Ok, finally got some nice weather to try out my new mini Sparrow. I built from Localfiend's plans (which amounts to a longer fuselage nose section) I'm using the 'F' pack motor, 12A ESC, 5x4.5 3 blade prop and 800x3C batteries. With the small 3 blade prop you can keep the motor all the way in tight against the rear of the fuselage without cutting the tail. With the longer nose it balanced with the 800 all the way forward in the nose. No additional weight was needed. The CG I flew at was the one Josh showed in the video (Centered on the wing spar, slightly nose down when holding it there).
I launched at half throttle and it flew straight out from my hand. With the small prop you can normally launch it if you're careful as the prop is just about the size of the rear skid. I found that high rates were too much and flew on low rates much of the time. It does not take much control to make this thing fly. I'm quite surprised how well it works with just the ruddervators for control.
The 'F' pack motor is seriously over powering this little bird. I'm sure it would fly just great on the 'A' pack setup as called for on the plans. But WOW when you throttle up it screams. Funny that it wiggles around due to the very short coupled fuselage.
Here's a video of the maiden flight!