Restoration of the White Mystery

Flying the White Mystery, Elmer Wasman placed third in the first RC Nats in 1937.  The White Mystery had an elaborate control system based on wind-driven controls.  Walt Good has a detailed description of the controls in the April 1986 issue of Model Aviation in the article, “History of RC Flying.”  A shortened version can be found in the Model Aviation “History Preserved” column, June 2014.

An older Elmer Wasman posing with the 3rd place trophy in won in 1937.
A much older Elmer posing with the 3rd place trophy in won in 1937. National Model Aviation Museum, photo by Fred Mulholland, 1994.11.01.

After being updated and flown in other contests, and used as a teaching tool, the White Mystery was eventually retired to Elmer’s attic where it sat for over 50 years.  Fred Mulholland rescued the model from the attic in the late 1990s with the intent to restore it.

The fuselage of the White Mystery resting in the dust of the attic.
The fuselage resting in Elmer Wasman’s attic in Leroy, IL. National Model Aviation Museum, photo by donor, 2000.35.01

Fred describes getting the model out of Elmer’s attic noting that it was covered in dust and had been chewed on by mice.  The glue joints weren’t solid, so it had to be very carefully lifted down and out of the attic.

The dusty, unrestored fuselage of the White Mystery is handed out of the attic.
Barbara Mulholland receives the White Mystery fuselage as it is handed out of the attic. National Model Aviation Museum, photo by donor, 2000.35.01.

Fred involved Elmer in the restoration process, gaining insight and information on the model’s original construction.

Elmer Wasman and Fred Mulholland talk about the unrestored fuselage of the White Mystery.
Elmer Wasman – L and Fred Mulholland- R reminisce over the unrestored White Mystery fuselage. National Model Aviation Museum, photo by donor, 2000.35.01.

While most of the fuselage was salvageable, the wing had to be entirely rebuilt. It took Fred two months to restore the model and he described the process as, “blow, scrape, sand, study photos, build, restudy photos and rebuild.”

Fred Mulholland sits outside his garage restoring the White Msytery.Fred Mulholland works on getting the wing ribs right.Fred Mulholland studies drawings of the White Mystery.

Fred Mulholland working on the restoration of the White Mystery.  National Model Aviation Museum, photo by donor, 2000.35.01.

Eventually the restoration project was concluded.  Fred covered the model just as Elmer had originally, with doped white silk on the wings with a red scalloped edge.   The front part of the fuselage was covered in white bamboo paper, but the tail section wasn’t doped to save weight.  In order to see the interior components on both the original and restored model the top section of the fuselage was covered in removable clear Celluloid sections.  No attempt was made to reproduce the original control system.  Tom McCoy donated a Forster 99 engine to the project to replace the original installed engine.

The uncovered restored framework of the White Mystery.
The framework of the restored White Mystery waiting to be covered and assembled. National Model Aviation Museum, photo by donor, 2000.35.01.
The completely restored White Mystery.
The fully restored White Mystery. National Model Aviation Museum, photo by donor, 2000.35.01.

Before donating the model to the museum over Memorial Day weekend in 2000, Fred brought it to the Jacksonville, FL nursing home where Elmer, and his wife Johnnie, were living.  Despite Elmer’s illness, he was ecstatic to see the model completed and refused to stay in his wheelchair.

Elmer Wasman and Fred Mulholland pose with the completed White Mystery.
Elmer Wasman – L and Fred Mulholland – R pose with the restored White Mystery in early 2000. National Model Aviation Museum, photo by donor, 2000.35.01.

Thank you to Fred Mulholland for all the restoration work which he completed with the assistance of John Hatch.  Thank you to Tom McCoy for donating the engine, and to Fred Mulholland for donating the model airplane and documentation.

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