Glad you asked. I didn't even think of that...the answer is NO. I use a 3/32nd mandrel which is easier to manage than the 1/16th. My hollows are not huge and you can make hollows without a special mandrel....hope that helps.
Jeri's puffy mandrel is great but I haven't used it for this size hollow...which is not real large. Use the amount of glass you can control and then make your hollows grow by practice