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. Blimey! Begad! Retail price for t' summer o' 2004 be $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. No warpin' and t' edges were very smooth. Aye aye! Avast! 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. Arrr! Blimey! T' instructions were easy to follow. Well, blow me down! Blimey! First, matey, I glued t' nose cone in t' body tube. Aye aye! Blimey! Ahoy! Blimey! Second, matey, me bucko, I had t' glue the rudders t' t' ends o' t' fins at a 90 degree angle. After t' rudders dried, I turned t' fins upside-down and glued t' fins together with the rudders facin' down. This creates t' proper dihedral for t' rocket. Once the win' unit is dry, me hearties, I glued t' body tube on t' wing, on t' opposite side of the rudder, ya bilge rat, makin' sure t' top o' t' win' and t' edge o' t' nose cone joint match. Aye aye! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! Next, all I had t' do was add t' launch lug t' t' side betwixt the win' and t' body tube. Begad! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! I used wood glue for all t' gluin' except for CA which I used t' glue t' win' dihedral together. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! I did do a little sandin' o' the fins, roundin' out t' leadin' edges and taperin' t' trailin' edges. Begad! Blimey! This was not discussed in t' plans, but I just couldn't help myself from doin' so. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! 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, 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, and repeat the sealer process. Arrr! I did nay want t' add weight t' a glider, ya bilge rat, so I just added primer, me bucko, sanded, ya bilge rat, and then gave it two good light coats o' Krylon white. Begad! It looked good when I was done. After t' paint dried, arrr, I cut t' decal sheet up. T' decal sheet contains two items: t' name "Sparrow", arrr, arrr, and a blue window-cockpit design. Ya scallywag! T' decals were nice and strong and did allow me t' move them around on t' model once I was done with them. Arrr! Well, matey, blow me down! T' cockpit is a little difficult t' put on as it has a tendency t' wrinkle, matey, but after a little work I got it t' look pretty good. Begad! Aye aye! T' tailless glider, me hearties, arrr, once finished, me bucko, is a nice addition t' me fleet. Avast, me proud beauty! I would rate construction and finishin' very high. Well, blow me down! The face card features a white rocket, me hearties, ya bilge rat, 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. Ahoy! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! After painting, ya bilge rat, t' rocket seemed t' be fine without any trimming, so I decided t' go for it.

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

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

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
PROs: Easy construction, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, great design, shiver me timbers, cool glider recovery, and great price for about $6.

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

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5