This is a site for classic plans from early
issues of Popular
Mechanics and other do-it-yourself magazines. These plans have been
scanned into PDF format and can be printed on you own equipment.
These plans and articles are believed to be
free of copyright issues (see below) and are posted for the cultivation
of your own project ideas. Most of these plans will need modifications
for current materials and, in some cases, to meet modern safety
standards. Do not follow these plans blindly! When you download these
plans you do so strictly for your own entertainment and to stimulate
your own designs.
Copyright Issues
These projects come from an era when men
(mostly) went into their basement workshops and turned wood, metal and
old motors into things that did real work or helped the kids have fun.
The 1940's and 50's were a time when most Americans were producers
— people making real stuff. Today, we are largely consumers
who let other countries build the things we use.
Have fun exploring this era —
maybe it will inspire you to get out your own tools. The plans are
organized by Group alphabetically. Thus you would look in the tan
column on the left under "T" for tractors. The blue titles can be right
clicked and then saved to your own computer. If you left click
on a blue plan title Acrobat will attempt to open the file on-line
(this will take some time if you are on dial-up service).
Here is an example of a fine wooden boat
you might consider (you would look under the letter "B" and go to the
boats section):
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Left click the image to open the PDF
plans (patience, this may take a minute to load).
Right click to save to your own computer. |
Return to the main CountryPlans.com
site for information on planning & building smaller homes and
other buildings.
Here is a link to other
Free resources for handy person types.
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