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, arrr, and t' 3 legs are 1/8 inch diameter wooden dowels 8 inches long. Aye aye! T' motor tube is 13mm and is spiral wound paper, me hearties, and t' launch lug is plastic and is for 1/8 inch rods. Aye aye! Arrr! A balsa motor bulkhead is supplied t' keep t' motor from burnin' t' styrofoam body.

Instructions were illustrated and clear. Ya scallywag! Blimey! 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. Aye aye! Blimey! Aye aye! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! T' legs glue right into t' body, ya bilge rat, me hearties, matey, allowin' t' model to stand upright like a tripod. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! You get holes predrilled into t' body t' guide placement. Begad! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! T' only gotcha I can foresee is paint choice. Aye aye! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! Some eat styrofoams, so I used thin water-based acrylic.

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

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, though. I used short delays. Avast, me bucko, me proud beauty! T' A10-3T is fine. Avast! Ya scallywag! It flew up, fairly straight, but swirly. Avast, me proud beauty! T' engine popped out and t' model fell onto its legs, but fell over. But it stayed upright t' second time. Prep is simple, ya bilge rat, as no waddin' or streamer is needed. No engine retention is needed either, since you want t' motor t' pop out at ejection. Arrr! 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, arrr, but it's fun t' watch, ya bilge rat, and onlookers think it's funny. T' kids giggle. Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! One called it an octopus. Ya scallywag! Avast!

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

This cost only a few dollars. Aye aye! Aye aye! Blimey! Okay value. Well, blow me down! Kids will probably like this. Ahoy! The kid in me does. Hmmm. Maybe I'll scale it up for G power!!! Blimey! 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. Aye aye! Avast! Blimey!

Overall Rating: 3 out o' 5