click for fullsize 		Click to see fullsize image.
Click for fullsize 		Click to see fullsize image.
Click for fullsize


< Message edited by Greg Covey -- 4/22/2005 12:07 AM >

_____________________________

Visit my Web Hangar at www.gregcovey.com/rc.htm

Hide Signatures

(in reply to rahtware)
       Post #: 3

RE: Graupner Mosquito - 4/22/2005 12:08 AM   
Greg Covey



Posts: 5482
Score: 133
Joined: 5/24/2003
Last Login: 2/4/2012
From: Rochester, NY, USA
Status: offline 		The fuselage builds up fast and easy. I used medium CA with kicker.

Note that the servos are installed inverted and just tacked to the side with some CA.


Attachments
Click to see fullsize image.
Click for fullsize 		Click to see fullsize image.
Click for fullsize


_____________________________

Visit my Web Hangar at www.gregcovey.com/rc.htm

Hide Signatures

(in reply to Greg Covey)
       Post #: 4

RE: Graupner Mosquito - 4/22/2005 3:57 PM   
Greg Covey



Posts: 5482
Score: 133
Joined: 5/24/2003
Last Login: 2/4/2012
From: Rochester, NY, USA
Status: offline 		I secured the outer nylon tubing in two places using some CA and a small piece of balsa.

Although the servos were CA'ed in place, I added a small foam wedge between them cut from the GWS R-4P receiver packing. The foam wedge was secured to the servo sides with CA.


Attachments
Click to see fullsize image.
Click for fullsize 		Click to see fullsize image.
Click for fullsize


< Message edited by Greg Covey -- 4/22/2005 3:58 PM >

_____________________________

Visit my Web Hangar at www.gregcovey.com/rc.htm

Hide Signatures

(in reply to Greg Covey)
       Post #: 5

RE: Graupner Mosquito - 4/22/2005 4:03 PM   
Greg Covey



Posts: 5482
Score: 133
Joined: 5/24/2003
Last Login: 2/4/2012
From: Rochester, NY, USA
Status: offline 		After the tail is assembled, including control horns, it is glued onto the fuselage. I made some control horns from thin plastic and CA'ed them onto the elevons.

The control wire is cut to length and then bent 90 degrees to fit through the hole. I felt that nothing is needed to keep the wire in place on the control horn due to the natural spring tension.

It's important to make both sides symmetrical for optimal flight control.


Attachments
Click to see fullsize image.
Click for fullsize 		Click to see fullsize image.
Click for fullsize 		Click to see fullsize image.
Click for fullsize


_____________________________

Visit my Web Hangar at www.gregcovey.com/rc.htm

Hide Signatures

(in reply to Greg Covey)
       Post #: 6

RE: Graupner Mosquito - 4/22/2005 4:06 PM   
Greg Covey



Posts: 5482
Score: 133
Joined: 5/24/2003
Last Login: 2/4/2012
From: Rochester, NY, USA
Status: offline 		The kit comes with two size motor mounts, one for the Grauper Speed 250 motor and one for a "micro" motor (a.k.a. GWS IPS).

I'm having fun building this little plane while getting CA and balsa dust all over the place.


Attachments
Click to see fullsize image.
Click for fullsize 		Click to see fullsize image.
Click for fullsize


_____________________________

Visit my Web Hangar at www.gregcovey.com/rc.htm

Hide Signatures

(in reply to Greg Covey)
       Post #: 7

RE: Graupner Mosquito - 4/23/2005 10:00 PM   
Greg Covey



Posts: 5482
Score: 133
Joined: 5/24/2003
Last Login: 2/4/2012
From: Rochester, NY, USA
Status: offline 		The Mosquito cowl is cut along the outline in the plastic and then custom fit to your model.

I mounted the ESC on the wing top per the instructions. The empty plane weighed 2.9oz and with my 0.8oz 2-cell Kokam 340mAh pack, it was Ready-To-Fly at 3.7oz.

My plane was on the nose heavy side (about 1/4") but I will test fly it with this setup. It will be easy to add some small tail weight, if needed. I may try the 2-cell 250mAh pack sold at Hobby Lobby just to see how it fits and if it weighs less than 0.8oz.


