TO DRIVE YOUR MODELS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 96, 24 April 1931, Page 14 (Supplement)

TO DRIVE YOUR MODELS.

One of our readers lias sent us tie directions for making a useful little sand motor, which can be used for driving small models. We are glad to pass on the. information to other readers. ( The materials required are a cigar box, some cardboard, two corks and glue. The box may be of any size. The sketch will explain" the construction of the model. A represents the boxes, or f( paddl§s," B the beads used to keep the wheel centred, and C a cork used as a driving pulley. Cut two circular pieces of thin cardboard, each Sin in diameter. In the centre of one glue a piece of cork fin Jong. You must then make a dozen pr more little sand boxes and glue thera 011 to the disc. These boxes arc made from pieces of thin card liji long and fin wide, and with little flanges on the sides, which are turned up and glued to the discs. Glue these to the side of the wheel at equal intervals and in similar positions, as sliown in Fig. J. Then glue the other disc on, and put the completed wheel 011 one side until the glue hardens.

For an axle, insert a piece of straight wire 3in long through the exact centre of the wheel, A straight piece of hairpin will do. Beads are placed on the axle on each side of the wheel to keep the wheel in the centre of the ]}ox. ■Stand the cigar box upright and make a small hole on each side exactly opposite each other, and near the bottom of the box, through which the axl® i? pushed. A cork which has been pushed centrally on to one end of the axle serves as a driving pulley to drive your models. The sand receptacle consists of two pieces of card glued to the sides of the box in the position shown. The slit between the two pieces is about Jin wide. Cut two small strips of stout paper, bend them into a V shape, and glue them between the pieces of card, one at each end of the slit, so that the slit is reduced to about |in in length. Pill the receptacle with perfectly dry sand, and as it runs through the slit into the boxes of the wheel it will cause the wheel to turn. The top end of the box is removed for putting sand in, and a lai-ge hole in the bottom of the box will ■allow the sand to fall into a receptacle placed beneath it. Of course, the larger you have your sand receptacle the longer the motor will keep working-