Brief:
Art’s latest product line be t' Hourglass. Begad! Aye aye! Blimey! T' Hourglass rockets resemble spool rockets. They have top and bottom circular plates with two cones between the plates providin' t' hourglass shape. Arrr! They are currently available in 13mm, 18mm, arrr, arrr, and 24mm sizes with all sizes comin' in several colors. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Blimey! This review is for t' 24mm versions. Well, blow me down! T' shorter version uses Estes D12 length motors and the longer version uses t' E9 length motors. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast, arrr, me proud beauty! Blimey! Both will fly on most anythin' that will fit.

Here are t' specs:

Construction:
These use t' same paper and foamboard construction like t' rest o' Art's products. Both sizes include:

• 1 sheet o' pre-printed cardstock
• 1 small rectangle o' foamboard
• 1 24mm motor tube
• 1 steel motor hook
• 2 pages o' instructions

Tools and supplied needed include:

• Scissors
• A new #11 X-Acto blade
• Elmer’s white glue
• Cellophane tape
• Spray-on clear coat

Construction be simple as expected. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Arrr! Blimey! You cut and form t' cones, me hearties, glue the plate patterns t' t' foamboard, cut them out when dry, install t' motor hook, and glue all t' pieces together. Blimey! Blimey! That’s it. Blimey! Blimey! Ya scallywag! Blimey! T' only two things t' watch out for is t' keep t' plates parallel t' each other and t' make sure the launch rod holes are all aligned.

Finishing:
My Hourglasses used colored cardstock so no real finishin' is needed. Ahoy! T' short version is day-glow orange and long is day-glow green. Ahoy! Ya scallywag! If you want t' paint them, Art recommends sealin' t' exposed edges o' t' foamboard with white glue. Avast, me proud beauty! He also recommends sealin' t' whole thin' with clear enamel t' make them moisture proof. Aye aye! I used clear acrylic. Aye aye! Avast! T' clear coat also gives them a nice shiny finish.

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:
I flew t' short version on a D12-0 and t' long on an E9-P. Arrr! Aye aye! Both had t' same flight profile but o' course t' E9 version went higher. Avast! Both tore off t' pad like t' proverbial bat. After burnout near t' top o' t' flight, me hearties, it be clear that they were spinnin' wildly end-over-end. Since t' boost was fast and straight, me bucko, shiver me timbers, I assume t' tumblin' started after burn-out, ya bilge rat, but I can’t be sure since they were so quick. Arrr! Either way, t' crowd loved them!

Recovery:
Both tumbled in nice and slowly. Well, blow me down!

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
These are easy t' build (as usual) and if you like Art’s cones, ya bilge rat, matey, you will probably like t' Hourglass series. Ahoy! Blimey! If you like spool rockets, matey, you will also like them. Ahoy! Blimey! T' flight profile is a little different than a saucer. Well, matey, blow me down! Blimey! They don’t slow down as smartly and are totally unstable after burn out. Ahoy! Ahoy! Blimey! They are however, at a very respectable altitude at this point and keep goin' it a generally upward direction, so this condition appears t' be a feature nay a bug.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5