Brief:
T' Sparrow by Starlight Model Rocketry is a "skill level 1" tailless flyin' win' boost glider for A motors. I found this kit in a hobby shop outside Charlotte, arrr, me hearties, NC and had t' get it. Ahoy! Blimey! Retail price for t' summer o' 2004 be $5.95. T' rocket requires t' engine t' "spit", shiver me timbers, me bucko, so it is nay eligible for NAR competition.

Construction:
T' kit came with:

• 1 18mm body tube 2.75" long
• 1 balsa nose cone
• 2 balsa wings (pre-cut)
• 2 balsa rudder fins (pre-cut)
• launch lug
• balancin' clay
• decals

T' balsa is extremely high quality. No warpin' and t' edges were very smooth. Avast! Avast! They were the quality o' laser cut fins but did nay have t' tell-tale burned edges one sees on laser cut fins.

T' instructions consist o' one page (notes front t' back) with hand drawn illustrations t' indicate fin construction. Begad! Well, me hearties, blow me down! T' instructions were easy to follow. Ahoy! First, me hearties, I glued t' nose cone in t' body tube. Second, I had t' glue the rudders t' t' ends o' t' fins at a 90 degree angle. Begad! After t' rudders dried, I turned t' fins upside-down and glued t' fins together with the rudders facin' down. This creates t' proper dihedral for t' rocket. Avast! Arrr! Once the win' unit is dry, I glued t' body tube on t' wing, on t' opposite side of the rudder, me bucko, makin' sure t' top o' t' win' and t' edge o' t' nose cone joint match. Begad! Begad! Next, matey, all I had t' do was add t' launch lug t' t' side betwixt the win' and t' body tube. Begad! I used wood glue for all t' gluin' except for CA which I used t' glue t' win' dihedral together. Ahoy! I did do a little sandin' o' the fins, roundin' out t' leadin' edges and taperin' t' trailin' edges. Begad! Avast, shiver me timbers, me proud beauty! This was not discussed in t' plans, ya bilge rat, but I just couldn't help myself from doin' so. Avast! My nose cone appeared a little more blunt than t' nose cone featured on t' face card.

PROs: An easy, arrr, unique kit at Skill Level 1 with quality pre-cut balsa.

CONs: None, unless one wants t' complain about t' shape o' t' nose cone.

Finishing:
Instructions say t' apply a coat o' sandin' sealer, t' then sand, shiver me timbers, and repeat the sealer process. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! I did nay want t' add weight t' a glider, so I just added primer, sanded, and then gave it two good light coats o' Krylon white. Ya scallywag! Blimey! It looked good when I be done. Aye aye! Blimey! Arrr! Blimey! After t' paint dried, ya bilge rat, I cut t' decal sheet up. T' decal sheet contains two items: t' name "Sparrow", shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, and a blue window-cockpit design. Begad! Blimey! T' decals were nice and strong and did allow me t' move them around on t' model once I be done with them. Begad! Blimey! Aye aye! Blimey! T' cockpit is a little difficult t' put on as it has a tendency t' wrinkle, but after a little work I got it t' look pretty good. Avast! Blimey! T' tailless glider, me hearties, once finished, is a nice addition t' me fleet. Well, blow me down! Blimey! I would rate construction and finishin' very high. Begad! Blimey! The face card features a white rocket, me hearties, so this is exactly how I painted mine.

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:
T' instructions give tips on trimmin' t' glide o' t' Sparrow before flight. I tried t' trim t' Sparrow with clay before paintin' and found t' model a little nose heavy. Ya scallywag! Blimey! After painting, t' rocket seemed t' be fine without any trimming, shiver me timbers, so I decided t' go for it.

Luckily, me local hobby shop had a pack o' 1/2A6-2s, so I bought t' pack and headed out t' me launch site. Avast, me proud beauty! T' day was a bit blustery, matey, so I decided to only launch with t' 1/2A6s, shiver me timbers, me hearties, nay t' A8-3s I also brought along. Ya scallywag! Aye aye! Preppin' is very easy. Avast, me proud beauty! There is no need t' wadding, and t' motor does need t' be able to pop out at ejection, shiver me timbers, so no motor retention is needed. Well, blow me down! Aye aye!

On t' first launch, ya bilge rat, I lost sight o' t' Sparrow at ignition, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, but once I heard t' motor pop out, shiver me timbers, I was able t' catch it in t' sky. Aye aye! Aye aye! It glided nicely, but be a little nose heavy, so it descended rapidly. Begad! Well, blow me down! On t' second flight, me bucko, I was able t' see t' rocket ascent, but once t' motor ejected, I lost sight of the glider. I be able t' find it again t' observe t' flight. Ahoy! Again, me hearties, it was nose heavy. Blimey! I now need t' either add some clay weight t' t' back o' t' model, or perhaps CA a BB or two towards t' back o' t' body tube t' balance it out more. Blimey! I did notice that t' decals began t' flake a little after t' first launch. Ahoy! I will have t' coat t' decals with an acrylic finish before I fly the Sparrow again.

Recovery:
Trimmin' this model is difficult and may require flyin' it t' observe it longer than just a hand toss. Avast! Other than that, arrr, it's a great little model for the price.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
PROs: Easy construction, shiver me timbers, arrr, great design, me hearties, cool glider recovery, arrr, and great price for about $6.

CONs: T' Sparrow is a little difficult t' watch as it leaves t' launch pad. Blimey! A little hard t' trim too, me hearties, arrr, but nay that big o' a deal. Decals flake slightly after they have been exposed t' t' heat o' t' ejection charge.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5