MOSQUITO OPEN BETA 2
OPTIMISATION
The second model to be released worldwide, the Open Beta 2 model took the best qualities from the previous three versions - functionality, printability, and visual quality - and combined them into a streamlined model, removing unnecessary parts and features to reduce complexity and improve reliability. Additionally, the Open Beta 2 introduced a fully custom designed 3D printed hop-up unit, gaining design freedom and further eliminating reliance on market availability.
SHORT BARREL & BATTERY STOCK
BATTERY BARREL & FOLDING STOCK
CHANGES FROM OPEN BETA 1
Removed unnecessary bloat to make it more accessible and easier to build.
NEW HOP-UP CHAMBERA revolutionary change to the MOSQUITO that opens up so much more room for customisation than ever before.
NEW BATTERY CONFIGURATIONSFront or back? Your choice now.
NEW SOLID TOP COVERNo more worry about installed optics wobbling about with the new pinned design.
NEW GRIP DESIGNA new one-piece design with improved ergonomics that better conforms to your grip.
OPEN BETA 2 VS OPEN BETA 1
A NEW DIRECTION
After more than a year of gathering feedback during the Open Beta 1 test, it became clear that several features and options were underutilised, such as the modularity system with the clevis pins. The large number of part variations also became a problem; any change to the geometry of a single part required updating every variation of it, and all the file models were to be manually uploaded onto Printables and GitHub, making file management incredibly cumbersome. As such, the decision was made to cut down the design by removing features that were not actively utilised to reduce complexity and further slim down the MOSQUITO to move the design towards a stubby SMG aesthetic.
Open Beta 1 had focused heavily on achieving technical perfection in manufacturing and design. With Open Beta 2, the priority shifted toward practical usability and the features that users actually valued. It became apparent that excessive configurability could overwhelm users, and that pursuing absolute perfection often led to unnecessary long-term complexity in a publicly released product. Therefore, the new design philosophy for the Open Beta 2 became "good enough for most people", prioritising simplicity and usability that the majority of users would agree with.
STREAMLINING
With the new direction in motion, the first thing to address was the modularity system, where the magwell is now fused with the receiver halves. The detachable front and rear modular plates were removed from the design, and instead, the respective sections were fixed to the receiver itself. Parts that were specifically designed to utilise the "seamless textured surface" technique were also removed as they confused too many users. Not only that, the majority did not have 3D printers tuned to the level required to reliably execute the technique.
While the number of 3D printed parts remained roughly the same between Open Beta 1 and Open Beta 2, the number of standard metric components required for assembly was significantly reduced, from 108 to just 57. This reduction was achieved by designing the parts in a way that allows them to be secured together simultaneously with minimal fasteners. For example, at the front of the Open Beta 2, just two dowel pins now secure the hop-up unit, front housing, and receiver halves simultaneously. In the Open Beta 1 design, this same area required four metric screws and nuts, along with several clevis pins to achieve the same structural connection. These changes resulted in fewer components to source, a shorter and slimmer form factor, and improved manageability overall.
JUST DO IT YOURSELF
A revolutionary change to the MOSQUITO was the addition of a fully 3D printed hop up chamber. Up until this point, a conventional AK style hop up chamber was used as it was a reliable part that guaranteed consistent shooting performance. However, moving onto the Open Beta 2, the size and geometry of the AK chamber began to restrict too much design freedom. Therefore, it was replaced with a completely custom design, something not seen before in 3D printed airsoft models. Designing the chamber in-house allowed full control over the features and geometry, freeing up internal space, eliminating the need to buy another part, and resolving previous compatibility issues with a single solution.
The hop-up chamber itself is split into two halves, clamping the internal components securely in place. While a primitive method, it provides reliable retention, ease of assembly, and ease of readjustment. The design also applies hop-up pressure at the top-dead-centre position, ensuring consistent contact with the BB while eliminating the possibility of lateral wobble.
With the custom hop-up chamber in place, it shrunk the front end of the MOSQUITO significantly and also shortened the internal BB path, leading to the magazine being placed in a more optimal position.
WHAT IS THIS SORCERY?
Understandably, durability is not the first thing that comes to mind with a 3D printed hop up chamber. However, extensive testing proved that it worked just as well as a conventionally manufactured one. Not only that, the BB feeding path that was previously ironed out in the Open Beta 1 model significantly aided in the speed of development.
BACK TO BASICS
Several other parts needed revision to align with the new streamlining design philosophy. The grip was redesigned as a single body once again, just like the Closed Beta model. The ergonomics were reworked to better conform to the natural curve between the thumb and index finger. A voronoi pattern was etched into the sides of the grip, giving it a more striking appearance.
The top cover on the Open Beta 1 model was a blank design to give it a neutral appearance. However, the Open Beta 2 provided an opportunity to reintroduce some flair in the design. Much like the Closed Beta model, three rectangular cutouts were made to provide a more tactical aesthetic.
A quick-detach battery suppressor system using a tri-lug attachment mechanism was initially developed. However, while it worked, the locking mechanism would deteriorate over time due to wear, leading to a wobbly barrel. As such, this was dropped in favour of a threaded suppressor as threads remain self-locking even with wear. An oversized MAC-10 style suppressor was subsequently designed to house a sizeable battery capacity while also concealing an extended inner barrel.
A folding battery stock was also in the works, but it became challenging to shield the battery wires within a compact mechanism when the stock was folded. Thus, the idea was dropped as it posed significant safety concerns.
FIELD TEST
The MOSQUITO was once again taken to the airsoft battlefield to prove its worth. The slimmer front end enabled by the new 3D-printed hop-up chamber, combined with the battery suppressor design, resulted in exceptional handling and manoeuvrability in the Open Beta 2 model, allowing for aggressive gameplay.
The longer barrel allowed the platform to match the range output of other conventional rifles, while its lightweight construction supported fast cover-to-cover movement and rapid corner peeking.
The custom 3D-printed hop-up chamber also proved reliable in field use, performing consistently alongside other rifles on the field. In addition, the pinned top cover eliminated the optic wobble observed in earlier versions, ensuring that mounted sights remained stable during movement.
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