Monogram Tri-Pacer

I think they are 1:32, Don.  I've got two in my stash.  When I built this kit when I was a kid, dad put some lead in the engine; he balanced it just enough so it would either sit on it's nose wheel or it's tail, just like the real thing.  Ahhh, memories. :)

Ya gotta build it as a Pacer, Don!  I have it recorded as 1/32 also.

Thanks, guys.  I don't think Engines and things makes a 1:32 continental.  Guess I'll have to use the kit engine with some mods.  The engine is the main thing that needs work.  Oh, instrument panel could use some work but I am sure no-one makes a replacement for that :-(

Don, I don't recall that any PA-20 or 22 ever had anything but a four cylinder Lycoming.  108 Lycomings in the Clippers and O-320's in the Pacers and TriPacers.  

That brings back memories!  A friend owned one (all metal skin; some versions were partly fabric covered) and took me for a few rides in it, in the early sixties.  Got me hooked on flying, and 15 years later I got my private pilot's license.  The Tri-pacers had all worn out by then, and I don't remember ever seeing another, so I flew Cherokees.

jeaton01

Don, I don't recall that any PA-20 or 22 ever had anything but a four cylinder Lycoming.  108 Lycomings in the Clippers and O-320's in the Pacers and TriPacers.  

Ah!  Even worse!  I am sure there are no Lycoming opposed engines available in resin.  But then, I suppose it is unreasonable to expect any accessories for civil aircraft anyway.  Yeah, I suppose that those engines may have been used in recon/liason aircraft, but not bombers and fighters :-(

Hi Don , what a cool find you have there, I am drooling all over the keyboard right now LOL!

I am a light aircraft builder specializing in rag and tube  and have rebuilt both the PA-20 Pacer and PA-22 Tri-pacer. As for looks, I recon the PA-22 looks just like a milk stool!

Ask any meck who had to replace the wingspars of a PA 20/22 what a crummy job that is! It usually goes with removing all the skin from you knuckles against the sharp allu ribs!

Here in Africa Lycoming O-320 is the power of choice for them. I have not seen one with Conti in it yet.

The problem with building a Pacer taildragger from that kit is that the Pacer had a different shape rear window to the Tri-pacer. Allot of folks think you can just swap the undercart arround (even some full size lads recon the same!)

The Tri-pacer had the angular rear window and the Pacer had a rounded window like on a PA-18.

I will be watching your build with interest.

Theuns

I measured the wingspan of my kit, and based on the prototype span given in the instructions it is between 1:34 and 1:35.  I'll call it 1:35 to match armor model scale.  So even if E&T made a 1:32 lycoming I guess I'd still want to use the kit engine.

Here in the states many TriPacers have been converted to Pacers.

Absolutetly it can be done. It is however not just a question of turning the undercart arround like so many owners like to think.

I personally like the looks of a Pacer way more than a Tri-pacer.

Theuns

They fly much nicer, too.  That big fat nosewheel caused yaw stability issues, so they put that awful rudder aileron interconnect in.  

When I was in A&E school in the 60's some of us used to rent one and go places.  There is a zipper in the headliner and you could unzip it and yank on some control cables. Great fun until the pilot figured it out.  Kids!

"It is however not just a question of turning the undercart around like so many owners like to think."

The gear legs are a different, more upright shape and are farther to the rear. I have one of these that I turned the gear around - It just looks wrong. I need to redo it at some point. :(

So I have started cutting it apart to fix the problem.