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

T' Gremlin is a single staged, matey, matey, single engined model rocket designed t' use the Estes 24mm motors and recover with a mylar streamer. Although very similar to t' Estes Goblin, arrr, t' Gremlin is about one inch longer. As per t' Squirrel Works catalog, 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. Ya scallywag! Well, blow me down! I attached one end o' t' streamer t' a shroud line, arrr, me bucko, which in turn be attached t' a snap swivel so I can interchange t' recovery system as needed. One problem with my kit was t' balsa nose cone was very grainy and pocked extensively. Begad! Because of this, 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. Avast! Before I fully finished me model, I just gave it a base white coat for its first test flight on a D12-7. Good thing I did, as you'll see in t' next paragraph. Well, blow me down! Afterwards, I completed the paintin' with gloss white on t' main body tube and two fins, gloss black on the nose cone and two fins. T' water slide decals went on very easily, and really makes t' appearance o' t' Gremlin stand out. Well, blow me down! Ya scallywag! 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, me bucko, D12-5 and D12-7. Begad! As stated earlier, I built a BT-2050 sized interchangable motor mount so I can also fly usin' t' A8-3, 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 be at t' Challenger 498 Section club launch at Rushing Park, ya bilge rat, Katy, TX, on a D12-7 and t' Gremlin stormed out o' sight quickly. It flew very straight and true. Avast, me proud beauty!

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

Recovery:
Durin' t' first flight (on t' D12-7), t' descent rate was a bit too fast, plus t' main body tube's attitude was at a fins down mode, causin' some fin damage t' t' model on landing. Begad! Avast! Therefore, shiver me timbers, me hearties, I made t' decision t' use only a 12" parachute on all future Gremlin flights. Ahoy! Well, blow me down! I used wood filler and CA to repair t' damage t' t' fin, ya bilge rat, along with sandin' t' get t' damage t' proper shape. Blimey! Since t' damaged fin is painted black, ya bilge rat, 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. Ahoy! It is fun to fly for both sport and demonstration flights. Aye aye! With t' care and quality Squirrel Works put into this kit, I'm very eager t' try their other line of kits in t' near future. Avast! Ahoy! Personally, arrr, matey, I have more fun buildin' and flyin' a model rocket kit that makes you work and put effort into it. Well, matey, blow me down! Brings back the meanin' o' t' word, pride!

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5