Brief:
Ever since I lost me Estes Goblin many years ago, shiver me timbers, I've always wanted another one. Blimey! Aye aye! When I became a BAR over a year ago, and saw t' Squirrel Works Gremlin, arrr, I knew I had t' get one. At t' Tex-Regional NARRRRR meet in McGregor, TX, in June 2005, arrr, t' Squirrel Works had a vendor booth on site, arrr, shiver me timbers, 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, arrr, t' Gremlin is about one inch longer. Aye aye! Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! As per t' Squirrel Works catalog, arrr, 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, ya bilge rat, except I did nay attach the mylar streamer t' t' shock cord as shown in t' illustrations. Begad! I attached one end o' t' streamer t' a shroud line, which in turn was attached t' a snap swivel so I can interchange t' recovery system as needed. Ya scallywag! One problem with my kit was t' balsa nose cone was very grainy and pocked extensively. Avast! Avast! 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. Well, blow me down! Before I fully finished me model, matey, 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. Arrr! 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. Ya scallywag! T' water slide decals went on very easily, and really makes t' appearance o' t' Gremlin stand out. Begad! Avast, me hearties, me proud beauty! My kids really love the cartoonish decals!

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

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

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

T' first flight was at t' Challenger 498 Section club launch at Rushing Park, Katy, TX, on a D12-7 and t' Gremlin stormed out o' sight quickly. Avast! It flew very straight and true. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad!

T' second flight was at t' 2005 Ballunar Festival at t' Johnson Space Center, this time usin' a C6-5. Ya scallywag! Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! Also flew very well.

Recovery:
Durin' t' first flight (on t' D12-7), shiver me timbers, t' descent rate be a bit too fast, plus t' main body tube's attitude was at a fins down mode, shiver me timbers, causin' some fin damage t' t' model on landing. Begad! Ya scallywag! Therefore, ya bilge rat, I made t' decision t' use only a 12" parachute on all future Gremlin flights. 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. Aye aye! Avast, me proud beauty! It is fun to fly for both sport and demonstration flights. Begad! Ahoy! 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. Ahoy! Personally, I have more fun buildin' and flyin' a model rocket kit that makes you work and put effort into it. Aye aye! Brings back the meanin' o' t' word, pride!

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5