GrahamC

Today I received a forwarded from Nikki at Control Line World magazine which had been forwarded onto her from Rich Kacmarsky:

Like many who hang out in this 1/2a forum, I got my start oh so many years ago messing about with 1/2a control line models some of which where Walt's designs. I have read many of his books and am currently starting another control line model of his Cyclone design.

I have sent mine.

cheers, Graham in Ottawa Canada

MJD

My Feedback: (1)

As will I! I do hope more details are forthcoming and that Walter will be okay. I would love to meet the man.

MJD

build light

I too would like to meet the man. The first flying model That i had was a Scientific Zig Zag.
super simple and super sleek somehow. It also taught me that a plane made out of balsa wood could have a finish that made it look like shiny plastic. I used Aerogloss dope and brushed it on but I was careful and my how it shined! Wish I had a picture of it. I must have had over a hundred flights on that li'l jewel.

Robert

BMatthews

His book "Flying Scale Models" was one of my inspirations when I first started.

I'll do up a letter and send it tomorrow.

GrahamC

If you have never read Walter's bio and would like a good read:

http://www.modelaircraft.org/museum/bio/Musciano.pdf from the AMA Hall of Fame

Walter has been working very hard on completing his book on the F4U Corsair.

cheers, Graham

gcb

MJD,

Up until this year, Walt attended the events around the country that were held in his honor. I guess age caught up with him, or perhaps it's because events were being held all across the country.

The "Walter Musciano" event started in Northern Virginia. Since he lives in Lodi, NJ attendance was doable. Now they are held in mid-America and on the West coast.

Still, Walt must have a feeling of pride when he sees how many people were (and are) influenced by his efforts. My first was a "Little Bipe". [8D]

George

CoosBayLumber

My Feedback: (1)

Was another Bio about him in some KAPA Quarterly of couple years ago. It listed most all of the plans, projects and models he did.

Wm.

jetpack

My Feedback: (1)

I would like to see that list!

build light

He has dabbled in many areas including writing.

Seems Mr. Musciano has built and had published sailing boats, electric scale warships, Static models, electric and IC powered cars, plus R/C, C/L, F/F, and static planes of scale, standoff scale and of course sport planes of. Some speed, stunt and trainers as well.

He has designed models using Jetex CO2, Pulsejet, ducted fan and more.

I most likely have left out some and I don''t have a complete list of his works but I have three of his books on models.

Robert

gcb

Here's my plans list that someone posted on the internet a few years ago. It may not be up-to-date. Most of them are available from Walt when he gets better. I think everyone uses the rules and lists from the Northern Virginia CL club (NVCL) for Mucsiano contests...NVCL started the events.

