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Articles: Air Trails
American Modeler
American Aircraft Modeler
Popular Electronics

Sketchbook
May/June 1963 American Modeler

May/June 1963 American Modeler

May/June 1963 American Modeler

[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.

Sketchbook

Sketchbook form May/June 1963 American Modeler

James Morrow, Bound Brook, N. J., solves flap linkage problem when. dihedral angle divides flap sections. Wire arms transmit movement of inner flap section to outer section. Strong, trouble-free, says Jim.

Handy addition to coiled fuel line "timer tank" is tip from AI White, Denver, Colo. Air-bleed between tubing and tank, held shut by clamp, allows time to tune engine, Opening air-bleed starts timed run.

A durable elevator hinge of monofilament line, stitched in staggered rows to lessen chance of fraying, is contribution of R, W. Ragen, Inglewood, Calif. Extremely strong, very flexible.

Another knack to protect heat-sensitive parts during soldering is use of alligator clip having jaws filled with damp cotton. Submitted by Jeff Morton, Pensacola, Fla.

Experimental pylon engine mount designed by Edmund Hanley, Muskegon, Mich., permits quick change from tractor to pusher, up-down thrust trim, fast interchange of complete engine units.

John Kilsdonk, Detroit, Mich., builds combat model "pod" engine mount with bolts linking L.E. and bellcrank platform into single unit. Mounts, engine, controls stay together, says John.

Efficient model parachute is made of circular silk. Shrouds pass over canopy top, held by doped Silkspan strips. Designer Art Phelps, Alexandria, Va., suggests long leader between shrouds and weight.

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.

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!

Posted 9/30/2012

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