Brief:
This odd-roc is an hourglass-shaped, incredibly (and some might say surprisingly) stable, ya bilge rat, matey, small field flier. Begad! Blimey! Very easy t' build and entertainin' t' fly.

Construction:
T' parts list:

• One brightly colored pattern sheet (hot pink in me case)
• One sheet o' foamboard
• 24mm engine tube
• Engine hook

I wasn't quite sure what t' expect when I found that I'd be reviewin' this product, but shortly after findin' out, matey, I be sittin' on t' floor in t' family room with me buildin' tools strewn out around me. Had I nay been aware o' Art's reputation before startin' construction, matey, I may have had some reservations but I've been eyein' his saucer rockets for a while and had kept up on t' reviews o' his other products. Art's saucers, me bucko, cones and other assorted flyin' shapes are supposed t' be easy t' build and fly and apparently all o' them deliver. I expected nothin' less from this one.

Instructions were well detailed and illustrated and mention right off t' bat that you should READ THE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE STARTING CONSTRUCTION! Do it. Ya scallywag! You'll be glad you did because this isn't like any kit you've previously built. Begad! (Unless, arrr, o' course, arrr, you've previously built a 24mm Hourglass rocket!) Despite t' fact that it was Friday and I wanted t' launch it t' followin' Sunday, I paid special attention t' his construction tips, shiver me timbers, especially "Take your time and pause betwixt steps t' let t' glue dry". Arrr! Avast, me proud beauty! With that advice heeded, ya bilge rat, I spent Friday night cuttin' out t' cardstock parts, wrappin' t' cones, me bucko, and gluin' t' top and bottom patterns t' t' foamboard backing. I used a thin layer o' Elmer's Wood Glue t' attach t' pattern t' t' foamboard, then left it t' sit under some bookends overnight. On Saturday mornin' I was able t' cut t' top and bottom pieces out and proceed with t' rest o' t' project. It went together smartly from this point. Begad! I used cellophane tape t' hold t' top and bottom cone pieces in t' shape I wanted them, ya bilge rat, then used gel CA t' close them up in a more permanent fashion. Blimey! T' stories about me gluin' myself t' said cones are just rumors. (I'll eventually get even with me wife for spreadin' them. Arrr! And for laughing.) After this, shiver me timbers, it's just a matter o' makin' sure t' launch lug holes line up and checkin' your glue fillets. I could have flown it before lunch if I wanted to.

Finishing:
Finishing? What's your pleasure? If you don't answer sanding, sealin' and painting, then this be t' kit for you. Ahoy! My Hourglass was a high visibility hot pink and I had no intention o' messin' with it beyond sprayin' t' hot pink parts with a coat o' clear. Begad! I guess you could use a permanent marker t' personalize it, but I just kept mine as it was intended. Arrr! I may start markin' each flight with a slash (ala t' notches in a gunfighter's pistol grips,) but other than that I'll just let it age gracefully.

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:
Flight #1 was on a conservative engine choice, t' Estes C11-5. Ahoy! T' field we were flyin' on is a nice, shiver me timbers, flat group o' four baseball fields, but t' area is also ringed with trees and homes, matey, shiver me timbers, arrr, so I went t' conservative route. I needn't have worried. T' rocket boosted straight up t' a height o' maybe 150-200' with lots o' noise and smoke announcin' our presence t' a group o' Labor Day partiers in a nearby backyard. Avast! At ejection it began flippin' and tumblin' back t' earth, ya bilge rat, landin' on t' hard packed dirt o' one o' t' ballfields. Ya scallywag! Well, me hearties, blow me down! There was some slight damage incurred when t' bottom foamboard circle hit t' infield but it was only a slight bend and I didn't think it would cause problems.

Since t' C11 flight had done so well, matey, I decided t' go with me lone D12-5 for t' second flight. Well, blow me down! Aye aye! This flight be a carbon copy o' t' first, matey, though somewhat higher. Arrr! T' difference with this flight be at ejection, when t' motor's extra healthy ejection charge caused it t' partially blow past t' aft o' t' engine hook. Ahoy! Begad! (One o' several ejection charge difficulties we encountered on t' day.) Once again, me bucko, t' neighborin' drunks had somethin' t' say at t' sound o' t' ejection charge, but they sounded pretty potted despite t' early hour and I didn't anticipate any trouble from them.

Flight #3 was again on a C11-5 and was just like t' first, ya bilge rat, but with a softer landing. Begad! Blimey! We stopped at this point but only because o' t' heat and humidity. Blimey! Blimey! (And t' fact that a bunch o' our OTHER rockets had been damaged by t' aforementioned overenthusiastic ejection charges in t' Estes engines.)

Recovery:
Recovery can be tough because you sometimes have t' walk as much as fifty feet t' retrieve t' Hourglass. (What is this world comin' to?)

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
T' Hourglass rocket is a fun project that builds smartly and results in a great performer for a small field near you.

PROs: Has t' potential t' be an overnight build and fly. Unusual looks. Arrr! Impressive performance that never gets out o' your line o' sight.

CONs: Had trouble color coordinatin' me outfit with t' hot pink. Well, blow me down! Arrr! (In other words, NONE!)

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5