Attachments
Click to see fullsize image.
Click for fullsize 		Click to see fullsize image.
Click for fullsize 		Click to see fullsize image.
Click for fullsize 		Click to see fullsize image.
Click for fullsize


_____________________________

Visit my Web Hangar at www.gregcovey.com/rc.htm

Hide Signatures

(in reply to Greg Covey)
       Post #: 8

RE: Graupner Mosquito - 4/23/2005 10:07 PM   
Greg Covey



Posts: 5482
Score: 133
Joined: 5/24/2003
Last Login: 2/4/2012
From: Rochester, NY, USA
Status: offline 		I set up my transmitter for "Elevon" mode and dialed in some dual rates and negative exponential to tame the stick centers.

I couldn't resist taking a picture next to the Graupner Tipsy. You can plainly see where the Mosquito's heritage is from.


Attachments
Click to see fullsize image.
Click for fullsize 		Click to see fullsize image.
Click for fullsize 		Click to see fullsize image.
Click for fullsize 		Click to see fullsize image.
Click for fullsize


_____________________________

Visit my Web Hangar at www.gregcovey.com/rc.htm

Hide Signatures

(in reply to Greg Covey)
       Post #: 9

RE: Graupner Mosquito - 4/24/2005 9:09 AM   
rahtware



Posts: 290
Score: 100
Joined: 10/6/2002
Last Login: 1/7/2012
From: Willits, CA, USA
Status: offline 		Greg

Looks great!

I am interested in seeing how it flies. At 8oz/sqft it seems a little heavy for an indoor flyer, but it should be a great "trunk rat".

Definition:
Trunk Rat – An RC plane that can live in my van and be pulled out for some lunchtime flying!

Thanks for the great review.

_____________________________

Left Coast Larry

Hide Signatures

(in reply to Greg Covey)
       Post #: 10

RE: Graupner Mosquito - 4/24/2005 4:46 PM   
Greg Covey



Posts: 5482
Score: 133
Joined: 5/24/2003
Last Login: 2/4/2012
From: Rochester, NY, USA
Status: offline 		The Mosquito has about 7.6oz/sq. ft. and the Tipsy has about 8.8oz/sq. ft. I can fly the Tipsy indoors and it is much bigger than the Mosquito. It will be interesting to see it fly. I'll plan on taking a video to share.

Mosquito

  • Wingspan: 23"
  • Length: 17"
  • Wingarea: 66 sq. in.
  • Weight: 3.5oz

Tipsy

  • Wingspan: 35"
  • Length: 29"
  • Wingarea: 179 sq. in.
  • Weight: 11oz



_____________________________

Visit my Web Hangar at www.gregcovey.com/rc.htm

Hide Signatures

(in reply to rahtware)
       Post #: 11

RE: Graupner Mosquito - 4/25/2005 9:22 AM   
rahtware



Posts: 290
Score: 100
Joined: 10/6/2002
Last Login: 1/7/2012
From: Willits, CA, USA
Status: offline 		Greg

I arrived at the 8oz/sqft by using your planes weight of 3.7oz RTF, not the advertised 3.5oz RTF weight. Still, if it is “easy to fly”, I agree that in the right hands it could be flown indoors. It's just that having flown indoor rubber band powered planes, I visualize a more sedate type of flying then a plane with that heavy a wing loading could have. Even my Peanut scale planes had a WL that was less then half that of either of these planes, and a PS tends to be a heavy indoor plane.

Good work, keep it up.

_____________________________

Left Coast Larry

Hide Signatures

(in reply to Greg Covey)
       Post #: 12

RE: Graupner Mosquito - 4/25/2005 4:16 PM   
Greg Covey



Posts: 5482
Score: 133
Joined: 5/24/2003
Last Login: 2/4/2012
From: Rochester, NY, USA
Status: offline 		Yeah, I saw that difference. I should really use my measured weight in the calculation but I want to see what the stock Lithium pack weighs that Hobby Lobby sells. Perhaps it is a few tenths lighter because the Kokam 340 pack is rated for 20C. When you don't pull 4-6amps from it (like the 2amp GWS motor) the 340mAh pack acts more like 700-800mAh in duration. We first noticed this several years ago on the GWS-powered planes.

