Micro Mosquito Review

Azimov · #1 10-28-2006, 02:47 PM

I held off on buying one of these for some time since many people seemed to have problems with them. Well, I finally broke down and bought one after reading more mixed reviews about them. I had two RS gift cards with enough to cover the MM and a repair kit as well as batteries. So, since it didn't really cost me anything, I got one.
Straight out of the box, I was very disapointed. The heli would shoot to the ceiling then drop to the floor. I couldn't get a smooth hover no matter what I did. So, I did all of the tweaks recommended by Petter, the designer, but the heli still wouldn't behave.
On a hunch, I replaced the rotors with the ones from the repair kit. Unbelievable difference. The heli hovers like a hummingbird now and with the addition of weights to the new top rotor, the thing is stable as a rock. I put the larger tail rotor on it from the hop-up kit included with the heli, and I get good forward flight. Not nearly as fast as a weighted PicooZ, but that is actually good for indoor flying.
The thing that I've noticed about the MM is that it flies very different from the PicooZ. Once you get used to how the heli flies and how to keep it trimmed, flying it is much more precise than flying the Picoo.
I can take off from a stack of hard cover books on the coffee table, run a few circuits from the kitchen to the living room, and land back on the books with ease. The heli is very quiet and has a much more solid feel to it than the Picoo. It flies slowly and precisely once you get the hang of keeping the tail in place. The ability to pilot the heli around a room is a blast and takes alot of practice.
Run times out of the box were terrible. Only a couple of minutes of actual flying time. But, after a few cycles of the battery, I'm getting better than 10 minutes. Trim throughout the flight is important. Especially at the lower end of the battery discharge. If you use the stick to trim alot at low battery, you lose lift quickly and have to stop to recharge. But, if you trim it and use the stick only to steer, you can fly for a couple more minutes.
Another good habit is to fly about the room a bit and then reland on something specific. Let the heli sit there a minute or two so the motors can cool. Then, take off and do it again. In this way I can practice long flights, short flights, and soft determined landings. I still love my PicooZs, but they just can't do what this heli can do if trimmed out properly.
I highly recommend the MM. If you can't get yours to behave after tweaking, return it until you get a good one. They are worth it when you get one that operates as it should.

Paul52 · #2 10-28-2006, 10:29 PM

I bought my MM last month. The first one I had to bring back to Radio shack, it had a bad roter and did not charge good. The one I got now works great. I crashed it a few times and had no damage. This is one tough heli. I had a PiccoZ and after a few crashs the main roter had a cut almost all the way across and couldn't be fixed. It is a costly toy made for us big kids. LO

Azimov · #3 10-30-2006, 02:25 AM

The more I fly this thing, the more I like it. I get an occasional glitch every now and then that causes the heli to spin, but I can usually catch it again. For the most part though, the MM flies slow and steady anywhere I want it to go. I hardly ever crash the thing anymore. Just slow lazy circuits through the house.
I'm planning on cutting alot of the excess body weight off of the heli to see if I can get more use out of the low battery. The MM will ground effect forever. Lots of wasted flight time.

Azimov · #4 11-01-2006, 10:03 PM

Well, I was really having a ball with the MM when one of the motors died. The brushes were bent from the factory and finally gave up the ghost. I managed to fix them, but the motor is very unreliable now. It took alot of time and effort to get the MM to fly right, then after a very short time, the heli is grounded.
The MM is a blast so I'm considering getting another and using this one for parts, but I dunno. I'm beginning to wonder about how robust the thing is now.

Namuna · #5 11-02-2006, 12:19 AM

Well, at least you had some flying time with yours.

I've currently got my 3rd MM repackaged in the box ready to go back to RS.

- 1st one was DOA, went back for exchange.
- 2nd did nothing but go into the infamous "toilet flush" spin and never flew right. This time around I had enough and just wanted a refund, but I get handed some BS about how they don't give refunds on rc planes/helis anymore because of so many returns (I suspect this is just my local store) so I had no choice but for exchange.
- 3rd one looked like it might be the charm, for about a whole 10 seconds...then it started spinning hard clockwise and no matter how much trim and counter-stick, that's ALL it does now is spin clockwise (tried doing all the different mods to fix it too).

I really REALLY wanted to like this Heli, but this is just unacceptable.

Azimov · #6 11-02-2006, 01:17 AM

I know what you mean. The MM is amazing when it works, I really enjoyed flying it. Mine had really good hover and forward control. I could steer it all over. But, it just didn't last very long.
The motors on mine get extremely hot and I'm told this isn't normal. Could be why mine failed so soon. I dunno, I had good runtimes and everything seemed fairly free to spin.
I may try a 49mHz model and see what my luck is. I really miss being able to do pinpoint landings and nose in steady flight. I even made a small buoy out of a fishing float with a hook on top to play around with but never got to use it before the motor failed.
I may try one more time, but I'll be keeping the package for some time just in case.

Michael.mt2k · #7 11-06-2006, 01:13 PM

I am the "keeper" of the Mosquito at my RS store.

