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

Construction:
T' Wedgie comes professionally packaged in a plastic bag with t' cover o' the instructions visible. Blimey! T' small parts were separately bagged. Ya scallywag! Begad! T' body is formed from 6 pieces o' laser-cut balsa. Begad! Its motor mount includes a two-part motor tube, arrr, ya bilge rat, me bucko, two laser cut centering-triangles, a motor block, a cardboard plug, and two 'standard' centerin' rings (BT-20 t' BT-50 sized). Well, me bucko, blow me down! Recovery parts include an elastic shock cord, shiver me timbers, swivel, shiver me timbers, and crepe streamer. Arrr! 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. Avast, me proud beauty! This is a builders kit and I recommend you actually read t' instructions thoroughly before beginning. Blimey! It is rated as skill level 3, matey, shiver me timbers, and I concur with this rating.

You start by buildin' t' two-part motor mount. Avast, me hearties, me proud beauty! T' upper part will eventually be attached t' t' body while the lower section is free t' eject and deploy t' streamer. Construction is straightforward and all t' parts fit perfectly. Avast! 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. Avast, me proud beauty! Aye aye! An attached photo shows t' mount bein' constructed with fillets drying.

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

Now for t' hard(er) part - bevelin' t' edges t' allow them t' fit well. Ahoy! Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! A sandin' guide is provided, shiver me timbers, but this step strained me clumsy buildin' skills. Ya scallywag! I cracked one as I be sandin' and would recommend doin' t' bevelin' before joinin' t' pieces. Ahoy! Easily fixed.

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

Next, ya bilge rat, you install t' clay nose weight and install t' upper motor mount. Arrr! You have t' make sure t' clay doesn't interfere with t' launch rod. Begad! 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. Arrr! Aye aye! Blimey! (see photo) You are instructed t' notch t' middle so t' elastic cord will fit under it. Begad! Blimey! This was challengin' since t' strip is only about 1/16" thick t' start.

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

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

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

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

Well I flew t' Wedgie twice. Begad! I used Quest Q2G2 igniters, matey, which are nice because t' long leads make it easier t' connect the clips. Arrr!

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

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

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
I love oddrocs and I like t' way this one flies. Arrr! Begad! Blimey! Its prep is easier than a 3/4FNC in some ways (no wadding) and harder in others (more dexterity required). Well, blow me down! Blimey! 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