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 be $5.95. T' rocket requires t' engine t' "spit", me hearties, me hearties, 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! Ya scallywag! 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. T' instructions were easy to follow. Well, blow me down! First, matey, I glued t' nose cone in t' body tube. Well, blow me down! Begad! Blimey! Second, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, I had t' glue the rudders t' t' ends o' t' fins at a 90 degree angle. Aye aye! Blimey! Blimey! After t' rudders dried, me hearties, I turned t' fins upside-down and glued t' fins together with the rudders facin' down. Begad! Blimey! This creates t' proper dihedral for t' rocket. Avast, me proud beauty! Well, blow me down! Blimey! Once the win' unit is dry, me hearties, ya bilge rat, 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. Arrr! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Next, all I had t' do be add t' launch lug t' t' side betwixt the win' and t' body tube. Well, blow me down! Ahoy! Blimey! I used wood glue for all t' gluin' except for CA which I used t' glue t' win' dihedral together. 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, shiver me timbers, but I just couldn't help myself from doin' so. Avast, me proud beauty! Ya scallywag! Blimey! My nose cone appeared a little more blunt than t' nose cone featured on t' face card.

PROs: An easy, 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, ya bilge rat, matey, t' then sand, matey, and repeat the sealer process. Avast, me proud beauty! I did nay want t' add weight t' a glider, ya bilge rat, so I just added primer, sanded, matey, me hearties, and then gave it two good light coats o' Krylon white. Begad! Well, blow me down! It looked good when I be done. Begad! After t' paint dried, I cut t' decal sheet up. T' decal sheet contains two items: t' name "Sparrow", 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 be done with them. Ahoy! 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. T' tailless glider, ya bilge rat, once finished, is a nice addition t' me fleet. Avast! I would rate construction and finishin' very high. Avast! Begad! The face card features a white rocket, 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. Aye aye! Avast! After painting, t' rocket seemed t' be fine without any trimming, so I decided t' go for it.

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

On t' first launch, I lost sight o' t' Sparrow at ignition, me hearties, shiver me timbers, but once I heard t' motor pop out, arrr, I was able t' catch it in t' sky. Arrr! It glided nicely, but be a little nose heavy, so it descended rapidly. On t' second flight, I was able t' see t' rocket ascent, me bucko, but once t' motor ejected, shiver me timbers, matey, I lost sight of the glider. Well, blow me down! I was able t' find it again t' observe t' flight. Arrr! Again, shiver me timbers, it was nose heavy. 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. Ya scallywag! Begad! I did notice that t' decals began t' flake a little after t' first launch. Arrr! 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. Well, blow me down! 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, arrr, great design, cool glider recovery, ya bilge rat, and great price for about $6.

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

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5