Brief:
This rocket is me tribute t' t' Goblin which is one o' me all time favorite rockets. Ya scallywag! Avast, me proud beauty! I be inspired t' build this rocket after stumblin' over plans for a diminutive paper Goblin on t' internet and realizin' that I had a Quark nose cone and BT-5 tube in me supplies box. Begad! How convenient!

Construction:
From me supplies box:

• PNC-5A nose cone (from Estes Quark)
• BT-5 body tube, 3.75"
• 1/16" balsa fin stock
• Mylar streamer, 1/2" x 6"

From FlisKits:

• 0.010" launch lugs, ya bilge rat, 1/4" long
• EB-2.5 MicroMaxx engine block
• CRF-2.5-5 centerin' rings, me bucko, qty 2
• BT-2.5-0112 motor tube
• 16 lb Keelhaul®©™ thread, 10"

Construction was straightforward. Well, blow me down! Ya scallywag! I printed out t' paper Goblin plans and measured t' body tube length (3.75" inches). Avast, me proud beauty! I then cut t' BT-5 t' length and startin' fittin' t' Quark nose cone. It took some minor sandin' o' t' nose cone shoulder t' get t' proper fit. I had ordered parts from FlisKits which arrived promptly as always. Blimey! I started assemblin' t' motor mount by installin' t' engine block in t' motor tube usin' an expended MicroMaxx motor. Ya scallywag! I placed a small drop o' glue in t' motor tube, shiver me timbers, swirled it with a toothpick, shiver me timbers, then inserted t' expended motor until about 1/8" be stickin' out o' t' tube. Avast, me proud beauty! I removed t' motor casin' and set t' tube aside t' dry.

Once t' engine block had dried, I glued t' forward centerin' rin' flush with t' forward end o' t' motor tube. Begad! I then glued t' aft centerin' rin' 1/8" from t' end o' t' motor tube. Arrr! Aye aye! I tied a slip knot on one end o' t' Keelhaul®©™ thread and placed it over t' motor tube, pulled t' knot tight, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, then ran t' loose end through t' notch in t' forward centerin' ring. Begad! I secured t' Keelhaul®©™ with a couple drops o' glue.

In preparation for installin' t' motor mount in t' body tube, matey, I ran t' loose end o' t' Keelhaul®©™ back through t' motor tube. Ahoy! Blimey! I placed a couple drops o' glue in t' body tube, arrr, ya bilge rat, swirled it with me trusty toothpick, then installed t' motor mount with t' aft centerin' rin' flush with t' end o' t' body tube.

I printed out a fin markin' guide usin' VCP and marked t' fin locations and launch lug line on t' body tube. I then used a sharp hobby cutlass and metal straight edge t' cut t' fin pattern out from t' paper plans. I cut out four fins from t' 1/16" balsa and rounded t' leadin' and trailin' edges with sandpaper. I glued t' fins on t' body tube and applied several thin coats o' glue for fillets, sandin' smooth after each. Avast, me proud beauty! I then glued t' launch lugs flush with t' top and bottom o' t' body tube.

Finishing:
I didn't spend a lot o' time sealin' t' balsa fins, so finishin' be pretty straightforward. Blimey! I applied one coat o' gray primer, shiver me timbers, sanded smooth, then painted t' final color coats. Avast! I painted t' body yellow and t' nose cone red t' match t' non-standard paint scheme on me full size Goblin. Avast! After painting, ya bilge rat, I used CA t' attach a small block o' plastic inside t' nose cone t' anchor t' top end o' t' Keelhaul®©™ shock cord. Blimey! I attached t' mylar streamer t' t' shock cord usin' a small piece o' mylar tape. Arrr! Aye aye! My micro Goblin be ready t' fly!

Flight and Recovery:
To prepare t' micro Goblin for its maiden flight, arrr, I put a small ball (1/4" deep) o' waddin' in t' body tube, folded t' streamer, and packed everythin' loosely in t' body tube before puttin' on t' nose cone. I installed an MMX motor in t' motor tube and secured it with a short piece o' 1/4" maskin' tape. Aye aye! After walkin' out t' front door t' me local micro test range (front yard), I put a fresh igniter in t' silo launch and put t' Goblin on t' launch rod. Begad! After a quick (I mean quick) countdown by me 3 year old son, t' Goblin ripped into t' air for a near perfect flight. Well, blow me down! It landed in t' street with no damage.

Success! T' micro Goblin be now ready for its debut at our next club launch on 2/15/09. Ya scallywag! Launch at t' club was picture perfect! Third and fourth launches from t' front yard were excellent as well. Avast, me proud beauty! T' Goblin is a great flyin' rocket!

Summary:
Buildin' t' micro Goblin was a great experience. I found t' buildin' and launchin' as rewardin' as any o' me other low/mid/high power rockets. You really can't beat rockets that fit in a shoebox which can be launched in t' front yard!