Sketchbook - Model Building Tips
September 1957 American Modeler

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.

I have been scanning and posting excerpts from my collection of AAM and AM, concentrating on model building articles and old advertisements. 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.

American Modeler magazine - the predecessor to the AMA's American Aircraft Modeler, featured a monthly spot called "Sketchbook." I presented a handful of helpful tips submitted by readers. Some methods are dated, but many are very applicable to today's modeling. In fact, with the ever-increasing number of people engaging in the building and flying of old-timers models, seeing the tips might help give ideas for how to recreate a more authentic version from the era.

I scanned the following column from the September 1957 edition of American Modeler, and will add more as time permits.

In looking over this edition, it appears that all the tips are useful for contemporary modeling. Even modern-day articles include custom methods for achieving common tasks, like here for creating a cheap, simple, strong hinge for a control surface. Not that long ago I used the pin prick outline method for transferring patterns from a set of plans to balsa.

Do you recognize any of the names of the creators, or are you perhaps even one of those people?

"Sketchbook" - September 1957 American Modeler







Webmaster: Kirt Blattenberger, BSEE, UVM 1989