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About Airplanes & Rockets

Kirt Blattenberger, Webmaster - Airplanes and Rockets

Kirt Blattenberger

BSEE - KB3UON

My Engineering Web: RF Cafe

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 ...

Airplanes And Rockets Copyright 1996 - 2026

All trademarks, copyrights, patents, and other rights of ownership to images and text used on the Airplanes and Rockets website are hereby acknowledged.

My Main Modeling Websites

Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) - Airplanes and RocketsAcademy of Model Aeronautics

Tower Hobbies logo - Airplanes and Rockets

Tower Hobbies

Horizon Hobby logo - Airplanes and Rockets

Horizon Hobby

Sig Manufacturing - Airplanes and Rockets

Sig Mfg

Brodak Manufacturing - Airplanes and Rockets

Brodak Mfg

Eveready Battery Advertisements
April & August 1961 American Modeler

April 1961 American Modeler magazine coverAugust 1961 American Modeler magazine cover

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.

Eveready Battery Ad in the April 1961 American Modeler - Airplanes and RocketsHere is a fairly low-tech example of how much things have changed in five decades. 1-1/2-volt batteries have been the de facto standard for model engine glow plugs probably since their inception (someone please correct me if I'm wrong). In those early days, there was not the plethora of specialty companies providing niche hobby needs, but Eveready stepped up to the plate and offered 1-1/2-volt batteries specially designed for modelers' needs.

I'm guessing that these particular models were off the market by the time I entered the modeling world in the late 1960s, because I don't recall seeing them. Of course, my family rarely went anywhere, much less hobby shops, so maybe they were there at the time. My exposure would have been limited to the local convenience store and a one-a-year trip to Sears. Come to think of it, I don't remember seeing them in Flying Models or American Aircraft Modeler, either.

Eveready Battery Ad in the August 1961 American Modeler - Airplanes and RocketsSo, when I was these ad in the late 1950s - early 1960s era American Modelers, they seemed worthy of posting here.

In the last 20 or so years, nickel cadmium (NiCad) and nickel metal hydride (NiMH) have been used due to their compact size and ability to be recharged. Evidently 1.2 V and 1.25 V is sufficient to light the coils. Before I switched over to all-electric power, my source of ignition was a control panel that used a high power resistor to divide the 12-volt motorcycle-type battery down to 1-1/2 volts.

 

 

Posted August 1, 2010