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, me hearties, NC and had t' get it. Begad! Retail price for t' summer o' 2004 be $5.95. T' rocket requires t' engine t' "spit", ya bilge rat, 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, me proud beauty! Blimey! No warpin' and t' edges were very smooth. Blimey! Begad! 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. 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. Ahoy! Blimey! Aye aye! Blimey! After t' rudders dried, I turned t' fins upside-down and glued t' fins together with the rudders facin' down. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Avast! Blimey! This creates t' proper dihedral for t' rocket. Once the win' unit is dry, me hearties, I glued t' body tube on t' wing, arrr, on t' opposite side of the rudder, matey, makin' sure t' top o' t' win' and t' edge o' t' nose cone joint match. Begad! Blimey! Next, ya bilge rat, all I had t' do was add t' launch lug t' t' side betwixt the win' and t' body tube. Avast! Blimey! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! I used wood glue for all t' gluin' except for CA which I used t' glue t' win' dihedral together. Begad! Blimey! Ahoy! Blimey! I did do a little sandin' o' the fins, roundin' out t' leadin' edges and taperin' t' trailin' edges. This was not discussed in t' plans, ya bilge rat, but I just couldn't help myself from doin' so. Avast! Blimey! My nose cone appeared a little more blunt than t' nose cone featured on t' face card.

PROs: An easy, 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, me hearties, t' then sand, shiver me timbers, and repeat the sealer process. Begad! Avast! I did nay want t' add weight t' a glider, so I just added primer, arrr, me bucko, sanded, me bucko, and then gave it two good light coats o' Krylon white. Well, blow me down! It looked good when I be done. Well, blow me down! After t' paint dried, matey, me hearties, shiver me timbers, I cut t' decal sheet up. T' decal sheet contains two items: t' name "Sparrow", ya bilge rat, and a blue window-cockpit design. Begad! T' decals were nice and strong and did allow me t' move them around on t' model once I be done with them. Ahoy! Ya scallywag! T' cockpit is a little difficult t' put on as it has a tendency t' wrinkle, arrr, but after a little work I got it t' look pretty good. Well, blow me down! Blimey! T' tailless glider, ya bilge rat, once finished, matey, is a nice addition t' me fleet. Aye aye! Begad! I would rate construction and finishin' very high. Arrr! Blimey! The face card features a white rocket, me hearties, matey, me hearties, 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. Well, blow me down! Avast, me proud beauty! After painting, ya bilge rat, t' rocket seemed t' be fine without any trimming, so I decided t' go for it.

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

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

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

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

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

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5