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

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

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

Pros and cons about finishing: As I mentioned, ya bilge rat, better stay away from paints with strong organic solvents. I sprayed acrylic via an airbrush and made t' model orange. Ahoy! Blimey! It looks funky. Avast! I like the unconventionality o' it.

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, matey, but I haven't tried that yet. Ya scallywag! Aye aye! It may be too heavy to be stable, ya bilge rat, me bucko, ya bilge rat, though. Blimey! I used short delays. Avast, me proud beauty! Aye aye! T' A10-3T is fine. It flew up, me hearties, fairly straight, but swirly. Begad! Well, blow me down! T' engine popped out and t' model fell onto its legs, but fell over. Begad! Avast! But it stayed upright t' second time. Avast! Begad! Prep is simple, as no waddin' or streamer is needed. Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down! No engine retention is needed either, me hearties, since you want t' motor t' pop out at ejection. Avast, me proud beauty! It went up a hundred or so feet, maybe 200.

Pros and cons about recovery: Just about right. Landings don't always put it perfectly on its feet, but it's fun t' watch, me hearties, me bucko, and onlookers think it's funny. Well, blow me down! T' kids giggle. Ahoy! Avast, arrr, me proud beauty! One called it an octopus. Well, blow me down!

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

This cost only a few dollars. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Okay value. Begad! Avast! Kids will probably like this. The kid in me does. Well, me bucko, blow me down! Hmmm. Aye aye! Maybe I'll scale it up for G power!!! 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