Walter Musciano

It's nice to know that Mr. Musciano is thought about and remembered in such a fond way. Best of luck Eddy, with this year's "Musciano/Scientific Hollow-Log" event. Please post info./photos here. Thanks!

Here's a nice autobiography of Walt. I didn't know he was an orphan when his father passed away at age 13, story is touching and his history of modelling amazing. Perhaps that is why he wanted to make sure the youth in America and exported overseas had proper easy to build models to grow up with.

AMA: Walter A (Walt) Musciano 2007 Autobiography (PDF)


Yes, a search nets nothing so far in obituaries, so it is possible that he is still alive. I built a number of his planes while growing up, even though stand way off scale just having a full fuselage made them look so much nicer than the profile kits of other manufacturers of the time.

Wonderful story Thank You for sharing that experience it must have been amazing , This is what i got on a search https://www.google.com/search?rlz=1C1SQJL_enUS817US817&q=walter+musciano+books&stick=H4sIAAAAAAAAAOPgE-LSz9U3MC2vyEs20JLKTrbST8rPz9ZPLC3JyC-yArGLFfLzcioXsYqWJ-aUpBYp5JYWJ2cm5uUrgCUB9gehbEIAAAA&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjpt_6LpqLgAhXwhOAKHaNFAIsQ44YBKAMwDnoECAEQCQ&biw=1493&bih=777&dpr=1.13    

I've been very lucky to have actual contact (although written) with several of my "Model Airplane Heroes" and Mr. Musciano is one of them.  Back in 2001, I traded notes with him when ordering plan sheets of his Scientific models.  Some were hollow logs, while others, like Big Otto and Zipper had built up fuses.

Some of my best memories.

Isn't it wonderful when people write back!

I enjoyed the memo about the Zipper, a shared favorite of ours.

I wish I had Walt's hair.

Bob

rsv1cox wrote:Isn't it wonderful when people write back!

I enjoyed the memo about the Zipper, a shared favorite of ours.

I wish I had Walt's hair.  

Bob

Yeah!!!  It held more value (for me) than of having gotten a written note back from any "celebrity" I could think of!

Thank you for the information on Walter. I guess it is safe right now to assume that Walter is still with us. I had read some of Walters autobiography else where but now that it is here I will finish it, thank you. Yes it was a pleasure meeting Walter and Larry face to face, we all so enjoyed their company. It would be awesome if Walter could leave a message us here. That he appreciates what is being done to keep alive, what he started in the model plane building so long ago. I so enjoyed the evenings spent building his u-control planes, and to fly them on the weekends. Thank you Walter Musciano for what you did for our generation while growing up, I am so thankful to have met you, and to learn more through this engine forum.

Walt came to our field in Philadelphia around 2000. I believe Bob Zambelli who flies with Rusty was responsible for that day. Bob moved from Pennsylvania a number of years ago and I have had limited contact with him a few times over the past couple of years. Bob and a few others of our club were quite regulars in the Musciano events. Walt had some neat designs and many of the plans are in the older American Modeller mags. Bob's Stunt Rocket is the picture on the Black Hawk models box.Bob's version though was not built from the kit as it was a very lightweight fiberglass and carbon fiber.

I just borrowed some Scientific plans from a fellow club member and intermixed with the plans were letters from Walt. It was very clear he was a sincere person. My buddy Dan was making the aluminum cowls for several of the models. These would be the cowls for the Bel-Air, the Triplane, Staggerwing and several others that used that style of cowling.

Eddy wrote: We are going to put together another Musciano Hollow Log contest sometime this summer, after taking several years off.  We talked of what became of Mr. Musciano at our last meeting on planning our summer control line events. We all have seemed to have lost contact with Mr. Walter Musciano. We hope some one on this site might have some information for us, thank you all.

Does your group have a Facebook Page or Web Site?

Eddy, as Ken mentioned, Walt and Bob Zambelli were friends from back in Walt's modeling days. I'll call Bob Tuesday and ask him what he knows of his old friend. I will let you know whatever I can find out.
Rusty

Rusty, it's good to see you on here. Bob is neat to talk with and I always enjoy doing so. Bob had just completed his Brodak Stinger which was a Dale Kirn design. Bob held out the phone at the field and said " Say hello to Dale". Bob kept in touch with the pioneers. Ron mentioned that Walt was in a home and I recall that which was a few years back. I think his memory was failing. I hope he's doing well. He touched many people new and old. One plane I remember well as a youngster was a Cessna Birdog. It's one that just doesn't want to exit the memory banks.

