Memories of my first model kits

 This would be around 1963. I stopped in Morris Hardware store on Gratiot and Seven mile in Detroit. The store had a small model section.  This is when my addiction for building model kits started...  The model where made by Revell.  Hope this brings back some of my readers memories also. Please share you story on starting the hobby..

Airmodel conversion JU-388

 For the vaccumformed  modeler.  This is one amazing model build.  It is old school..  The base for the model was the Revell 1/72 JU-88 model kit.  Air model is still alive and well.  Here is the link to their store:Airmodel

 

Enjoy.

YC-97 1/72 conversion Airmodel kit by Carmel Attard

 This is basically the Airmodel kit No 185 in 1/72 scale molded in white soft styrene. The cockpit canopy and also the refueling bulging aft gondola are in clear vac form acetate. For this conversion the bulging aft gondola is not required. I did not go for any of the liveries suggested as these depicted a later type that went into service as a refueling tanker but instead went for a YC-97, a prototype/early version known as Stratofreighter serial number 595588. The rest of kit parts come from a surplus Flying Fortress B-29 Airfix kit, which shared identical parts. Propellers I cast in aluminium alloy, and for undercarriage legs I used SAC set No 72013 which is sturdier than the Airfix kit parts.

The high tail fin and rudder were cut from the Airmodel vac fuselage as this was that of later version found on KC-97 and was replaced with one from the Airfix B-29, this time using super glue for a firm joint. Area was smoothened with filler. Reference was made to scale plans located in Aircraft of the Fighting Powers. The rest of kit assembly followed that of the Airfix instructions.

Check out this great blog.

 A fellow aviation enthusiast who follows my blog put me on to this great blog. Take a look..

Sky Tamer. 

Sad Day for Model builder. Bill Koster has been placed in Hospice today

 This is off the monograph modeler face book page.

  Bill pictures below with all his kits he designed.  Plus his creation from Koster Aero Modelling

Some sad news about a modeling icon. Bill Koster will be under hospice care starting tomorrow. He has cancer. Bill fought the disease once before but he could win this battle. He took a fall on 8/22 and has been hospitalized since then. His wife Devorah wishes to let all his modeling friends know. He, of course , was an special person to us modelers. especially those of us who grew up with Monogram Models. He was also a vacform pioneer. But for me personally he was also a fellow draftsman / designer as well as a friend. This information was kindly provided by Ed Nowak a fellow modelling friend of Bill's.