Monogram Piper Tri Pacer

[2002p51]

I was cruising around on eBay a couple weeks ago when I came across this Monogram Piper Tri Pacer kit. It struck a chord with me so I bought it. The kit has a copyright date of 1957 and I remember building several of them back in those days. (I've sorta always had a thing for general aviation aircraft)

Anyway, this was a lot of fun and nice change of pace from cars. I had no intention of building an IPMS National contest winner, just wanted a nice, out of the box, model. The only problem I had were the decals. This was an original kit and being that old they just wouldn't work at all so I've been cruising around on aircraft modeler boards and searching the web for a company that makes FAA registration number decals for models.

The paint is Testors Light Ivory and Guards Red.

Monogram did a Cessna 180 as a companion to this kit. Building this was so much fun I may have to get one of those too!

[Mike Kucaba]

Drew. ask about the decals at the Aircraft Resource Center( A.R.C.) Nice plane buy the way and one of my favorites too.

[2002p51]

Interesting place, thanks for the link.

[Ace-Garageguy]

Great job on the little Pie Slicer. I learned to fly in one of these. Also found a gluebomb not too long ago for less than a buck.

[Harry P.]

Do the doors open? Looks like maybe they do?

[2002p51]

Yea, they do Harry. They're kinda clunky and out of scale but they do open.

[cobraman]

I'm pretty sure I built that kit back in the day. Yours looks much better than I recall mine looking. Very nice job on an old kit.

[Rob Hall]

That's pretty neat. What scale is it?

[2002p51]

Rob, it's 1/48 or close to it, and Ray, this one came out much better than the ones I built back then too!

[Terry Sumner]

Nice job Drew! Build any other airplane models???? Oh and Mike is right...ask about some decals on The Aircraft Resource Center forum...someone there will either have some for you or can point you in the right direction.

[2002p51]

No Terry, I don't. I've got one or two out in "The Stash", but this is first airplane I've done in probably 20 years!

[Chuck Most]

The Monogram Ford Tri-Motor is the only plane I've ever built, and I only built that because (you guessed it) its a Ford. But this one sure came out nice- really makes me want to give one a go... if I can locate one.

[2002p51]

Here ya are Chuck:

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=Piper+%2B+Monogram&_sacat=1189&_odkw=&_osacat=1189

Go get one!

[Terry Sumner]

The Monogram Ford Tri-motor was one of the very first models I ever built way back in 1961 or 1962....

[Terry Sumner]

Drew...ya ought'a build more airplanes! If for no other reason than the myriad of skills and techniques you will pick up that will make your car models that much better!

[Chuck Most]

Not a bad price on that one either. Hmmmmmm.....

[badcaditude]

Depending on how bad the Decals are, you could Scan them with an all in one printer and print them on Decal Paper.

I remember my elder Brother building one of these back in the early '60s. I hadn't seen one in years. Then I came across one of these back in '90. I built it using a DupliColor Buick White and VW Red. I didn't like it being Tail Heavy so, I took a Lead Wheel Balancing Weight and cut, filed and carved it to look like the Engine. I glued the Hood(?) in place and it looks fine. I had no problems with the Decals.

I skipped the Hunters with the Dead Mountain Lion.

If I can only remember which box I packed it in.

[Jim Gibbons]

Wow, this one is a blast from the past. I built this back in the late '60s. I even painted the hunter and dead puma. Very cool.

[unclescott58]

Just added one of these to my collection today. 

 

[Snake45]

On 8/18/2012 at 5:45 AM, 2002p51 said:

Rob, it's 1/48 or close to it, and Ray, this one came out much better than the ones I built back then too!

It's bigger than 1/48. I think it might be somewhere around 1/40. 

[Mike999]

In an even bigger scale...many years ago the Japanese company MARUI did a Cessna 172 and a Piper Cherokee in oddball 1/36 scale.  Two Cessna 172 kits were released, with either wheels or floats. These sometimes show up on eBay.  A Skyhawk recently sold there for $93.10, with 18 bids.

 

Edited December 28, 2018 by Mike999
error

[High octane]

Minicraft does Cessna kits as I"m currently working on a float plane as I hope to ride in one when I return to Alaska next year.