Sketchbook
April 1968 American Aircraft Modeler

April 1968 American Aircraft Modeler

April 1968 American Aircraft 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.

Here is another round of helpful building suggestions by fellow modelers. Not many people are still soldering their own fuel tanks for control line models anymore, but the tip for making a soldering mask to control the flow of solder is applicable for just about any soldering job. There is also a really clever method for holding tail surfaces securely in place on fiberglass or carbon fiber arrow shaft fuselages like what are used for free flight and hand launched gliders.

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

Sketchbook

H. A. Thomas

Have a new idea for construction, adjustment or operation of model aircraft or RC? AM pays $10 for each 'hint & kink' used. Send rough sketch and description to Sketchbook, c/o American Aircraft Modeler, Potomac Aviation Publications, Inc., 1012 14th St., NW, Washington, D. C. 20005.

Masking material for soldering is a paste - Airplanes and Rockets

Masking material for soldering is a paste made by dissolving stick of chalk in water. Apply with brush around area to be soldered. After solder cools, wipe off chalk. Suggested by Eliseo Calvo, Mandaluyong, Rizal, Philippines.

 

 

Fiberglass arrow shaft for A-2 towline glider - Airplanes and Rockets

D. A. George, Park Forest, Illinois, uses fiberglass arrow shaft for A-2 towline glider. To install fin accurately, spring-type clothespins are clamped onto shaft. Balsa strips wedged between ends of clothespins hold fin firmly to shaft.

Geodetic wing, stabilizer frames - Airplanes and Rockets

Improved structure and easier assembly are advantages of geodetic wing, stabilizer frames designed by John E. Pfeifer, East Lansing, Michigan. Elongated ribs are moistened, scored and bent to fit in position for final cementing.

 

 

Workmanlike hub assembly for rat-racer gear - Airplanes and Rockets

Trim, workmanlike hub assembly for rat-racer gear uses Allen head cap screw and blind mounting nuts. Special recesses are cut in aluminum hub. Submitted by John Schwartz, West Palm Beach, Florida.

Sketchbook from APril 1968 American Aircraft Modeler - Airplanes and Rockets

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 June 13, 2014