We keep the controller put away and I do the demos because no one else has taken the time to get to know it's quirks.

I've also attached the larger rear prop for a little more speed.

I love the thing!
The only reason I don't own one is because they pay me to hang out with one anyway!

Our demo model does have a bad quirk though.
Very often the rear prop won't work until it's been flying for a minute or two.

Great review!

I'll keep an eye on this forum now!

Namuna · #8 11-06-2006, 09:27 PM

Michael,

If you're a fan of the MM, then I HIGHLY recommend checking out this thread over at RCGroups:
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showp...&postcount=117

It's a listing of a bunch of Mods, offered up by the original designer of the Micro Mosquito (Petter) !!

One thing off the bat, you could probably very easily fix your quirk with the tail rotor not spinning up right away...When you dismantle the Tx, you'll notice there's several pot dials that can be adjusted. One of them being for the tail rotor throttle. I'd say try adjusting it so it kicks-in at lower stick push.

Enjoy! I have not doubt these birds are a blast...When you get a good one.

Michael.mt2k · #9 11-07-2006, 07:29 AM

Thanks for the tip!

Unfortunately it's the store's MM and not mine or I'd be tearing into it to diagnose the problem.

It's not a control throw issue but a flat out case of the thing having to run for a little bit before it starts responding at all.

My first thought on that was possibly something heat related, as expanding SMC components could bridge a gap somewhere, but it could easily be a vibration issue as well!

Azimov · #10 11-15-2006, 12:51 PM

I just bought a new 49mHz MM today. I went to a store that was sold out the last time I went in hopes that they would have a new shipment containing the improved MMs. Fortune smiled on me and they had half a dozen of them. All were the newer production run and had the larger tail rotor already installed. This is what to look for BTW.
This MM flew perfectly right out of the box! Hovers with no glitches, great FF, and great range. I haven't had to add weights or strip anything off the back. The motors stay cool to the touch even after long flights. I don't think I need to do anything to tweak this heli except remove the throttle spring. It even has the 2-3 degree twist in the tail assembly already. I'm very pleased with this one!
Namuna, you should try one more time. Look for the newer MMs with the larger tail rotor installed. I'd go for a 49mHz model just because range on 49s always seems better. I'm keeping the box for the full warranty period anyway just in case problems creep up later. I can honestly recommend this thing again.
I already ordered two new motors for my old 27mHz model and may still repair it. But the gear mesh on the main gears is much tighter on the 27. I didn't know how much until I got this new one. So, it may not be worth fixing and may end up as a parts donor.

Snake Mod · #11 11-15-2006, 08:29 PM

Heh saw these and these look amazing but with all these threads on planes and such, I don't know. looks like too much work for the cause.

Azimov · #12 11-18-2006, 10:24 PM

I don't know if my new one is so good because it's a 49mHz or because it's one of the new production run. Maybe both. All I know is that it's a night and day difference from my first one. Long runtimes, cool motors, great FF right out of the box.
I'm in Florida right now at my Daughter's house and I've been flying my skeeter all over the living room. They have a very large kitchen living room combination that makes an L shape. I have no problems taking off from a TV tray stand, flying a circuit into the kitchen and back to a soft landing on the TV tray. I can do this several times on a charge.
My first one was a 27 mHz as well, and it was so disapointing I almost didn't buy another. But, I have to say the new ones are well worth the money and work beautifully.
My son-in-law and I went to the local hobby shop and watched an indoor heli competition this morning. All the contestants had to do was take off from a piece of tape on the floor, move across the room and land on a table. Each time they successfully did this they would advance to another round where progressively smaller boxes were placed on the table for them to land on. Most people were flying Blade CXs (which are very nice BTW). But, the whole time I'm thinking, "I could win this with my MM." and, "the smallest box is huge compared to my MM."
Now my son-in law wants a skeeter of his own and we may both invest in larger helis later on. One of the store personel did a demonstration of a Blade CPpro out behind the store. Inverted flight, and unbelievable control. A real blast to watch. But, I think i'll hold off on one of those until I get some chops on these things.

Michael.mt2k · #13 11-19-2006, 06:02 PM

My buddy recently lost a leg and asked me to bring him a cool new toy.

He's going bats over his MM.

Flew great right out of the box, and even had a large tail prop installed!

27Mhz, but no hassles with control.
His is a really smooth flyer.

Azimov · #14 11-20-2006, 02:18 AM

Good to know that the 27mHz is as good as the 49 in the improved shipment. Sorry to hear about your freind. But, the MM is the perfect gift to keep him entertained!

Michael.mt2k · #15 11-20-2006, 11:06 PM

Our store MM suffered a spit rotor on one blade on sat.

I simply used a piece of scotch tape, making sure to put a matching piece on the opposite blade to keep it balanced.

Has anyone come up with a way to cancel what I call "The Death Spiral"?

This occurs when my store's heating system kicks on and the MM is caught in the drafts from the vents, also at my friend's house.

I'm sure you guys know what I mean.