Pat Tritle

full-time modeller

Appearing on photo gallery #56 was this picture of a nice little electric model of a 1910 Barnwell monoplane. It came from a chap called Pat Tritle, and I was rather intrigued by his e-mail address which made me think he might be just a bit more than your average amateur model maker.

A bit more digging, and I discovered that Pat is, in fact, a full-time modeller operating as Pat's Custom Models from Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA. Pat has been model-making and designing for many years and has always migrated toward the unusual, with WWI being his favourite era for electric modelling.

After spending 17 years as a car mechanic, Pat started a custom model building business back in 1993, and since then it has evolved into several different avenues, from commercial modelling, to sport and scale R/C and into commercial R/C airplane and boat design.

The design side of things started with the Farman 400, Piper Super Cub and Eastbourne Monoplane designs for the famous American supplier and manufacturer, Hobby Lobby International. Then came an involvement with the guys at Dare Distributing for whom Pat has done over 40 electric R/C, free flight and boat designs for their kit line.

"Unless you're involved in model design," says Pat, "you can't imagine how rewarding (and challenging!) it can be". Pat's latest design was the 42" 1903 Wright Flyer pictured here and which Pat says is a great flying little plane. After spending several months 'making it fly' he gained a healthy respect for the Wright brothers and the effort it must have taken to make theirs fly! Click the pic for more detail!

In addition to the design work mentioned above, Pat has also had several airplane and boat designs published in Flying Models, Model Airplane News, RC Modeler, Sailplane and Electric Modeler and RC Boat Modeler Magazine. He also did several plastic model construction articles for Scale Modeler Magazine in the 80's and early 90's.

Pat's Custom Models has a good web site from where he markets a product line of electric planes and marine kits and plans, including electric scale, giant scale and rubber free-flight models, as well as fibre glass accessories and power system components. On the right is a picture of a delightful little 18" boat, Marina, suitable for Speed 400 motor and 2-channel R/C that is among Pat's offerings.

Look Pat up at http://www.thuntek.net/pcmodels

Discovered aloft

This partially-built Veron Piper Cherokee was recently passed on to Test Valley MFC member, Chris Haines, after being found in his brother-in-law's loft, where it has lain as pictured above for the last 20 years or more! It all looks in great shape, no signs of warping, etc., and Chris hopes to complete it, following the very yellowed and rather fragile plans that still lay in the original box. It has a wingspan of 56" and, according to the box, is suitable for engines sizes from ·19 to ·40.

New Links page

A new Links page dedicated to sources for model 'plane plans will be launched on the next issue of ModelFlight. Sources will be web sites, retailers, individuals or whatever and the plans can be free or for sale. Sources of plans for ANY type of model plane will be welcome, whether glider or powered, free-flight or radio-controlled, fixed wing or rotary.

I have just a few links already to start the page off, but if you know of a good source of plans, please let me have the URL, e-mail address, postal address or whatever and I will be pleased to add it to the list.

If you've found something good, please share it with the rest of us!