Description: Looks like t' Russian Sputnik. Aye aye! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! It's a sphere that flies up on 13mm motors and comes down t' land on three wooden legs when the motor ejects. Avast, matey, me proud beauty! Blimey!

Pros and cons o' construction: All t' parts were thar in a little plastic bag. T' spherical body is styrofoam, matey, and t' 3 legs are 1/8 inch diameter wooden dowels 8 inches long. Well, blow me down! Avast! T' motor tube is 13mm and is spiral wound paper, and t' launch lug is plastic and is for 1/8 inch rods. Avast, me proud beauty! A balsa motor bulkhead is supplied t' keep t' motor from burnin' t' styrofoam body. Arrr!

Instructions were illustrated and clear. Ahoy! Assembly is easy and takes only a few minutes. Well, blow me down! Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! T' launch lug glues t' t' motor tube and goes inside t' body with t' motor tube. T' legs glue right into t' body, allowin' t' model to stand upright like a tripod. Ya scallywag! You get holes predrilled into t' body t' guide placement. T' only gotcha I can foresee is paint choice. Blimey! Some eat styrofoams, so I used thin water-based acrylic. Begad!

Pros and cons about finishing: As I mentioned, shiver me timbers, better stay away from paints with strong organic solvents. Begad! I sprayed acrylic via an airbrush and made t' model orange. Arrr! Blimey! It looks funky. Ya scallywag! Well, blow me down! I like the unconventionality o' it. Arrr!

Ratin' for construction and finishing: 3 out o' 5

Pros and cons about flight: T' 13mm Estes 1/4A t' A line is good. Apogee sells some B types, but I haven't tried that yet. Avast, me bucko, me proud beauty! It may be too heavy to be stable, ya bilge rat, me bucko, though. Well, blow me down! Well, blow me down! I used short delays. Well, blow me down! T' A10-3T is fine. Ahoy! Aye aye! It flew up, me bucko, fairly straight, me bucko, but swirly. Aye aye! Avast! T' engine popped out and t' model fell onto its legs, but fell over. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast, me proud beauty! But it stayed upright t' second time. Avast, me proud beauty! Ya scallywag! Prep is simple, as no waddin' or streamer is needed. Arrr! No engine retention is needed either, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, since you want t' motor t' pop out at ejection. Arrr! It went up a hundred or so feet, ya bilge rat, maybe 200.

Pros and cons about recovery: Just about right. Landings don't always put it perfectly on its feet, but it's fun t' watch, ya bilge rat, and onlookers think it's funny. T' kids giggle. One called it an octopus. Well, blow me down! Blimey!

Ratin' for flight and recovery: 3 out o' 5

This cost only a few dollars. Avast, me proud beauty! Okay value. Arrr! Well, blow me down! Kids will probably like this. Avast! Blimey! The kid in me does. Begad! Avast! Hmmm. Blimey! Blimey! Maybe I'll scale it up for G power!!! No specific tips except that you should take your time t' align t' legs spatially and lengthwise with respect t' each other or else it'll stand lopsided and might fly semi-lateral. Well, blow me down! Well, blow me down!

Overall Rating: 3 out o' 5