About
Our Story
Mission
DPR endeavours to bring high quality products at affordable prices to all ages and skill levels. We produce a range of model kits for those who wish to build from scratch, alongside a range of ARF models, requiring minimal assembly.
We are passionate about the long tradition and history of modelling that dates back over decades and generations. Our products fit with today's market demands, while being rooted in tradition and heritage.
History
The DPR model factory was opened in the early 1980’s by husband and wife team Dave and Jenine Rawlinson. Having cut his teeth at the then famous Kiel Kraft factory as a junior designer, Dave went on to design a range of his own free flight models, mainly aimed at the younger generation. Incredibly, many of those models designed 40+ years ago are still being sold to this day.
Dave and Jenine were responsible for recruiting countless newcomers to the model hobby, as they spent many years travelling to model shows all over the UK. The couple ran a unique class of competitions for youngsters using their “Chucki” and “Winner” gliders. The hobby owes a lasting gratitude to them both for everything they brought to the hobby!
Our Team
Adeem Mohammad
Adeem has over 40 years experience producing R/C balsa aircraft. Having been raised on free flight models from childhood, modeling has been a life long passion. Adeem acquired the DPR brand when Dave and Jenine Rawlinson retired. Since then, Adeem has worked tirelessly to expand the DPR offering to now include a steadily increasing number of products, including R/C planes.
Adeem has extensive expertise in model aircraft design and production. Recently, Adeem brought on Tony Nijhuis to the team, as the principle aircraft designer. New models designed by Tony, exclusively for DPR, will be launched to the market in spring of 2025.
Adeem’s vision is to create a product range that speaks to generations, old and new alike, and to bring the hobby back to forefront, offering unrivalled quality and value.
Mike Perkins
Mike grew up with hobby modelling in his blood and has worked in the industry his whole life. After leaving school, he started working at J Perkins Distribution, a company founded some 50 years ago by his father Jim.
From tea boy to picking and packing in the Warehouse, to junior office clerk, Mike eventually became one of the company owners. He travelled the world in pursuit of new and exciting hobby products; it was on these travels that he met Adeem.
Having retired from J Perkins in 2020, Mike spent time on many other projects and pursuits such as music and garden landscaping.
Mike joined the DPR team in 2023, in order to build a group of international distribution partners.
Tony Nijhuis
For over 30 years, Tony Nijhuis has been one of the leading and most respected authorities in model aircraft design. Tony started in kit manufacturing in the early 1990’s and moved swiftly on to designing freelance for notable kit manufacturers, TV and Film production companies and the hobby press.
With over 100 designs to his name, from training aircraft, gliders, beautiful scale aircraft, right through to ducted fan and turbine models, the Tony Nijhuis brand is known globally through his innovative approach and of course, the quality and attention to detail within his designs.