George
**************************************

MUSCIANO/SCIENTIFIC COMMEMORATIVE CARVED FUSELAGE/SOLID WING DESIGNS

NOTE: SOME OF THESE MODELS WERE DESIGNED FOR .049-.099 ENGINES, BUT THEY MAY BE FLOWN IN THE MUSCIANO SCIENTIFC EVENTS, LIKE ALL OTHER, ONLY WITH .049 ENGINES.
1. AERONCA SEDAN
2. AIR CHAMP
3. AIRCOUPE
4. ARMY RACER
5. ATOMIC X
6. BEECHCRAFT T-24
7. BEECHCRAFT BONANZA
8. BEECHCRAFT 17
9. BEL AIR
10. BOEING F4B-4
11. BOEING P-26A
12. BULLET
13. CESSNA 170
14. CESSNA 172
15. CESSNA 180
16. COMBAT MASTER
17. CURTIS HAWK P6-E
18. CURTISS HELLDIVER
19. CYCLONE
20. DOUGLAS B-66 JET BOMBER
21. CESSNA 182 TRI-CYCLE
22. FLIGHT MASTER
23. FOKKER TRIPLANE
24. FORD FLIVVER
25. F-94C STARFIRE
26. GEE BEE SPORTSTER
27. GOLDEN HAWK
28. LITTTLE MUSTANG, WWII FIGHTER
29. SUPERSONIC MISSILE
30. KELLET AUTOGIRO
31. CESSNA BIRD DOG
32. LITTLE ACE
33. LITTLE BIPE
34. LITTLE DEVIL
35. LITTLE MERCURY
36. LITTLE MUSTANG
37. LITTLE SABRE
38. LITTLE STINKER
39. LUCKY RACER
40. MESSERSCHMITT (109)
41. MONOCOUPE 90A
42. MR. MULLIGAN
43. F-51 MUSTANG
44. NORTH AMERICAN AT-6 TEXAN
45. P-40 FLYING TIGER
46. PIPER COMANCHE
47. PIPER CUB (AMBLNC/RESCUE )
48. PIPER CUB CRUISER
49. PIPER CUB SEAPLANE/SCOUT
50. PIPER CUB SPECIAL
51. PIPER CUB TRAINER
52. PIPER TRI-PACER
53. RED DEVIL
54. RED FLASH
55. P-47 THUNDERBOLT
56. RYAN PT-16 TRAINER
57. BRITISH S.E. 5
58. SNARK GUIDED MISSILE
59. SPIRIT OF ST. LOUIS
60. STINSON RELIANT
61. STINSON VOYAGER
62. STITTS PLAYBOY
63. STUKA DIVE BOMBER
64. STUNT MASTER
65. F-100 SUPER SABRE
66. THUNDERBIRD
67. F-82 TWIN MUSTANG
68. F7U CUTLASS
69. WACO CABIN
70. YELLOW BIRD
71. ZIG ZAG


Here is a partial listing of Musciano designs for the Musciano Unlimited. The code for the list is Manufacturer/Name, Wingspan, Magazine, Date of publishing:
1 A-38 Falcon 18.1 AT Jul-52
2 Beech G-17S 32.2 AM Nov-58
3 Bell P-39 Airacobra 28.5 AT Jun-54
4 Bell P-63 Red Horse 16.5/28.6 AM Jul-59
5 Bellanca Transatlantic 33.5 AT Annual Dec-51
6 Boeing G-22 Gulfhawk 30 MI #396
7 C-11 33.7 AM Sep-62
8 Caudron C-460 22.2 AT Dec-48
9 Consolidated PBY-5A 35.7 MI Feb-52
10 Corben Baby Ace 25.5 MI May-56
11 Curtiss O2C-1 Helldiver 24.2 FM Jul-50
12 Curtiss P-40E Warhawk 37 AT Annual Dec-63
13 Curtiss P-6E Hawk 31.5 MI Dec-49
14 D-11 29 AM Jan-68
15 Delta 35.7 FM Jul-56
16 DGA-5 Ike 38 MAN Apr-62
17 DH-4 42.5 AT May-49
18 DH-88 Comet 33 AT Sep-50
19 DVA 30 AT Jan-61
20 E-1 19.5 AT Jun-52
21 Fokker DR-1 Triplane 26 AT Feb-49
22 Fokker DR-1 Triplane 24 AM Mar-60
23 FW-190 25.5 AT Sep-55
24 Grumman F4F-3 Wildcat 38 AT May-63
25 Grumman F-8F Gulfhawk 26.7 AM Feb-61
26 Hawker Hurricane 30 AT Sep-53
27 Hawker Hurricane 36.5 AT Annual Dec-64
28 Hawker Tempest 41 AM Mar-62
29 Hawker Typhoon 31.2 AT Apr-54
30 He-112 22 MC Aug-47
31 He-219 60.2 AM Nov-64
32 He-51 36/44.5 AM Apr-63
33 Hughes H-1 Racer 44 MAN Nov-63
34 Jupiter 20 AT Sep-51
35 Ki-64 Tony 29 AM Aug-59
36 La-7 28 AM Apr-57
37 Lil Blue Angel AM Oct-59
38 Lockheed P-38 41 AM Dec-56
39 Lockheed Sirius 32 Aero
40 Lockheed Vega Mattern 50 AM Sep-54
41 M-2 Mailplane 29.7 AT Nov-51
42 Macchi C-200 26 AT Sep-54
43 Me-100D 53.2 AT May-66
44 Me-109 24.2 AT Dec-52
45 Me-109e 32.5 AM Aug-61
46 Me-110 39.5 AM Apr-58
47 Mig-3 28 AM Apr-59
48 Mitsubishi Zero 28.7 AT Feb-54
49 Mitsubishi Zero 40 MHP Dec-44
50 NA 300 29.5 AM Jan-65
51 NA P-51 27.7 AT Dec-52
52 NA P-51B Shangri-La 37 AM May-62
53 Nieuport 24 BIS 27 AM Jan-65
54 Northrop Gamma Skychief 32 MI Dec-49
55 PB-2A 45.5 AT Mar-52
56 Red Hot Angel MAN Jan-82
57 Republic P-47D 41 AT Sep-61
58 SE-5 28.2 AM Jan-60
59 Sopwith Camel 26.7 MAN Nov-75
60 Spad S XIIC Luke 26.7 AM Aug-60
61 Spad S.13 Rickenbacker 26.5 MI #422
62 Spirit of St Louis 47 MI May-50
63 Stunt Rocket AT Jul-51
64 Supermarine Spitfire 46 AM May-59
65 Supermarine Spitfire 36.7 AT Jul-66
66 T-34 Mentor 49.2 AM Nov-60
67 Travel Air Mystery Ship 28 AT Jul-50
68 Type 96 Claude 36 AM Jan-62
69 Vickers Wellesley 57.5 AM May-57
70 Vought F-4U-1A 41 AM Dec-63
71 Waco N 17 FM Aug-53
72 XF-15C-1 18 FM Oct-49
73 XRE 48 MAN Jul-59

