28 replies to this topic

[don.siegel]

Picked up an extra Russkit Adjust-O-Jig last year, since it was at a good price and buddies here are always looking for one... 

 

But when I received it, I was surprised to see it didn't have a slot! Instead, there's a raised part running down the middle! Never saw one of these before, even tho since then I've noticed a few others. I assume the raised one is a later variant, but don't really know what the purpose it... Anybody else ever notice this, or thought about it? 

 

Don 

 

 

[MattD]

Don, I've  never had one like that. I don't understand this variation.

[don.siegel]

Here's the one I just saw on eBay: 

 

 

Don 

[slotcarone]

I have one handy in the garage. I will try to check it in the morning to see which one it is.

[mike1972chev]

Yeah, I have never seen one without the groove in it before???? 

 

Still using mine as well. A handy and useful tool to have still.

[havlicek]

Maybe the one with the raised rib is to provide clearance under a pickup arm that's flush to the chassis bottom to take the place of a guide???  It doesn't look tall enough for that though. Weird.

[don.siegel]

It did occur to me that the slot is really pretty useless in this kind of jig, and maybe Russkit decided it would be cheaper not to have to cut that out in a second series. Of course, there's the raised part, but maybe that was part of the original blank extrusion, or...? 

 

Don 

[tonyp]

Engleman tracks has raised tape for contacts so I found it useful for setting the guide height. As for American tracks I think braid was flush?

[MSwiss]

How is the jig even usable with a raised rib?

What does the bottom look like?

IOW, could you flip those axle supports around the other way?

PS: Looking at it again, how do you use it at all? Build on top of the adjustable aluminum pieces?

[tonyp]

You needed to put an 1/16" spacer like balsa wood in the center of jig to get clearance.

 

Of course you built chassis using the wheels and tires you were going to run for jig wheels.

[MSwiss]

Is the aluminum 1/16" thick?

Is it an even thickness? It doesn't look that way in the picture.

[tonyp]

The bottom cross piece is the same thickness all the way across so the tires would be on the same level as chassis if you did not add an 1/1" working surface in the center.

[MSwiss]

I get it now... I think.

You span your 1/16" spacer across/over it. I thought you meant it went in between.

I got one with some vintage stuff I bought. I sold it to Mark Mattei.

I'm glad I didn't keep it.... on principle. LOL.

[tonyp]

Got it.

[n.elmholt]

 
I got this from eBay years ago - never thought about the "missing slot."  :-)
 
Niels, DK

[ajd350]

Mine is exactly like that, sticker, box and all. Brand new. No slot.

[don.siegel]

Thanks, guys. 
 
These must have always been around, we just never thought about it.  
 
But if anybody does have an explanation... feel free to share! 
 
Don

[Ecurie Martini]

Just dug mine out - slotted.
 
EM

[Markomatic]

I used one with the slot to build chassis back in the '60s. I wonder what ever happened to it? Maybe it's at my father's house in the attic.

[Bill from NH]

My Russkit jig from 1967 grew legs and walked off while stored at my family's Maine home.

Over the past five years, I bought one complete jig and another bottom plate on ebay. One was slotted, the other wasn't. I think my original Russkit jig had a slot. I don't intend to build chassis on either.

[jokar124]

Just dug mine out too. It's also slotted.
 
It's part No. 900:500 on the end flap of the box, but oddly, the box illustration and instruction drawings showno slot.

There isn't any mention of mounting a guide at all until:
 
"STEP NO. 9 - Remove the chassis from the Adjust-O-Jig and install the guide or guide arm... as necessary. "
 
Looks like Russkit just didn't think mounting the guide using the jig was all that important!
 
Did they realize they overlooked this and introduced the slotted version later using the already existing boxes and paperwork?

[old & gray]

PS: Looking at it again, how do you use it at all? Build on top of the adjustable aluminum pieces?

 
Mike,
 
There was an article in Car Model Magazine (April 1966). The slot was used to locate the guide and locate the drop arm.
 
Russkit factory team 6604
 
I remember using this article as a guide to build my first scratchbuilt frame.

[jokar124]

Minor update: after checking out the eBay link in Don Siegel's post #3, it  seems that:
 
The no-slot version Adjust-O-Jig is part no.900:400 ($4.00 suggested retail) as shown in the ad, whereas the slotted version Adjust-O-Jig is part no.900:500 ($5.00 suggested retail) like the one I own.

[don.siegel]

Ah, thank you! That would seem to indicate that the no-slot version came out earlier. 

 

I guess the slotted version was to mount a guide, but don't think I ever used it that way. 

 

Don 

[Cheater]

I'm not to going to try to find it in the garage, but I am pretty certain my Adjust-O-Jig is also slotted.

 

Tony is correct about building on top of the moveable crosspieces. I originally used 1/16" balsa wood for the spacer but switched to 1/16" plywood as it burned more slowly and thus lasted longer before I needed a new piece.

 

Don, I am pretty sure the blue baseplate was just an aluminum extrusion, and was not machined at all. My guess would be the original extruding die wore out and had to be remade. And it was probably easier to extrude without the slot, with less wear on the die. I'm doubtful that this was a standard cataloged extrusion design; almost certainly a custom piece for Russkit.