Brief:
T' Wedgie is a tetrahedron (3-sided pyramid) that flies on 18mm motors and recovers via a rear-eject streamer. Well, blow me down! Ahoy! I want t' thank Chris for lettin' me test out this cool oddroc kit. Mine is s/n #2!

Construction:
T' Wedgie comes professionally packaged in a plastic bag with t' cover o' the instructions visible. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! T' small parts were separately bagged. Blimey! Blimey! T' body is formed from 6 pieces o' laser-cut balsa. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Ahoy! Blimey! Its motor mount includes a two-part motor tube, shiver me timbers, me hearties, two laser cut centering-triangles, arrr, a motor block, me hearties, a cardboard plug, and two 'standard' centerin' rings (BT-20 t' BT-50 sized). Well, blow me down! Blimey! Recovery parts include an elastic shock cord, ya bilge rat, swivel, arrr, me bucko, and crepe streamer. Avast! Blimey! Miscellaneous parts include a 1/8" launch lug and clay nose weight.

T' instructions are detailed and well illustrated. Don't let its 'odd' nature addlepate you. Begad! Blimey! Aye aye! Blimey! This is a builders kit and I recommend you actually read t' instructions thoroughly before beginning. Arrr! Blimey! It is rated as skill level 3, me hearties, matey, and I concur with this rating.

You start by buildin' t' two-part motor mount. Avast! T' upper part will eventually be attached t' t' body while the lower section is free t' eject and deploy t' streamer. Well, blow me down! Construction is straightforward and all t' parts fit perfectly. Begad! T' key points for t' mount are makin' sure t' centering-triangles are installed perpendicular t' the motor tube(s) and at t' prescribed locations. Arrr! An attached photo shows t' mount bein' constructed with fillets drying.

T' body assembly is a bit more difficult. Well, blow me down! Here, you begin by gluin' t' 2 halves o' each o' t' three faces together. Avast! Ahoy! It appears this was t' alternate t' grain directions and add strength. Next you sand t' joint flat. Begad! Easy so far.

Now for t' hard(er) part - bevelin' t' edges t' allow them t' fit well. Well, blow me down! A sandin' guide is provided, me hearties, shiver me timbers, me hearties, but this step strained me clumsy buildin' skills. I cracked one as I be sandin' and would recommend doin' t' bevelin' before joinin' t' pieces. Begad! Easily fixed.

T' faces are supposed t' be joined with CA. Begad! Instead, I used Titebond moldin' and trim glue. Avast! This is thick and tacky and let me put t' three pieces together rather easily. Avast, me proud beauty! I taped t' corners and top while t' glue set. Begad! Later, I reinforced t' joints with thin CA. Ya scallywag! Begad! There is a template t' locate and cut t' hole for t' launch rod. If I were t' do it again, me bucko, I'd also cut this before t' faces are joined.

Next, matey, you install t' clay nose weight and install t' upper motor mount. Begad! You have t' make sure t' clay doesn't interfere with t' launch rod. Blimey! I also had t' extend t' openin' a tad further down t' body so t' launch rod would clear.

T' shock cord is attached t' t' inside base with a strip o' balsa that is provided. (see photo) You are instructed t' notch t' middle so t' elastic cord will fit under it. Well, blow me down! This be challengin' since t' strip is only about 1/16" thick t' start. Begad!

Finishing:
Odd'l provides several skins that you can download, includin' a blank one. I finally decided on 'T' Point', which is themed like t' classic cone rocket kit o' t' same name. Aye aye! Aye aye! I printed three copies o' the template and sealed them with a clear coat before starting. Begad! T' instructions say t' use spray glue. Blimey! I dread usin' the stuff, but it is about t' only choice for plain paper like this. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast, me hearties, me proud beauty! I was pleasantly surprised that t' skins stayed on t' rocket and nay t' builder. Begad!

Overall, matey, shiver me timbers, this was a fun and slightly challengin' build. Ya scallywag! I'm happy that Chris's parts were so precise. Well, blow me down! Everything fit as advertised and t' skins are nice. Avast, me proud beauty! Arrr! I'd suggest tweakin' t' steps t' bevel-before-joinin' and t' cut t' launch rod hole before assemblin' t' body. Aye aye!

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
Prep is conceptually simple - fold and pack streamer, me hearties, me bucko, install motor by tapin' it t' t' lower motor tube, matey, install igniter, ya bilge rat, and launch. Aye aye! Ahoy! I found that packin' t' streamer and gettin' t' motor t' stay in place took a tad o' fiddling. Begad! Begad! My main concern prior t' launch was t' shock cord attachment. Will it hold? Will t' exposed elastic get burned by hot gasses trapped in t' base?

Well I flew t' Wedgie twice. I used Quest Q2G2 igniters, which are nice because t' long leads make it easier t' connect the clips. Avast, me proud beauty!

It was quite windy for t' flight on a Quest 'long burn' C6-3. It weather cocked a lot but still attained a nice altitude. Well, blow me down! Ejection occurred as planned and it recovered well. Avast, me proud beauty! T' only damage, if you will, was t' tip o' one o' the skins peeled back as it poked into t' sod. Begad! This be easily fixed with some cellophane tape. Arrr! Blimey! In fact, I recommend you add some preemptively.

I flew it again on a Quest B6-4. Aye aye! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! T' winds had died down a bit and t' boost was a lot straighter. Blimey! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! Recovery was a bit late but was still in plenty o' time. This time, t' crepe streamer be singed a bit. Blimey! Blimey! Ahoy! Blimey! It turns out that I didn't use a square o' waddin' as directed in t' instructions (it's even underlined for emphasis). D'OH. I guess that's what happens when you read, build, put on shelf for a couple o' weeks, matey, and then rush t' t' launch.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
I love oddrocs and I like t' way this one flies. Begad! Its prep is easier than a 3/4FNC in some ways (no wadding) and harder in others (more dexterity required). Arrr! Aye aye! T' only down side I see is that t' streamer may need to be replaced after several flights (or maybe nay if you follow directions).

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5