Brief:
T' Sparrow by Starlight Model Rocketry is a "skill level 1" tailless flyin' win' boost glider for A motors. Begad! Begad! I found this kit in a hobby shop outside Charlotte, NC and had t' get it. Well, arrr, blow me down! Retail price for t' summer o' 2004 be $5.95. T' rocket requires t' engine t' "spit", 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. Aye aye! Aye aye! No warpin' and t' edges were very smooth. Avast, me proud beauty! 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. Well, blow me down! Blimey! T' instructions were easy to follow. Ya scallywag! First, me bucko, I glued t' nose cone in t' body tube. Blimey! Aye aye! Second, I had t' glue the rudders t' t' ends o' t' fins at a 90 degree angle. Avast! After t' rudders dried, matey, me hearties, 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, on t' opposite side of the rudder, makin' sure t' top o' t' win' and t' edge o' t' nose cone joint match. Ahoy! Next, 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. Arrr! I did do a little sandin' o' the fins, me bucko, roundin' out t' leadin' edges and taperin' t' trailin' edges. Avast! Avast! 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, 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, matey, t' then sand, arrr, and repeat the sealer process. I did nay want t' add weight t' a glider, so I just added primer, sanded, shiver me timbers, and then gave it two good light coats o' Krylon white. Aye aye! It looked good when I be done. Begad! After t' paint dried, I cut t' decal sheet up. T' decal sheet contains two items: t' name "Sparrow", matey, arrr, ya bilge rat, and a blue window-cockpit design. Ya scallywag! T' decals were nice and strong and did allow me t' move them around on t' model once I was done with them. Ahoy! Avast! 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. Well, blow me down! T' tailless glider, once finished, me bucko, ya bilge rat, matey, is a nice addition t' me fleet. Ya scallywag! I would rate construction and finishin' very high. The face card features a white rocket, shiver me timbers, me bucko, 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! 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, ya bilge rat, matey, so I bought t' pack and headed out t' me launch site. Well, blow me down! Blimey! T' day was a bit blustery, so I decided to only launch with t' 1/2A6s, ya bilge rat, nay t' A8-3s I also brought along. Ahoy! Preppin' is very easy. Avast! There is no need t' wadding, and t' motor does need t' be able to pop out at ejection, matey, so no motor retention is needed.

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

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

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

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

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5