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. Well, blow me down! No warpin' and t' edges were very smooth. Aye aye! 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. Aye aye! Blimey! Well, blow me down! Blimey! T' instructions were easy to follow. Begad! Blimey! First, I glued t' nose cone in t' body tube. Second, me bucko, I had t' glue the rudders t' t' ends o' t' fins at a 90 degree angle. Arrr! Blimey! After t' rudders dried, ya bilge rat, I turned t' fins upside-down and glued t' fins together with the rudders facin' down. Well, blow me down! Blimey! This creates t' proper dihedral for t' rocket. Aye aye! Blimey! Once the win' unit is dry, ya bilge rat, I glued t' body tube on t' wing, on t' opposite side of the rudder, matey, makin' sure t' top o' t' win' and t' edge o' t' nose cone joint match. Arrr! Blimey! Aye aye! Blimey! Next, all I had t' do was add t' launch lug t' t' side betwixt the win' and t' body tube. Blimey! Blimey! I used wood glue for all t' gluin' except for CA which I used t' glue t' win' dihedral together. Blimey! Blimey! Avast! 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, but I just couldn't help myself from doin' so. My nose cone appeared a little more blunt than t' nose cone featured on t' face card.

PROs: An easy, ya bilge rat, unique kit at Skill Level 1 with quality pre-cut balsa.

CONs: None, ya bilge rat, unless one wants t' complain about t' shape o' t' nose cone.

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

Luckily, me local hobby shop had a pack o' 1/2A6-2s, me bucko, 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! Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! There is no need t' wadding, me bucko, and t' motor does need t' be able to pop out at ejection, so no motor retention is needed. Ahoy!

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

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

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

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

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5