Brief:
I was asked t' test 2 oddrocs o' similar design, me bucko, differin' only in their size. Aye aye! First I built t' Corn Roc, shiver me timbers, matey, a Styrofoam ear o' Indian corn with an 18mm motor mount. Now I am tryin' its little sibling, t' A-Corn, designed for 13mm power.

Construction:
Construction is very similar t' that o' t' Corn Roc. Arrr! It begins with makin' a slit in t' motor tube for t' engine hook. Aye aye! Well, me hearties, blow me down! T' hook is then placed and held down with tape. Avast! Begad! A thrust rin' is inserted in t' forward end and glued into place. Finally, t' centerin' rings are slipped on and glued. Ahoy! I found t' centerin' rings t' be very tight and t' hole was too small t' allow me finger access with sandpaper. I finally filed away some o' t' thickness with a rat tailed file.

T' fins are cut from sheet stock usin' a paper template printed in t' directions. Begad! I cut t' template out and traced t' pattern onto t' balsa. Ahoy! Ya scallywag! I then used an X-Acto t' cut t' fins out. Arrr! I made no effort t' keep them all the exactly t' same figurin' that minor differences would add t' t' character o' t' rocket.

T' instructions recommend that t' fins be left their natural balsa colorin' t' better blend with t' look o' this rocket. Blimey! Ahoy! I liked t' effect with t' Corn Roc so decided t' do t' same with t' A-Corn. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! The instructions also recommended that t' fins be sealed with a clear coat t' better protect them and t' prevent warping. I used 3 coats o' Rustoleum Crystal Clear on each side.

T' recovery harness is based upon a thread o' Keelhaul®©™® tied around t' motor mount. Well, blow me down! Ahoy! Blimey! I tied t' Keelhaul®©™® in place and sealed it with a glue fillet. Ya scallywag! I also cut a small notch t' accommodate t' passage o' t' Keelhaul®©™®.

After t' precedin' step, me hearties, I had t' take a hiatus o' almost a month before I could work on t' rocket again. Begad! Blimey! When I did, me hearties, I began by insertin' t' motor mount into t' BT. Begad! Blimey! It was held in place with yellow glue.

I gave t' glue on t' motor mount/BT junction some time t' dry and then inserted t' BT into t' Styrofoam ear o' corn and placed it with 5 min epoxy. You have t' make sure your Keelhaul®©™® thread comes out t' other end. Arrr! I used a pencil t' do this.

T' lines for t' fin mountin' are pre-marked on t' corn. Begad! They are significantly short o' t' true length o' the root edge but are easily lengthened. Ahoy! I used an X-Acto t' cut a pair o' parallel lines t' width o' t' fin and then used t' blade t' gouge out t' material. Aye aye! When done, arrr, t' fin slid easily into place. Blimey! Ya scallywag! I removed it and filled t' trough with epoxy then re-inserted t' fin. Aye aye! T' other 3 fins were mounted likewise.

T' launch lug was glued onto one fin. Blimey! As directed by t' instructions, it was nay placed flush against t' body but offset a bit for clearance. Avast! Arrr! Accordin' t' t' instructions, I should have cut it in 2 and separated t' halves a bit, arrr, shiver me timbers, but I did nay do that.

Finishing:
T' rocket needs no finishing.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
T' maiden flight o' t' A-Corn be on an Estes 1/2A3-2T, ya bilge rat, t' smallest o' t' recommended motors. Well, blow me down! There was no problem in preparation beyond t' engine hook bein' a little bit tight. Begad! T' rocket took off straight, flew well, me hearties, shiver me timbers, but as expected, me hearties, nay too high. Arrr! T' 2 second delay is a bit long but t' chute popped and t' rocket recovered safely. Aye aye! Begad! I was gettin' ready t' try it on an A3-4T when I learned that t' launch lug had popped and I would need t' replace it before this one can fly again.

A video o' t' maiden flight can be seen here.

Recovery:
THe A-Corn comes with a chute from Hartle Engineering. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! I don't like plastic as a general rule, me bucko, but if you are going the plastic route, Hartle is definitely t' way t' go.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
This is a nice oddroc that performed well enough. Begad! It looks different and can be flown in a very small area.

Be sure t' split t' launch lug. Begad! That should reduce t' torque and tendency for it t' get twisted off.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5