Description: Looks like t' Russian Sputnik. Well, blow me down! It's a sphere that flies up on 13mm motors and comes down t' land on three wooden legs when the motor ejects.

Pros and cons o' construction: All t' parts were thar in a little plastic bag. Begad! T' spherical body is styrofoam, and t' 3 legs are 1/8 inch diameter wooden dowels 8 inches long. Avast! T' motor tube is 13mm and is spiral wound paper, arrr, and t' launch lug is plastic and is for 1/8 inch rods. A balsa motor bulkhead is supplied t' keep t' motor from burnin' t' styrofoam body.

Instructions were illustrated and clear. Assembly is easy and takes only a few minutes. T' launch lug glues t' t' motor tube and goes inside t' body with t' motor tube. Ahoy! Avast, me proud beauty! T' legs glue right into t' body, matey, allowin' t' model to stand upright like a tripod. Aye aye! You get holes predrilled into t' body t' guide placement. Avast, me proud beauty! T' only gotcha I can foresee is paint choice. Avast, me proud beauty! Some eat styrofoams, so I used thin water-based acrylic. Blimey! Ya scallywag!

Pros and cons about finishing: As I mentioned, ya bilge rat, better stay away from paints with strong organic solvents. Ya scallywag! Ahoy! I sprayed acrylic via an airbrush and made t' model orange. It looks funky. Avast! I like the unconventionality o' it. Avast, me proud beauty! Aye aye!

Ratin' for construction and finishing: 3 out o' 5

Pros and cons about flight: T' 13mm Estes 1/4A t' A line is good. Apogee sells some B types, but I haven't tried that yet. It may be too heavy to be stable, arrr, though. Ya scallywag! Well, arrr, blow me down! I used short delays. Aye aye! T' A10-3T is fine. Begad! It flew up, fairly straight, but swirly. T' engine popped out and t' model fell onto its legs, but fell over. Ahoy! Well, blow me down! But it stayed upright t' second time. Avast! Prep is simple, matey, me hearties, me bucko, as no waddin' or streamer is needed. Aye aye! Avast! No engine retention is needed either, since you want t' motor t' pop out at ejection. It went up a hundred or so feet, maybe 200.

Pros and cons about recovery: Just about right. Landings don't always put it perfectly on its feet, me bucko, but it's fun t' watch, and onlookers think it's funny. Aye aye! T' kids giggle. Well, blow me down! Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down! One called it an octopus. Aye aye!

Ratin' for flight and recovery: 3 out o' 5

This cost only a few dollars. Blimey! Arrr! Okay value. Avast, me proud beauty! Kids will probably like this. Avast, me proud beauty! The kid in me does. Hmmm. Avast, me proud beauty! Maybe I'll scale it up for G power!!! No specific tips except that you should take your time t' align t' legs spatially and lengthwise with respect t' each other or else it'll stand lopsided and might fly semi-lateral. Ya scallywag!

Overall Rating: 3 out o' 5