Lone Star Models goes back to 1984 or so. I had been hired by another modeler to build a large number of 1/48 scale aircraft kits for his collection. In the process of doing this he hired me to make a 1/48 F2G Corsair conversion for his collection. Before I was finished with this new project, a friend of his found out I was building an F2G in 1/48. He hired me to build one for him as well. After this second contract I figured if these two guys wanted one, there were probably others out there as well. I made molds of the parts as I built the second model and advertised them.

At about the same time, I was hired by the Confederate Naval Museum to build a diorama of two Confederate Ironclads for their display. As an off-shoot of this project I made copies of these ships before I finished. I began to make more ships, conversions and cockpits.

For a short time, and before I had decided on Lone Star Models as a company logo, I had a partner and we were called Vintage Aero. We were going to concentrate on 1/48 WW-I only . We made one kit, the Hanriot HD-1, both with and without floats. Shortly after we went into production things fell apart and we dissolved the partnership and Vintage Aero. The HD-1 was sold under Lone Star Models until all of the parts and decals were depleted.

Lone Star Models is a one-man company. With the exception of the wingfold sets I purchased from Danger Boy Models, I make all of the patterns myself. I also do all the casting, instructions, packing, mailing and complaint department.

I am open to any suggestions and invite you to e-mail me with them.

Thanks for your interest in my products,

Mike West
lsmodels@pdq.net

Contributing photographers-
Mike West, "Bondo" Phil Brandt, Bob Rogers, Dan Farnham, Boyd Waechter

Site layout and design by Dan Farnham
flyingsmokeeater2003@yahoo.com