OLD - TIMEY WOODEN PLAYTHINGS

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The trailer of the fire truck uses a 3/4" X 6-1/2" X 25-1/2" section of wood for its bed, while two 3/4" X 2-1/8" X 18" lengths of wood serve as the frame rails. Angle the ends of each of the latter planks slightly, then screw the boards to the underside of the bed . . . 2-3/4 inches apart (measured center-tocenter) and 1 inch forward of the bed's rear. Next, attach the two 3/4" X 3/4" X 7" axle supports to the frame rails (angle the ends of these also) so that the edges of both the rails are flush with the supports at the rear.

Now drill the four 9/16" holes to accommodate the axles (leave 3-1/2 inches between the axles to be sure that the two sets of wheels won't touch) and push 1/2' X 7-1/4" dowels through the axle holes. Cut out four more 3/4" X 3-1/4"-diameter discs for wheels, then slide 1/2" flat steel washers over each dowel as you did when assembling the cab's wheels. Push the inner discs on . . . slip another set of washers in place . . . and glue the outside wheels in position. (Leave enough sideways play in the axles for the wheels to spin freely.)

You can make a hitch for the trailer by drilling a 3/4" hole into the bottom of the bed . . . at a point 1-1/2 inches behind its leading edge and directly in the center of the board. Glue a 3/4" X 4-1/4" dowel in the hole, and check for fit with the tractor part of the truck.

On the fire engine's topside, the ladder is held fast by a support at each end of the bed. Make these two braces by fastening one 3/4" X 1-1/2" X 5" scrap of wood in place, 2-3/4 inches (measured from the supporting board's center) behind the front edge of the bed . . . and another 2-1/2 inches forward of the rear of the bed. Next, attach two 3/4" X 3-1/4" X 3-1/2" vertical supports-one to the front of the forward block, and the other to the back of the rear block-to hold the ladder in place.

Construct the ladder by taking two 3/4" X 1" X 30" lengths of wood and drilling nine 1/2" holes through each piece . . . spaced at 3-inch intervals measured from center to center. Join the two halves of the ladder with nine 1/2" X 6" dowels, glued in place and fitted flush with the outside edges of the holes.

Finally, give all the wooden parts a light sanding and finish the whole truck with a coat or two of polyurethane.

RUBBER-BAND-POWERED BUGGY

Not only is this "snappy" little car selfpropelled, but it has a "three-speed transmission" to boot! You can begin making the sporty speedster by cutting out a couple of pieces of lumber measuring 3/4" X 7/8" X 8-3/8". Then trim a 4" length of 2 X 4 down to 1-1/2" X 1-3/4" X 4" . . . to make the hood and dashboard assembly shown in the illustrations.

Now round the two end corners on one 1-1/2" X 4" side-as shown-and drill three 1/4" holes (in line, 3/4" apart and 1/2" deep) on the other 1-1/2" X 4" side . . . with the center hole 1/4" back from the leading .edge and halfway between the two ends. While you're drilling, make another 1/4" hole-1/2" deepinto the "dashboard" side of the wooden block . . . bored at a 46° angle to hold the steering wheel in place (position the hole about 1 inch in from the rounded corner on the dashboard).

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