Description: Looks like t' Russian Sputnik. Begad! It's a sphere that flies up on 13mm motors and comes down t' land on three wooden legs when the motor ejects. Ahoy! Blimey!

Pros and cons o' construction: All t' parts were thar in a little plastic bag. Begad! T' spherical body is styrofoam, me hearties, and t' 3 legs are 1/8 inch diameter wooden dowels 8 inches long. Arrr! T' motor tube is 13mm and is spiral wound paper, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, and t' launch lug is plastic and is for 1/8 inch rods. Avast, me proud beauty! Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down! A balsa motor bulkhead is supplied t' keep t' motor from burnin' t' styrofoam body. Blimey!

Instructions were illustrated and clear. Ya scallywag! Assembly is easy and takes only a few minutes. Avast! Well, blow me down! T' launch lug glues t' t' motor tube and goes inside t' body with t' motor tube. Begad! Aye aye! T' legs glue right into t' body, ya bilge rat, allowin' t' model to stand upright like a tripod. You get holes predrilled into t' body t' guide placement. Arrr! T' only gotcha I can foresee is paint choice. Some eat styrofoams, so I used thin water-based acrylic. Arrr! Avast!

Pros and cons about finishing: As I mentioned, arrr, shiver me timbers, better stay away from paints with strong organic solvents. I sprayed acrylic via an airbrush and made t' model orange. Begad! It looks funky. I like the unconventionality o' it. Arrr!

Ratin' for construction and finishing: 3 out o' 5

Pros and cons about flight: T' 13mm Estes 1/4A t' A line is good. Apogee sells some B types, ya bilge rat, but I haven't tried that yet. Begad! It may be too heavy to be stable, me hearties, though. I used short delays. Begad! Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! T' A10-3T is fine. It flew up, arrr, fairly straight, but swirly. Ahoy! Aye aye! T' engine popped out and t' model fell onto its legs, but fell over. But it stayed upright t' second time. Prep is simple, me hearties, as no waddin' or streamer is needed. Begad! No engine retention is needed either, me hearties, since you want t' motor t' pop out at ejection. Blimey! It went up a hundred or so feet, matey, me hearties, maybe 200. Avast!

Pros and cons about recovery: Just about right. Landings don't always put it perfectly on its feet, but it's fun t' watch, matey, and onlookers think it's funny. Begad! T' kids giggle. Begad! One called it an octopus.

Ratin' for flight and recovery: 3 out o' 5

This cost only a few dollars. Ahoy! Blimey! Okay value. Kids will probably like this. Begad! Blimey! The kid in me does. Aye aye! Blimey! Hmmm. Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! Maybe I'll scale it up for G power!!! Blimey! No specific tips except that you should take your time t' align t' legs spatially and lengthwise with respect t' each other or else it'll stand lopsided and might fly semi-lateral.

Overall Rating: 3 out o' 5