Starlight Rockets Sparrow

Starlight Rockets - Sparrow {Kit}

Contributed by Clive Davis

Construction Rating: starstarstarstarstar
Flight Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Overall Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Manufacturer: Starlight Rockets
Starlight Sparrow

Brief:
T' Sparrow by Starlight Model Rocketry is a "skill level 1" tailless flyin' win' boost glider for A motors. Aye aye! I found this kit in a hobby shop outside Charlotte, NC and had t' get it. Well, blow me down! Ahoy! Retail price for t' summer o' 2004 was $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
Starlight Sparrow

T' balsa is extremely high quality. Ahoy! Avast! No warpin' and t' edges were very smooth. Well, blow me down! 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. Ahoy! T' instructions were easy to follow. First, 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. Blimey! Blimey! After t' rudders dried, ya bilge rat, me bucko, 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, shiver me timbers, on t' opposite side of the rudder, ya bilge rat, makin' sure t' top o' t' win' and t' edge o' t' nose cone joint match. Next, all I had t' do be add t' launch lug t' t' side betwixt the win' and t' body tube. Aye aye! I used wood glue for all t' gluin' except for CA which I used t' glue t' win' dihedral together. Well, blow me down! Blimey! I did do a little sandin' o' the fins, me hearties, roundin' out t' leadin' edges and taperin' t' trailin' edges. This was not discussed in t' plans, me bucko, 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, 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.

Starlight Sparrow

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

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Starlight Sparrow

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. Avast! After painting, t' rocket seemed t' be fine without any trimming, me bucko, 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. Begad! Arrr! Blimey! T' day be a bit blustery, me hearties, so I decided to only launch with t' 1/2A6s, nay t' A8-3s I also brought along. Ya scallywag! Preppin' is very easy. Begad! There is no need t' wadding, shiver me timbers, and t' motor does need t' be able to pop out at ejection, me bucko, shiver me timbers, so no motor retention is needed. Avast! Ahoy! Blimey!

On t' first launch, me hearties, I lost sight o' t' Sparrow at ignition, me hearties, but once I heard t' motor pop out, ya bilge rat, I be able t' catch it in t' sky. Arrr! It glided nicely, but was a little nose heavy, so it descended rapidly. Ahoy! On t' second flight, arrr, I was able t' see t' rocket ascent, me bucko, ya bilge rat, but once t' motor ejected, I lost sight of the glider. Ahoy! Well, blow me down! I was able t' find it again t' observe t' flight. Begad! Again, it was nose heavy. Begad! 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. Avast, me proud beauty! Aye aye! I will have t' coat t' decals with an acrylic finish before I fly the Sparrow again.

Starlight Sparrow

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

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

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

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

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5

Other Reviews
  • Starlight Rockets Sparrow By Todd Mullin

    Brief: The Sparrow is a small flying wing rocket glider that Starlight bills as a "Skill Level 2". I love to launch gliders, so finding one that appeared to be nearly foolproof at such a low cost is a treat! The wingspan of this glider is 11 inches. Construction: The components of the kit came in a poly bag and were in good condition when I opened the kit. The fin ...

Flights

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