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Bill Koster has passed away.


SkyKing

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According to announcement posted elsewhere. The former kit designer for Monogram Models and designer/producer of his own line of some of the hobby’s best vac-form kits had been in declining health and had recently entered hospice.

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Indeed, may the Lord bless Bill's family and friends with a flood of loving memories through this tough time.

I was acquainted with Bill having first met him at the Dayton USAF Museum fall airplane contests back in the '80s, and then buying his vacuform kits and conversions from him when he vended at shows. He was a fine gentleman and a VERY good model builder, whether he was building one of his vacs, or tricking out one of the old Monogram kits he helped design back in the 60s.

We've had a richer hobby experience due to Bill's input into the hobby both at Monogram and with his line of vac kits. I'm going to miss chatting with him at shows! I 'm attaching some pics of the kits of his I've built....and I still have several in the stash too! 

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Gil :smiley16:

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A couple more I forgot about!

1/48 G3M "Nell" Japanese bomber....

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And the B-24J "Ford Nose" conversion for the Monogram kit...

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This shows where the work was done....

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Currently building 2 more of his Fokker D-VIII kits (along with an Eduard kit) for a "triple Razor" build...

 

Gil :smiley16:

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  • 2 weeks later...
  • 2 weeks later...

My favorite Bill Koster story:

Bill was vending at the Columbus Nats and I'd had him set aside the above pictured B-24 Ford Nose conversion set for me. Late in the afternoon I stopped by to pay for it....my wife was with me....so I handed the box to her to hold while I paid Bill.....so she asks how much it costs, and I said it's $45....and she opens the box, looks in and says "and THIS is all that's in here?" So I look at Bill (as he tucks away my money) and say "why did you let me do that?" Bill says, "It's not my fault you're stupid"!  🙂

 

Gil :smiley16:

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