Brief:
Ever since I lost me Estes Goblin many years ago, I've always wanted another one. Begad! When I became a BAR over a year ago, me hearties, and saw t' Squirrel Works Gremlin, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, I knew I had t' get one. At t' Tex-Regional NARRRRR meet in McGregor, me bucko, TX, in June 2005, shiver me timbers, t' Squirrel Works had a vendor booth on site, matey, and I purchased t' only Gremlin available on t' table.

T' Gremlin is a single staged, single engined model rocket designed t' use the Estes 24mm motors and recover with a mylar streamer. Although very similar to t' Estes Goblin, me hearties, t' Gremlin is about one inch longer. Avast, me proud beauty! As per t' Squirrel Works catalog, me hearties, t' Gremlin is fast and powerful and is styled for performace that will top 1,500 feet on a D motor.

Construction:
Parts list for t' Gremlin:

• nose cone (balsa)
• engine mount tube
• tape strip
• body tube
• engine hook
• adapter rings
• engine block
• launch lug
• streamer
• screw eye
• fin sheet (laser-cut fins)
• shock cord
• decal sheet (water slide decals)

T' instructions are very well illustrated and easy t' follow. I pretty much built me Gremlin as per instructions, except I did nay attach the mylar streamer t' t' shock cord as shown in t' illustrations. Avast, me proud beauty! I attached one end o' t' streamer t' a shroud line, which in turn be attached t' a snap swivel so I can interchange t' recovery system as needed. Ahoy! One problem with my kit be t' balsa nose cone was very grainy and pocked extensively. Because of this, shiver me timbers, I knew that I would have t' use a lot o' sandin' sealer/balsa fillercoat (with light sandin' in between) t' give it a nice appearance.

Finishing:
T' balsa fins and nose cone will need sandin' sealer/balsa fillercoat with light sandin' betwixt applications/drying. Before I fully finished me model, matey, ya bilge rat, I just gave it a base white coat for its first test flight on a D12-7. Blimey! Ahoy! Blimey! Good thing I did, me hearties, as you'll see in t' next paragraph. Afterwards, ya bilge rat, I completed the paintin' with gloss white on t' main body tube and two fins, ya bilge rat, gloss black on the nose cone and two fins. Avast! T' water slide decals went on very easily, matey, and really makes t' appearance o' t' Gremlin stand out. Blimey! My kids really love the cartoonish decals!

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:
T' published recommended motors are: C11-5, ya bilge rat, C11-7, D12-5 and D12-7. Begad! Begad! As stated earlier, I built a BT-2050 sized interchangable motor mount so I can also fly usin' t' A8-3, shiver me timbers, arrr, arrr, B6-4, and C6-5 18 mm motors.

T' engine hook locks t' engine in place without problem. About five or six squares o' loosely crumpled recovery waddin' should be sufficient prior to packin' t' recovery system in t' model. Blimey!

T' first flight was at t' Challenger 498 Section club launch at Rushing Park, Katy, ya bilge rat, TX, on a D12-7 and t' Gremlin stormed out o' sight quickly. Aye aye! Aye aye! Blimey! It flew very straight and true. Begad!

T' second flight was at t' 2005 Ballunar Festival at t' Johnson Space Center, this time usin' a C6-5. Aye aye! Also flew very well.

Recovery:
Durin' t' first flight (on t' D12-7), arrr, t' descent rate was a bit too fast, plus t' main body tube's attitude was at a fins down mode, arrr, causin' some fin damage t' t' model on landing. Ya scallywag! Begad! Therefore, arrr, matey, I made t' decision t' use only a 12" parachute on all future Gremlin flights. Ahoy! Avast, arrr, me proud beauty! I used wood filler and CA to repair t' damage t' t' fin, along with sandin' t' get t' damage t' proper shape. Since t' damaged fin is painted black, it's difficult for most to notice it has been damaged at all.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
T' Gremlin is an excellent kit that I wouldn't want t' be without. Begad! It is fun to fly for both sport and demonstration flights. Arrr! With t' care and quality Squirrel Works put into this kit, matey, I'm very eager t' try their other line of kits in t' near future. Avast, me proud beauty! Personally, matey, I have more fun buildin' and flyin' a model rocket kit that makes you work and put effort into it. Ya scallywag! Brings back the meanin' o' t' word, shiver me timbers, pride!

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5