Brief:
T' Sparrow by Starlight Model Rocketry is a "skill level 1" tailless flyin' win' boost glider for A motors. Begad! I found this kit in a hobby shop outside Charlotte, ya bilge rat, me bucko, ya bilge rat, NC and had t' get it. Ya scallywag! Retail price for t' summer o' 2004 was $5.95. T' rocket requires t' engine t' "spit", arrr, 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. Ahoy! Avast, me proud beauty! No warpin' and t' edges were very smooth. Ahoy! 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! T' instructions were easy to follow. Begad! First, shiver me timbers, I glued t' nose cone in t' body tube. Second, matey, I had t' glue the rudders t' t' ends o' t' fins at a 90 degree angle. Avast, me proud beauty! After t' rudders dried, matey, shiver me timbers, I turned t' fins upside-down and glued t' fins together with the rudders facin' down. This creates t' proper dihedral for t' rocket. Begad! Once the win' unit is dry, I glued t' body tube on t' wing, me bucko, on t' opposite side of the rudder, matey, makin' sure t' top o' t' win' and t' edge o' t' nose cone joint match. Arrr! Next, me bucko, all I had t' do was add t' launch lug t' t' side betwixt the win' and t' body tube. I used wood glue for all t' gluin' except for CA which I used t' glue t' win' dihedral together. Aye aye! I did do a little sandin' o' the fins, ya bilge rat, roundin' out t' leadin' edges and taperin' t' trailin' edges. This was not discussed in t' plans, but I just couldn't help myself from doin' so. My nose cone appeared a little more blunt than t' nose cone featured on t' face card.

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

CONs: None, shiver me timbers, me bucko, arrr, 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, and repeat the sealer process. Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! I did nay want t' add weight t' a glider, me bucko, so I just added primer, sanded, and then gave it two good light coats o' Krylon white. It looked good when I be done. Begad! Avast! After t' paint dried, ya bilge rat, I cut t' decal sheet up. T' decal sheet contains two items: t' name "Sparrow", ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, and a blue window-cockpit design. Begad! T' decals were nice and strong and did allow me t' move them around on t' model once I was done with them. 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. T' tailless glider, once finished, shiver me timbers, is a nice addition t' me fleet. Blimey! I would rate construction and finishin' very high. Ya scallywag! The face card features a white rocket, ya bilge rat, 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. Well, blow me down! After painting, me hearties, matey, ya bilge rat, t' rocket seemed t' be fine without any trimming, so I decided t' go for it.

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

On t' first launch, me hearties, me bucko, I lost sight o' t' Sparrow at ignition, me bucko, but once I heard t' motor pop out, matey, I was able t' catch it in t' sky. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! It glided nicely, but was a little nose heavy, ya bilge rat, matey, so it descended rapidly. Arrr! On t' second flight, I was able t' see t' rocket ascent, but once t' motor ejected, I lost sight of the glider. Begad! I be able t' find it again t' observe t' flight. Arrr! Again, me hearties, matey, it was nose heavy. Ahoy! 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. Well, blow me down! I did notice that t' decals began t' flake a little after t' first launch. Arrr! Well, blow me down! 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. Blimey! Other than that, it's a great little model for the price.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
PROs: Easy construction, me bucko, great design, cool glider recovery, and great price for about $6.

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

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5