You can probably drop plenty of weight by using a lighter power system which drops your battery weight considerably as well. For example, if you intend to fly it indoors mostly, use a geared M20 HV motor and a tiny 2-cell Kokam 145mAh pack. The Mosquito will be closer to 3oz.


_____________________________

Visit my Web Hangar at www.gregcovey.com/rc.htm

Hide Signatures

(in reply to rahtware)
       Post #: 13

RE: Graupner Mosquito - 4/30/2005 11:58 PM   
flyingflipper


 

Posts: 26
Score: 100
Joined: 12/1/2004
Last Login: 9/4/2010
From: , PA, USA
Status: offline 		Greg -

Thanks for posting your usual well-detailed and comprehensive notes on the Mosquito. I built my Tipsy from your posts and I will be building the Mosqito from them as well. I really look forward to the video as well. Keep up the good work.

Hide Signatures

(in reply to Greg Covey)
       Post #: 14

RE: Graupner Mosquito - 5/2/2005 7:51 PM   
Greg Covey



Posts: 5482
Score: 133
Joined: 5/24/2003
Last Login: 2/4/2012
From: Rochester, NY, USA
Status: offline 		Thanks.

The weather didn't cooperate last weekend so my Mosquito still sits ready to test fly. Hopefully later this week it looks like we have a nice 5 day spread without rain or cold.


_____________________________

Visit my Web Hangar at www.gregcovey.com/rc.htm

Hide Signatures

(in reply to flyingflipper)
       Post #: 15

RE: Graupner Mosquito - 5/11/2005 5:44 AM   
flyingflipper


 

Posts: 26
Score: 100
Joined: 12/1/2004
Last Login: 9/4/2010
From: , PA, USA
Status: offline 		Greg -
We're all waiting (at least I am) to find out how the Mosquito flies! Any news?

Hide Signatures

(in reply to Greg Covey)
       Post #: 16

RE: Graupner Mosquito - 5/12/2005 1:14 AM   
Greg Covey



Posts: 5482
Score: 133
Joined: 5/24/2003
Last Login: 2/4/2012
From: Rochester, NY, USA
Status: offline 		Yes, but it was a short flight.

As I was trying to trim the very nose heavy Mosquito at full throttle, it got away from me and I smashed it into the ground. Not a real problem as it just broke the wing off at the seam.

I CA'd the wing back on and then re-visited my choice of battery pack. The size and weight (0.8oz) of the 2-cell Kokam 340 pack no longer seemed like the best choice. I tested my smaller (0.4oz) 2-cell Kokam 145mAh pack and not only did it fit well but the plane balanced properly and I dropped 0.4oz from the flying weight! I'm ready to test fly again (properly balanced) at 3.3oz. This time, it will be at only partial throttle.

I also just received the stock 3-cell 250mAh Lithium pack for the Mosquito. It weighs 0.7oz. I will remove a cell from my pack since I only need a 2-cell Lithium voltage on my direct drive GWS motor. It should weigh about 0.1oz more than my Kokam pack but provide longer flights.



Attachments
Click to see fullsize image.
Click for fullsize


< Message edited by Greg Covey -- 5/12/2005 1:18 AM >

_____________________________

Visit my Web Hangar at www.gregcovey.com/rc.htm

Hide Signatures

(in reply to flyingflipper)
       Post #: 17

RE: Graupner Mosquito - 5/14/2005 10:41 PM   
jtalvy



Posts: 12
Score: 100
Joined: 8/8/2002
Last Login: 3/25/2008
From: Staten Island, NY, USA
Status: offline 		Thanks for all the information Greg.... I would like to get myself one of these Mosquito's and I can't wait to find out what your final results were.

-James

Hide Signatures

(in reply to Greg Covey)
       Post #: 18

RE: Graupner Mosquito - 5/16/2005 9:26 PM   
Greg Covey



Posts: 5482
Score: 133
Joined: 5/24/2003
Last Login: 2/4/2012
From: Rochester, NY, USA
Status: offline 		The wind wouldn't let up this weekend so i'll see if the weekday weather is any calmer. I modified the stock 0.7oz, 3-cell, 250mAh pack to create a 0.5oz, 2-cell, 250mAh pack.