jetpack

My Feedback: (1)

Incredible...

Thank you, GCB

build light

I noticed the Bel Air listed. Was this a Musciano design? It was kitted by Enterprize Models and later by Scientific but I never knew who designed it.

Here is a wonderful example of a Musciano project which was not an airplane and yet it had model airplanes!

Since I mentioned the Bel Air here is a pic of the Scientific kit.

Robert

gcb

Some of Walt's pre-Scientific designs are amazing. Item #30 in the Unlimited section is a He-112 from a 1947 Model Craftsman magazine that has a fuselage made from two solid balsa blocks. It was powered by an O&R .60 and had a machined, bearing supported engine shaft extension as part of the building instructions. Remember that in those days modelers built most of their hardware.

George

Edit: Added some pics. Note that they misspelled his name on the article but got it correct on the plans...perhaps because he is a draftsman and spelled it himself.

HighPlains

My Feedback: (1)

I had one of his balsa log Mustangs with a Cox RR-1. Like flying a rock on a string, since it was a bit overweight. Every flight session ended with the firewall and engine being knocked off, but when you are 10 that is OK.

gcb

I had a Little Mustang. I can't remember if I powered it with a Space Bug Junior or a Babe Bee. I left off the aluminum cowl. In those days I sanded most of the mill marks off the wings but did not further hollow out the log...and who knew about double cementing the firewall on. Around that time I finally started reinforcing around the firewall and fuselage front with gauze and it held better. Hey, we were learning in those days.

Perhaps that is part of "re-capturing our youth" ... to prove that now we can do it better.

George

Yuu

I had one of Walt's "logs" too, and the firewall always broke off too. Dad cut a circle in the weeds behind our house just big enough to fly in, and told me to 'crash land' in the deep weeds so the engine wouldn't break off. That worked about 70% of the time, as I remember now. At 10 years old, yoou're not smart enough to carve out a 'log' into a light weight fuse. Like, if the company wanted a carved out fuse, then why didn't they machine it to the right shape? What a great bunch of fun the three of us hed. Thanks, Walt!

gcb

Actually, there were two problems there. First, if you didn't double cement the firewall on, sometimes the joint would break and the firewall, complete with landing gear and engine would come off from the fuselage. Second, if the firewall held but you only positioned but not attached the landing gear, sometimes the landing gear would pry the engine screws loose. I had both happen back then.

I think several planes shared the same fuselage, and there were several fuselages. Perhaps the router used to hollow the logs was used on ALL fuselages. I think only grownups hollow the logs.

