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Kirt Blattenberger Carpe Diem! (Seize the Day!) Even during the busiest times of my life I have endeavored to maintain some form of model building activity. This site has been created to help me chronicle my journey through a lifelong involvement in model aviation, which all began in Mayo, MD ...
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Sketchbook
May/June 1963 American Modeler

May/June 1963 American Modeler

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.

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.

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

Sketchbook

Sketchbook form May/June 1963 American Modeler - Airplanes and Rockets

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

| 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 September 30, 2012



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