Attachments
Click to see fullsize image.
Click for fullsize 		Click to see fullsize image.
Click for fullsize


_____________________________

Visit my Web Hangar at www.gregcovey.com/rc.htm

Hide Signatures

(in reply to jtalvy)
       Post #: 19

RE: Graupner Mosquito - 5/19/2005 4:19 PM   
Greg Covey



Posts: 5482
Score: 133
Joined: 5/24/2003
Last Login: 2/4/2012
From: Rochester, NY, USA
Status: offline 		My attempts to fly the Mosquito were not very successful. The plane is not a glider and doesn't want to fly slow at all. I suspect that I was in a constant state of stalling in my attempts since I couldn't keep it in the air for more than 5 seconds.

I may have to put the third cell back in my modified pack and let it go all out for a higher speed test.

I finally watched the video today on the Hobby Lobby site and it confirmed that the name "Mosquito" is not just for its small size but also for it high speed.


_____________________________

Visit my Web Hangar at www.gregcovey.com/rc.htm

Hide Signatures

(in reply to Greg Covey)
       Post #: 20

RE: Graupner Mosquito - 11/2/2005 9:54 PM   
Tommy632



Posts: 29
Score: 100
Joined: 9/26/2002
Last Login: 8/6/2007
From: Cleveland, OH, USA
Status: offline 		Greg, any updates since May?? I just ordered one of these myself.

Tommy

Hide Signatures

(in reply to Greg Covey)
       Post #: 21

RE: Graupner Mosquito - 11/12/2005 4:03 PM   
Greg Covey



Posts: 5482
Score: 133
Joined: 5/24/2003
Last Login: 2/4/2012
From: Rochester, NY, USA
Status: offline 		Tommy,

Since I saw that it was not a slowflyer for indoors, I never tried it again. I suspect that is why it was called a "Mosquito". It flies like a little buzz bomb which was not what I was looking for.

Today is our last outdoor flying with the bigger glow conversions and tomorrow is our first indoor meet so I have an abrupt transition to make this weekend.

At any rate, I'll be spending much more time on this forum until April.


_____________________________

Visit my Web Hangar at www.gregcovey.com/rc.htm

Hide Signatures

(in reply to Tommy632)
       Post #: 22

RE: Graupner Mosquito - 11/26/2006 12:23 PM   
openreel36


 

Posts: 21
Score: 100
Joined: 1/29/2005
Last Login: 8/22/2008
From: Augusta, GA, USA
Status: offline 		I saw the Mosquito next to the Tipsy in one thread, and the Tipsy in next to the Terry in another, makes me want to get all three and do my own review on the brothers.

Hide Signatures

(in reply to Greg Covey)
       Post #: 23

RE: Graupner Mosquito - 11/27/2006 4:32 PM   
Tommy632



Posts: 29
Score: 100
Joined: 9/26/2002
Last Login: 8/6/2007
From: Cleveland, OH, USA
Status: offline 		Hey Greg, did you and the Mosquito ever become friends?? Mine sadly is still on the to-do list.

Tommy

Hide Signatures

(in reply to openreel36)
       Post #: 24

RE: Graupner Mosquito - 3/18/2007 5:53 AM   
bayward


 

Posts: 256
Score: 100
Joined: 11/19/2006
Last Login: 1/18/2012
From: Pasco County, FL, USA
Status: offline 		Anyone still flying one of these ? Hobby Lobby is discontinuing them at a decent price. Is it worth picking one up ?

Bob

Hide Signatures

(in reply to Tommy632)
       Post #: 25

Page:   [1] 2   next >   >>  
All Forums >> Electric Aircraft Universe >> Electric Indoor & Micro RC Flight >> Graupner Mosquito
Page: [1] 2   next >   >>  




Jump to:


 
Google 



Search | Marketplace | Event Calendar | Local Clubs | Magazine | Product Ratings | New Products | Discussion Forums

Photo Gallery | Instructor Search | Field|Track|Marina Search

Advertisers | Hobby Vendor Resources | Rate Manufacturers | Sign In/Sign Up

SITE MAP!   : :   FORUM RULES

RC Universe is a service of Internet Brands, Inc. Copyright © 2001-2012.

Charities we support that also need your help
Yorkie Rescue | Humane Society | ASPCA | Crohn's-Colitis America


26.703RCU1