Early Cox engines had the air intake protruding from the rear. For that reason, you had to drill a hole in the firewall and allow air to enter the "hollow" in the log so the engine could breathe. You also had to position the engine around the landing gear location.

The early logs mostly were designed for radial mounted engines without tanks (Cub, Wasp, etc.). They had wings that were ~1/4" thick and actually were sawn to an airfoil shape. As they were later redesigned, some got shorter fuselages to accommodate tanked engines (like the Space Bug Jr, Babe Bee, Cub .049A, etc.). At that time, the wings got thinner too. Kit competition dictated cost cutting anywhere possible.

Sorry about rambling on.

George

build light

I don't remember if the build instructions said anything about further hollowing but I knew I wanted less balsa in mine. I had inherited an X acto knife set which had several of the gouges but they were far too dull for balsa wood and I couldn't figure out how to use the other blades to my advantage so I gave up on hollowing.

I never had a problem with the firewall myself because I did double glue it. matter of fact on the fuse I did morre than that. All i had was the good old Ambroid and I mashed the first few coats into the grain, let this dry over night and stood the fuse on end and poured More cement and let it dry.
Attached the firewall and must have given this area four or five coats of cement about an inch behind the firewall as well as the front.
Wasn't nothin' gonna knock that sucker off!
The engine mount screws did finally give way though.

Quote by gbc:
"I think several planes shared the same fuselage, and there were several fuselages. Perhaps the router used to hollow the logs was used on ALL fuselages."

I am sure of this and plastic cowlings as well. Basically there were only three of these. One was a civillian version and one with the Allison style exhaust stacks for the military version. then there was a more universal cowl made from sheet aluminum that was often used with the bottom left open. Later this aluminum was substituted buy some kind of flexible plastic. This I remember was on the Stuka.

Robert
There were others in earlier kits such as the radial cowls but those were dropped later.

GrahamC

I received this update on Walter this morning:

So he is home and mending.

cheers, Graham

Trisquire

I taught myself to fly C/L with a Golden Hawk.

Tom

build light

Good news, Glad to hear it. Thanks for the update.

Robert

Remby

My Feedback: (3)

Glad to hear he is out and about.

Another Scientific kit he did was the Zipper. Had a built up wing, and a sheet sided fuse, plastic cowl, and top fuse cover of plastic as well. Trike gear, looked like a small pattern plane.

A listing of his books would be cool as well.

gcb

Anyone feeling an overwhelming desire to build one of Walts models has a couple of opttions:

First, if you like to build from kits, Black Hawk Models http://www.blackhawkmodels.com/musciano.html has put a lot of effort into re-creating Walt's designs. Many, if not all, have been reviewed and approved by Walt. The kits include lots of hardware. They make some other models too...check them out.

Second, if you prefer to build from plans, I would suggest buying plans directly from Walt...but give him some recovery time. See list above for selection. There are some other folks who sell plans also. I believe that some have versions that Walt does not have copies of. Remember that some planes went through several updates.

If you plan to compete, read the NVCL rules. For instance, you must use a solid or laminated log, which you can hollow to your heart's content. You may not use sheet sides. Although no one checks this, it would be a bit embarrassing if you broke your plane and all could see that you cheated. []

The rules get updated as stuff becomes extinct. For rules: http://www.beseenontheinternet.com/n...cianorules.htm

Hope this helps someone enjoy the wonderful world of "Hollow Logs".

George

Edit: Added a couple of pics. The yellow "Little Bipe" has a Spitzy .045 for power, and the red and white one has a Babe Bee .049.

Andrew

George

You're a veritable treasure trove of vintage planes and engines. I cannot imagine what your entire collection must look like. I've seen a couple where folks had perhaps "one of each", but when you post pics, there's always two or more. You must have a very understanding wife.

andrew

gcb

Yes, she is very understanding. She has been putting up with me for 41 years so far...my good fortune.

BTW, when I was building the Little Bipes, she wanted one to display. The yellow one is hers...it hangs in the upstairs hall ceiling. [&o]

George