A fellow club member has been getting me interested in pattern flying. I have a Big Stick 40 that I have been practicing some basic manovers. I can see myself improving. I am just starting a new build of a BTE Venture. This is a beautiful kit. At the time I purchased the kit, I had no thought in pattern flying. Would this plane work for a beginning pattern plane? And if so, are there some modifications that I might want to consider, like wing shortening? Also what size four stroke engine would be best for pattern flying? Any advice appreciated.
Thanks
Lamar

The venture is a pretty kit, but I do notice it has what looks like a flat bottom wing. Great for upright flight, but not so great for inverted flight.

If it were me I'd build it as it is, fly it and enjoy it, and snoop around to see if anyone has a pattern plane they're willing to part with cheap

I would say yes, it can be used as a beginning Pattern plane. The pics I saw seem to show a semi-symetrical wing. The Sportsman pattern has very little in the way of inverted flight, just the double immelman without rolls and a brief inverted period in the two point roll.
Sportsman is mostly about getting the feel of pattern flying and finding out if you like flying in front of judges.
Give it a try, you can always find a new airplane if you decide to move to Intermediate.

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Thanks for the replys back. The Venture does have semi-symetrical wings, and the plane is very similar to a 4 Star 60. Bruce Tharp, who designed this plane, also designed the Sig 4 Star planes. I believed he made the Venture to be an improved 4 Star. It has 72" main wings, and I believe many builders shorten the wings 1 rib bay to give it a final WS of 66". This is suppose to improve the roll rate and keep it from floating so much in landing. Would this be advantages to pattern flying, or should I keep the WS as designed?

I'd suggest building it as designed, and after flying it, you dont like the way it flies it's easier to remove the tips than it is to add them.