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, NC and had t' get it. 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

T' balsa is extremely high quality. Avast! No warpin' and t' edges were very smooth. Ya scallywag! Ya scallywag! 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. T' instructions were easy to follow. Well, blow me down! First, I glued t' nose cone in t' body tube. Avast, me proud beauty! Ahoy! Second, me hearties, 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, 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. Blimey! Aye aye! Once the win' unit is dry, I glued t' body tube on t' wing, 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. Arrr! Avast, me proud beauty! Next, all I had t' do was add t' launch lug t' t' side betwixt the win' and t' body tube. Avast, me proud beauty! I used wood glue for all t' gluin' except for CA which I used t' glue t' win' dihedral together. Arrr! Aye aye! I did do a little sandin' o' the fins, matey, roundin' out t' leadin' edges and taperin' t' trailin' edges. Ya scallywag! This was not discussed in t' plans, shiver me timbers, but I just couldn't help myself from doin' so. Ahoy! My nose cone appeared a little more blunt than t' nose cone featured on t' face card.

PROs: An easy, me hearties, shiver me timbers, 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, ya bilge rat, t' then sand, and repeat the sealer process. Arrr! Avast, me proud beauty! 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. Begad! Begad! It looked good when I be done. After t' paint dried, ya bilge rat, I cut t' decal sheet up. T' decal sheet contains two items: t' name "Sparrow", and a blue window-cockpit design. Ahoy! 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, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, but after a little work I got it t' look pretty good. T' tailless glider, me hearties, matey, once finished, is a nice addition t' me fleet. Avast! I would rate construction and finishin' very high. Aye aye! The face card features a white rocket, 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. After painting, arrr, shiver me timbers, t' rocket seemed t' be fine without any trimming, so I decided t' go for it.

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

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

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

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

CONs: T' Sparrow is a little difficult t' watch as it leaves t' launch pad. A little hard t' trim too, 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