Sketchbook - Construction, Adjustment, Workshop Ideas
November/December 1963 American Modeler
Nov/Dec 1963 American Modeler
November/December 1963 American Modeler Cover - Airplanes and RocketsTable 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.

One of the best ideas in this installment of Sketchbook, IMHO, is a method to quickly select balsa sheets of approximate equal density. It involves a flashlight and a light intensity meters (a phone app for the meter can be downloaded for that these days). Another neat suggestion is a way to make simulated rivets in thin aluminum foil. There is a list at the bottom of every Sketchbook page that has hyperlinks to all other Sketchbook editions published thus far.

This page has links to every edition of Sketchbook that I have so far.

Sketchbook - Construction, Adjustment, Workshop Ideas

Sketchbook - Construction, Adjustment, Workshop Ideas, November/December 1963 American Modeler - Airplanes and RocketsBy H. A. Thomas

 

Got a new idea for construction, adjustment, or operation of model planes or R/C? "AM" pays $10 for each "hint & kink" used. Send rough sketch and description to Sketchbook, c/o American Modeler, Potomac Aviation Pub-lications, Inc., 1012 14th St., Washington, D.C. 20005.

 

 

Control line model adjustable wing guide - Airplanes and Rockets

Beginner's control line model can be fitted with adjustable wing guide to increase or decrease "pull." Kenneth Ries, Baltimore, Maryland, screws metal guide into hardwood inserts.

 

 

Quick supply of balsa dowels - Airplanes and Rockets

Quick supply of balsa dowels can be made from square section balsa strips tapped through nut held in vise. Light sanding finishes dowel says H. Muller, Danboro, Pennsylvania.

 

 

Simulating rivets in aluminum foil covering - Airplanes and Rockets

Utmost realism in simulating rivets in aluminum foil covering is knack of Michael J. Kiley, San Diego, California. Rivet bulges are flattened with eraser tip for authentic appearance.

 

 

Quick booster starts - Airplanes and Rockets

Quick booster starts can be made by rigging contacts in finger and thumb of glove. Grasp glow plug and engine during cranking for contact. Idea from William Franco, Waynoka, Oklahoma.

Uniformly sand thin sheet balsa parts - Airplanes and Rockets

To uniformly sand thin sheet balsa parts, Jerry Wagner, Tallahassee, Florida., uses two blocks, one with fine sandpaper, one with medium grade. Latter holds part in position.

 

 

Handy buffing wheel for polishing model parts - Airplanes and Rockets

Handy buffing wheel for polishing model parts is made of felt discs cut from old hat. Arrange on bolt, use in hand drill says H. Josephs, Gardenville, Pennsylvania.

 

 

Selecting balsa sheets of equal lightness - Airplanes and Rockets

Dependable, easy method of selecting balsa sheets of equal lightness is suggestion of Mike Dudeck, Harvey, Illinois. Meter readings indicate weight; uniform readings mean uniform weight.

Sketchbook Editions

| Sep 49 | Jan 52 | Jul 54 | Aug 54 | Sep 54 | Dec 54 | Mar 55 | Jan 57 | Feb 57 | Mar 57 | Apr 57 | May 57 | Jun 57 | Jul 57 | Sep 57 | Oct 57 | Nov 57 | Dec 57 | Oct 58 | Mar 59 | Jul 59 | Aug 59 |Nov 59 | Dec 59 | Jan 61 | Feb 61 | Mar 61 | Apr 61 | Jun 61 | Jul 61 | Aug 61 | Dec 61 | Mar 62 | Jan 62 |Feb 62 | Jun 62 | Jul 62 | Oct 62 | Sep 62 | Dec 62 | Jan/Feb 63 | Mar/Apr 63 | May/Jun 63 |Jul/Aug 63 | Sep/Oct 63 | Nov/Dec 63 | Mar 67 | Oct 67 | Feb 68 | Apr 68 | May 68 | Jun 68 | Jul 68 | Sep 68 |

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  October 14, 2014