Sketchbook
May 1968 American Aircraft Modeler

May 1968 American Aircraft Modeler

May 1968 American Modeler - Airplanes and Rockets Table of Contents

These pages from vintage modeling magazines like Flying Aces, Air Trails, American Modeler, American Aircraft Modeler, Young Men, Flying Models, Model Airplane News, R/C Modeler, captured the era. All copyrights acknowledged.

This "Sketchbook" was scanned from the July 1968 American Aircraft Modeler magazine. Most building tips are timeless. Even in this era of ready-to-fly (RTF), almost-ready-to-fly (ARF), bind-and-fly (BAF), etc., there are still many modelers who build their own aircraft. Nearly all top tier competition fliers build their own models, as do aficionados of vintage (aka old-timer) models. Some guys just would rather build than buy a pre-build airplane, whether from a kit or from plans. This month's building tips include a method for making scale WWI machine guns, fabricating scale flat-head rivets and screws, properly balancing an airplane, and a holding jig for use when soldering.

Sketchbook

Have a new idea for construction, adjustment or operation of model aircraft or RC? AM pays $10 for each 'hint & kink' used. Send rough sketch and description to Sketchbook, c/o American Aircraft Modeler, Potomac Aviation Publications, Inc., 1012 14th St., NW, Washington, D. C. 20005.

 

Soldering fixture - Airplanes and RocketsSeries of alligator clips soldered to individual copper wires and held in bench vise serves as versatile holding device for soldering or cementing multiple part units. Submitted by Jack E. Jowett, Fairview Park, Ohio.

 

 

 

Making scale WWI machine gun - Airplanes and RocketsBob Meuser, Oakland, Calif., builds realistic WW I machine gun barrels of balsa. Air vents along barrels are burned into balsa cylinders with heated screwdriver tip using wood block as spacing guide.

 

 

 

Balancing model airplane - Airplanes and RocketsProper CG location is important for safe test flight says Clyde E. Lower, Gainesville, Fla. Piano wire is passed through fuselage at desired CG location; model suspended by string from wire, parts installed to balance as needed.

 

 

 

Making scale rivets and screws - Airplanes and RocketsAccurate tool for incising realistic, miniature flush screw heads or simulated rivets in aluminum sheet is idea of J. Warren Kohler Sr. Glen Head, N. Y. Parts machined from drill rod and hardened. Even rows in panels quickly made.

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Back when the Sketchbook, Gadgetry, Powerless Pointers, and Engine Info columns were run, there were very few pre-built models, and there simply was not as much available in the way of hardware and specialized modeling tools. We were still a nation of designers and builders. The workforce was full of people who worked on production lines, built houses and buildings with hand tools, and did not have distractions like Nintendos and X-Boxes. Remember that plastics were not common material until the early 50s and the transistor wasn't invented until late 47. Enjoy the tips. Some of you will no doubt wax nostalgic over the methods, since you can remember the days when you did the exact same thing!

 

 

Posted August 21, 2021