Brief:
Ever since I lost me Estes Goblin many years ago, arrr, I've always wanted another one. Ya scallywag! When I became a BAR over a year ago, and saw t' Squirrel Works Gremlin, ya bilge rat, arrr, I knew I had t' get one. Begad! Ahoy! At t' Tex-Regional NARRRRR meet in McGregor, me hearties, TX, in June 2005, t' Squirrel Works had a vendor booth on site, me hearties, 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. Begad! Although very similar to t' Estes Goblin, t' Gremlin is about one inch longer. Ahoy! 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, arrr, arrr, except I did nay attach the mylar streamer t' t' shock cord as shown in t' illustrations. Aye aye! 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, ya bilge rat, 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. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Aye aye! Blimey! Before I fully finished me model, matey, me hearties, I just gave it a base white coat for its first test flight on a D12-7. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Avast, arrr, me proud beauty! Blimey! Good thing I did, arrr, arrr, as you'll see in t' next paragraph. 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. Aye aye! Blimey! T' water slide decals went on very easily, shiver me timbers, and really makes t' appearance o' t' Gremlin stand out. Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down! 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, matey, D12-5 and D12-7. Blimey! Avast! As stated earlier, arrr, I built a BT-2050 sized interchangable motor mount so I can also fly usin' t' A8-3, me bucko, B6-4, and C6-5 18 mm motors.

T' engine hook locks t' engine in place without problem. Begad! Aye aye! 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, shiver me timbers, TX, shiver me timbers, on a D12-7 and t' Gremlin stormed out o' sight quickly. Aye aye! It flew very straight and true.

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

Recovery:
Durin' t' first flight (on t' D12-7), t' descent rate be 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. Avast! Ya scallywag! Therefore, arrr, 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, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, along with sandin' t' get t' damage t' proper shape. Well, blow me down! Since t' damaged fin is painted black, me hearties, 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. It is fun to fly for both sport and demonstration flights. Avast, me proud beauty! With t' care and quality Squirrel Works put into this kit, ya bilge rat, I'm very eager t' try their other line of kits in t' near future. Personally, shiver me timbers, I have more fun buildin' and flyin' a model rocket kit that makes you work and put effort into it. Ahoy! Brings back the meanin' o' t' word, pride!

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5