A good control line buddy of mine was in contact with Mr Musciano, as far as I know he was in a nursing home but he passed away a couple of years ago.I will get in contact with my friend and find out the details.

P-40 Warhawk wrote:A good control line buddy of mine was in contact with Mr Musciano, as far as I know he was in a nursing home but he passed away a couple of years ago. I will get in contact with my friend and find out the details.

Thanks, P-40 Warhawk for the first clue on Walt's whereabouts. I do about a nursing home a week playing jazz sax for the residents with my portable sound system for my backing band (15" powered speaker & netbook as my MP3 player, saxes - soprano, alto, tenor or bari) for the Salvation Army. After doing this for the past couple years, one more or less becomes familiar with some of their regular patients. I've seen them come and go.

Unfortunately once a senior requires nursing care, unless something simple like recovering from recent surgery, passing illness or fall (broken arm, not a hip), often more than not they are on their last leg in life.
Yes, we'd all be interested to know.

Somewhere I have a hand typed letter from the late Bill (William) Winter, former American Aircraft Modeler and Model Aviation editor, and designer. Back around 1983, I sent him 2 NOS Jetex 50 engines in their original packaging. I could not find the fuel pellets to fire them, thought he might appreciate them. He sent me a very nice short (manual not Selectric - remember those IBM's?) hand typed letter on smaller correspondence paper. He mentioned how he got his Buzzard Bombshell to thermal, recommended I try it. (I mentioned in my note with the engines, I enjoyed flying single channel aircraft.)

Back in the early 2000's, I came across the daughter of the late Paul Del Gatto, another great aircraft designer. She had posted on Joe Wagner, engine guru's Small Flight on-line newsletter. (People would E-mail Joe, he'd combine our E-mails, comment on them, then E-mail us all the PDF link - great times.) She was looking for a memento to remember her late father by. I happened to have an extra original plan I bought NOS from Sig when they were liquidating the last of their Berkeley (Sig Craftsmanship series) plans in the mid 1990's. I was glad to give her that copy. (I think it was the 36" Stinson L-5 - grey matter is getting fuzzy. )

If I locate Bill's letter, will scan and post it. Kim, appreciate you posting Walt's personal notes to you.
These were very nice people, personable, friendly.

Okay,I spoke to my buddy, and he said that when he last corresponded with him,Walt he was in a nursing home in New Jersey, as to whether he is still with us that question is up in the air but my buddy is going to check and get back to me.

To update this thread, I am sad to report that Walt passed last night. I have known him and his family for over 50 years. He was a great man, and was quite inspirational in my life. He had a career as a naval architect, and as you all know was an avid model plane enthusiast, designing and constructing many classics. He also authored north of twenty books over his lifetime. I don't think his obit is up yet but look out for it. RIP Walt.

Thanks jmanfredi2!


Wow! He had a long life, and inspired so many of us.

I remember being about 10 years old and hanging out in the local library. I was particularly interested in the children's section hobby books (Dewey Decimal system 630's-700's).

Mr. Musciano's control line book was one of my favorites. I was absolutely captivated by the F-82 hollow log model in the book!

The Scientific Challenger BHM clone (based on his Challenger) is in the Hobby Closet waiting for bench time.

All I can say is that his work still inspires me. Prayers for his family in their time of mourning.

Fellow modelers,
I'm so sorry to hear about Walt passing away.

I'm also sorry for my lax promise keeping after I said I would ask Bob Z if he had any current knowledge of his old friend. Every time I see Bob, I just plain forget to ask. He has done a masterful job of building a great many of Walt's planes, many of which he served to consult on, both designing and prototyping. He has given me a fat manila envelope stuffed with Musciano plans. I expect they are all available, but if there are some you want and cannot locate, check with me and I will take a look and see if I have it.
Rusty

THanks, jmanfredi2 for updating us on Walt, sorry to hear of his passing, my condolences to the family. If you find a link to his obit, if you could post it would greatly appreciate it.

I Thessalonians 4:16-17 (NHEB) wrote:For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with God's trumpet. The dead in Christ will rise first, then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air. So we will be with the Lord forever.

If Walt personally knew the Lord, those of us who know the Lord, too will one day see him again.

RIP Walt Musciano , and Thank You for all the models and fun you brought to this world !!

One Great Man

I regret the loss of Mr. Walt, from this place in the world my condolences to his family. Know that your legacy has come to many corners of the world, for all that, thank you very much Mr. Walt!

He touched more people than he will ever know....Generations!