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

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

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

Pros and cons about finishing: As I mentioned, better stay away from paints with strong organic solvents. Avast! I sprayed acrylic via an airbrush and made t' model orange. It looks funky. Avast, me proud beauty! 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, but I haven't tried that yet. Arrr! It may be too heavy to be stable, though. I used short delays. Avast, me proud beauty! T' A10-3T is fine. It flew up, me bucko, fairly straight, but swirly. Aye aye! T' engine popped out and t' model fell onto its legs, but fell over. Avast! Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down! But it stayed upright t' second time. Arrr! Prep is simple, as no waddin' or streamer is needed. No engine retention is needed either, since you want t' motor t' pop out at ejection. Arrr! Well, blow me down! It went up a hundred or so feet, shiver me timbers, maybe 200. Ya scallywag! Blimey!

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

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

This cost only a few dollars. Avast! Okay value. Kids will probably like this. Avast, me proud beauty! The kid in me does. Begad! Hmmm. Ya scallywag! 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. Begad! Ya scallywag!

Overall Rating: 3 out o' 5