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, me hearties, NC and had t' get it. Avast! Retail price for t' summer o' 2004 be $5.95. T' rocket requires t' engine t' "spit", me hearties, 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. Arrr! Blimey! Ya scallywag! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! No warpin' and t' edges were very smooth. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! 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. Blimey! T' instructions were easy to follow. Aye aye! First, I glued t' nose cone in t' body tube. Second, arrr, I had t' glue the rudders t' t' ends o' t' fins at a 90 degree angle. Aye aye! After t' rudders dried, I turned t' fins upside-down and glued t' fins together with the rudders facin' down. Avast, me proud beauty! This creates t' proper dihedral for t' rocket. 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. Well, blow me down! Arrr! Next, me hearties, 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. Begad! Begad! I did do a little sandin' o' the fins, roundin' out t' leadin' edges and taperin' t' trailin' edges. Aye aye! This was not discussed in t' plans, but I just couldn't help myself from doin' so. Begad! Avast, shiver me timbers, me proud beauty! My nose cone appeared a little more blunt than t' nose cone featured on t' face card.

PROs: An easy, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, 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, matey, and repeat the sealer process. Blimey! I did nay want t' add weight t' a glider, me bucko, matey, so I just added primer, me bucko, me hearties, sanded, ya bilge rat, and then gave it two good light coats o' Krylon white. Aye aye! Begad! It looked good when I be done. After t' paint dried, matey, I cut t' decal sheet up. T' decal sheet contains two items: t' name "Sparrow", and a blue window-cockpit design. Avast! T' decals were nice and strong and did allow me t' move them around on t' model once I was done with them. Ya scallywag! T' cockpit is a little difficult t' put on as it has a tendency t' wrinkle, me hearties, but after a little work I got it t' look pretty good. T' tailless glider, once finished, arrr, is a nice addition t' me fleet. Avast, me proud beauty! I would rate construction and finishin' very high. The face card features a white rocket, shiver me timbers, 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. Begad! Begad! Blimey! After painting, t' rocket seemed t' be fine without any trimming, so I decided t' go for it.

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

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

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
PROs: Easy construction, ya bilge rat, me hearties, great design, matey, me hearties, cool glider recovery, and great price for about $6.

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

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5