Description: Looks like the Russian Sputnik. It's a sphere that flies up on 13mm motors and comes down to land on three wooden legs when the motor ejects.

Pros and cons of construction: All the parts were there in a little plastic bag. The spherical body is styrofoam, and the 3 legs are 1/8 inch diameter wooden dowels 8 inches long. The motor tube is 13mm and is spiral wound paper, and the launch lug is plastic and is for 1/8 inch rods. A balsa motor bulkhead is supplied to keep the motor from burning the styrofoam body.

Instructions were illustrated and clear. Assembly is easy and takes only a few minutes. The launch lug glues to the motor tube and goes inside the body with the motor tube. The legs glue right into the body, allowing the model to stand upright like a tripod. You get holes predrilled into the body to guide placement. The only gotcha I can foresee is paint choice. Some eat styrofoams, so I used thin water-based acrylic.

Pros and cons about finishing: As I mentioned, better stay away from paints with strong organic solvents. I sprayed acrylic via an airbrush and made the model orange. It looks funky. I like the unconventionality of it.

Rating for construction and finishing: 3 out of 5

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

Pros and cons about recovery: Just about right. Landings don't always put it perfectly on its feet, but it's fun to watch, and onlookers think it's funny. The kids giggle. One called it an octopus.

Rating for flight and recovery: 3 out of 5

This cost only a few dollars. Okay value. Kids will probably like this. The kid in me does. Hmmm. Maybe I'll scale it up for G power!!! No specific tips except that you should take your time to align the legs spatially and lengthwise with respect to each other or else it'll stand lopsided and might fly semi-lateral.

Overall Rating: 3 out of 5