Also found this raster to vect conversion tools
http://www.img2cad.com/index.php
I converted both the A1 and the A2 to a DXF file. Opened turbo cad and read them both in. To make the A2 file line up and fit the edge profile of the A1 file too my expanding the A2 file by a factor of 1.005, I think thats less that .5%. It still wasn't perfect and there is some distortion in the file. The attach line between A2 and A1 has a bow in it that I suspect is also in the rest of it.
So, bottom line, these could be converted to line/arc drawings with the help of some of these "starter" apps. I may tackle them one at a time and see what happens, but it's gonna be way down the priority list.
Either of these tools are "cheap". The one above is free and will do 3 drawings at a time. You don't have the control over the conversion that you do in the other util however. The rastervect tool is $79.95 and provides a huge amount of control over the conversion with limited editing before the save to DXF.
Bottom line, to get to a Cad version wouldn't be all that hard. Then once there, collecting the mods from the newsletters would be the wise thing to do. All of this before any "user mods" are added...
I'm certainly not the guy to do this, but I certainly can provide moral support
Hope this is helpful...
Alan