Brief
A "D" engine powered pop-pod boost glider constructed primarily out of foam-core.

Construction
Packaging was sparse - several of the parts were loose in the shipping box with foam peanuts. The instructions are also sparse, but complete enough to use. The pre-cut foam-core parts already had the edge taped. I could have spent a little time and done a cleaner job, but it did not affect the performance. The plastic nose cone had the shoulder cut off to allow the weight at the end of the pop-pod to extend as far forward as possible. I would have just cut off the bottom and left the shoulder. The pop-pod was also pre-constructed, this could have been left for the builder to do. The model went together easily. The only omission from the instructions was rigging the paper-clip mount for the rubber band.

The foam core wing pieces are glued together, and then taped at the joints for strength. This is easy to do and works well. The nose cone is taped on with a heavy metallic tape which also serves as nose weight - again, this would have been easier and neater if the shoulder were left on. The materials and the construction techniques in this kit are instructional for the modeler interested in scratch building gliders "on the cheap".

PRO: complete and easy to assemble
CON: slightly rough appearance

Finishing
The "rough" appearance carries over into finishing. The taped wing edges, while needed for durability, make a "perfect" finish difficult. The large foam-core wing area allows for a striking finish if desired. I would recommend some kind of finishing, as plain white can be difficult to see in some conditions. Foam-core is easy to paint, and needs no primer. Definitely looks better at a distance.

Construction Rating: 3 ½ out of 5

Flight
Recommended Motor: D12-3 Motors
Used: D12-3, D12-5, E15-4

Preparation for flight is simple - just tape in the motor - an engine hook would be nice but is not necessary, then wrap the trash-bag streamer around the pod and insert the pod in the glider - a plastic coated paper clip holds the wing down during boost. This model is different than the "normal" boost glider in that the entire back half of the wing elevates for glide. It looks strange, but works very well. The model looks kind of clunky with the square edges of the foam core and I was prepared for a disappointing glide. I was surprised at how well it glided. This seems to be very forgiving of trim - it glides well enough even if not trimmed "perfectly".

Recovery
The boost is straight, and it glides amazingly well for such a "clunky looking" thing. As it ejects the pod it does a cute little flip and transitions to glide.

Flight Rating: 5 out of 5

Summary
This has become a favorite because of it easy flights and consistently good performance. In spite of its "clunky" appearance on the ground, it looks good in the air. It is big enough that it really gets noticed at launches.
Pros: Consistently good flights.
Cons: Kit a little "rough"

Note: Pictures courtesy of Paul Gray

Overall Rating: 4 ½ out of 5