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

T' kit comes with three body tubes (BT05, BT20, ya bilge rat, me bucko, and BT50), three balsa nose cones, arrr, me hearties, me hearties, three sheets o' 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. Ya scallywag! That's it!

CONSTRUCTION:

T' instructions are on a single sheet o' paper and include Tips and Hints and illustrations t' ease assembly. Well, blow me down! Arrr! Essentially you follow t' instructions 3 times t' build each o' t' three rockets. Begad! There are some Finishin' Recommendations and Flyin' instructions.

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

T' kit require that you use t' provided markin' guide to mark your body tubes and as templates t' cut out t' fins. Begad! Begad! T' templates were accurate and sturdy enough t' use for t' fins without difficulty.

Another nice feature be t' length o' shoulder on each o' t' nose cones was such that the motors were positioned with t' correct length stickin' out t' back o' the rocket. Well, blow me down! No extra thrust rings are required.

Overall construction is very basic, although it is always challengin' gluin' on fins that are swept so far back. Ahoy! But alas, shiver me timbers, arrr, I have found a new glue that I really have enjoyed workin' with. Ahoy! ProBond Weather Resistant Wood Glue for exterior use. Begad! What I like about this glue is that it contains wood fiber which adds t' its "no-run" formula. Ahoy! This helps keep the glue in place and it seems stronger than white glue. Also, it grabs quicker. T' bottle says, "strong wet tack" and I agree.

I stuck with me old faithful Plasti-Kote primer, sanded, primed, sanded and then painted. Aye aye! I painted t' Mini Zip red, me bucko, t' Mighty Zip green and the Maxi Zip Blue. Avast, me proud beauty! There are no decals provided with this kit. Arrr! Begad!

Overall, matey, arrr, for CONSTRUCTION I would rate this kit 4 ½ points. Avast! Blimey! Each is a very basic rocket. Avast, matey, me proud beauty! Basswood for all three rockets would have made it perfect t' me.

FLIGHT/RECOVERY:

T' kits all fly on a variety o' motors for their specific size. I was amazed t' see a recommend motor on t' Mighty Zip t' be an E15! Blimey! 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! Blimey! (Note: t' picture is courtesy o' True Modeler's . Begad! Blimey! . Ya scallywag! . Avast, me proud beauty! my pictures are still stuck in t' camera)

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

So three rockets, three motors, and three flights. Avast, me proud beauty! T' end! Blimey! But I had a great time gettin' out into t' field t' launch them since it has been quite awhile since I had flown anything. Avast! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! I should also mention, that I did get t' enjoy t' ascent o' each o' these rockets and all of them were straight up off t' pad and stable. Well, blow me down! Solid design.

For FLIGHT/RECOVERY, ya bilge rat, I would rate t' Triple Zip 4 ½ points. I think it takes a special kind o' rocketeer t' be able to fly small, tumble recovery rockets more than once.

Overall, t' kit is very nice. Begad! Blimey! Havin' t' ability to build three rockets in different scales was fun. Aye aye! Blimey! T' materials were quality and the instructions met t' need. Avast! Blimey! I give t' kit an OVERALL ratin' o' 4 ½ points. Avast!

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