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Articles: Air Trails
American Modeler
American Aircraft Modeler
Popular Electronics

Sketchbook
March-April 1963 American Modeler

March/April 1963 American Modeler

March / April 1963 American Modeler magazine cover

[Table of Contents]
Aircraft modeling has undergone significant changes over the decades - both in technology and preferences. Magazines like American Aircraft Modeler, and American Modeler before that, were the best venues for capturing snapshots of the status quo of the day. Still, many things never change, so much of the old content is relevant to today's modeler.
Whether you are here to wax nostalgic, or are just interested in learning history, hopefully you will find what you are seeking. As time permits, I will be glad to scan articles for you. All copyrights (if any) are hereby acknowledged.

Before just about everything you could ever think of needing for your aeromodeling hobby was made in China and sold here at a dirt-cheap price, resourcefulness and creativity, combined with some mechanical skill, was needed by most hobbyists. Even those who could afford to buy everything they needed were not always able to find it already made and hanging on the hobby shop wall. Improvisation was the order of the day. These monthly "Sketchbook" features are a prime example of what I'm writing about. Having read through many of the ideas in many issues of American Modeler, I am a little dubious about the practicality of some of them. For instance, I highly doubt that the string starter idea in this edition actually worked very well. That's an awfully short moment arm on the prop shaft for being able to pull fast and hard enough to turn over the engine. I just picked up my Cox PeeWee .010 and flipped the prop and I'd be very surprised if the pull starter would work on it. Yes, some of the .049 car and boat models came with pull starters, but the diameter of the cord wrapping pulley was much larger than that of #4 bolt. I'm just say'n...

Sketchbook

Sketchbook form March/April 1963 American Modeler

One of many string starter ideas is sent by Glenn Smith, Peoria, Ariz. Brass washer held at front of spinner allows string to be wound around it for quick start.

David Rice, Tulsa, Okla., suspends R/C receiver with three rubber loops in opening of sliding plywood bulkhead. Unit quickly removable. Vibration and damage reduced.

To prevent accidental release of arresting cord from C/L carrier model's tail hook, Dick Babisch, Warren, Mich., solders light steel wire "mouse trap" rig to hook opening.

14-year-old Michael Sledge, Florence, Alabama, submits simple experimental "Aircar" model made from hat box lid. Balsa engine chamber and strip stiffeners only structure needed.

As quick, easy method of assuring perpendicular rib alignment with leading edge, Steve Eyles, Lake Park, Florida, secures square block to bench, builds wing around it.

Drop-off gears are old stuff to C/L flying but David Moore, Cherry Hill, N. J., has simple method beginners may appreciate. Realistic takeoffs, higher flight performance are advantages.

Sketchbook Editions
| Dec 1954 | Jan 1957 | Feb 1957 | Mar 1957 | Apr 1957 | May 1957 | Jun 1957 | Jul 1957 | Sep 1957 | Oct 1957 | Nov 1957 | Dec 1957 | Oct 1958 | Mar 1959 | Jul 1959 | Aug 1959 |Nov 1959 | Dec 1959 | Feb 1961 | Apr 1961 | Aug 1961 | Dec 1961 | Mar 1962 | Jul 1962 | Jan/Feb 1963 | Mar/Apr 1963 | May/Jun 1963 |Jul/Aug 1963 | Mar 1967 | Feb 1968 | Jun 1968 | Jul 1968 | Sep 1968 |

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 1950s and the transistor wasn't invented until late 1947. 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!

Got a new idea for construction, adjustment, or operation of model planes boats or R/C? "AM" pays $10 for each "hint & kink" used. Send rough sketch and description to Sketchbook, c/o American Modeler, The Conde Nast Publications Inc., 420 Lexington Ave New York 17, N. Y.

Posted 9/22/2012

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