(11/27/99) Where else can you get a single package that is as small as your wallet, doesn't empty it, and contains three rockets? True Modeler's Triple Zip is the answer to that question. The Triple Zip package comes with Mini Zip which flies on mini (13mm) motors, Mighty Zip which flies on 18mm motors, and Maxi Zip which flies on 24mm motors. Each rocket is proportional with its brothers so you also gain some experience in up or down scaling.

The kit comes with three body tubes (BT05, BT20, and BT50), three balsa nose cones, three sheets of fin stock (1/16" basswood, 3/32" basswood, and 1/8" balsa), three 1/8" launch lugs and a Tube and Fin Template Guide and lastly instructions. That's it!

CONSTRUCTION:

The instructions are on a single sheet of paper and include Tips and Hints and illustrations to ease assembly. Essentially you follow the instructions 3 times to build each of the three rockets. There are some Finishing Recommendations and Flying instructions.

A few nice things about the Triple Zip kit include the ample supply of wood stock for the fins. This is nice so that you don't have to worry about having them perfectly side-by-side. Using basswood for the Mini and Mighty Zip was nice, too. I wondered why there wasn't basswood for the Maxi Zip and True Modeler told me, "Weight reduction. Basswood that thick would loose almost 200' of altitude." I guess when you're flying over 3800 feet with an 8.6" tall rocket, a couple hundred of feet doesn't mean too much to me.

The kit require that you use the provided marking guide to mark your body tubes and as templates to cut out the fins. The templates were accurate and sturdy enough to use for the fins without difficulty.

Another nice feature was the length of shoulder on each of the nose cones was such that the motors were positioned with the correct length sticking out the back of the rocket. No extra thrust rings are required.

Overall construction is very basic, although it is always challenging gluing on fins that are swept so far back. But alas, I have found a new glue that I really have enjoyed working with. ProBond Weather Resistant Wood Glue for exterior use. What I like about this glue is that it contains wood fiber which adds to its "no-run" formula. This helps keep the glue in place and it seems stronger than white glue. Also, it grabs quicker. The bottle says, "strong wet tack" and I agree.

I stuck with my old faithful Plasti-Kote primer, sanded, primed, sanded and then painted. I painted the Mini Zip red, the Mighty Zip green and the Maxi Zip Blue. There are no decals provided with this kit.

Overall, for CONSTRUCTION I would rate this kit 4 ½ points. Each is a very basic rocket. Basswood for all three rockets would have made it perfect to me.

FLIGHT/RECOVERY:

The kits all fly on a variety of motors for their specific size. I was amazed to see a recommend motor on the Mighty Zip to be an E15! It suggests that an altitude of 3800 feet could be reached with this motor. Just a reminder that this rocket is only 8.6" tall! (Note: the picture is courtesy of True Modeler's . . . my pictures are still stuck in the camera)

Well, in my case the Triple Zip did exactly that . . . they all zipped right out of my life. I first launched the Mini Zip on a A10-3T. I watched it zip off the pad, saw the delay smoke, saw the motor eject, lost it from view and never saw it again. I then proceeded to the Mighty Zip on a B6-6. Agained, it zipped off the pad and out of site. Oh, well, let's go for the Mighty Zip. I loaded a D12-7 and let her rip . . . I mean zip! It never ceases to amaze me, how I can never recover a tumble recovery rocket! In these three cases, I didn't even get the motor casings back!

So three rockets, three motors, and three flights. The end! But I had a great time getting out into the field to launch them since it has been quite awhile since I had flown anything. I should also mention, that I did get to enjoy the ascent of each of these rockets and all of them were straight up off the pad and stable. Solid design.

For FLIGHT/RECOVERY, I would rate the Triple Zip 4 ½ points. I think it takes a special kind of rocketeer to be able to fly small, tumble recovery rockets more than once.

Overall, the kit is very nice. Having the ability to build three rockets in different scales was fun. The materials were quality and the instructions met the need. I give the kit an OVERALL rating of 4 ½ points.

I have since added a comparison on Mini Tumble-Recovery Rockets - See Here.