I hope I’m spelling her name right. I ran across some old FSM articles from the 90’s regarding her work. I understood that she passed away some time ago. Does anyone remember those articles? I wonder if FSM will consider presenting her work again, if it’s possible.
Glenn
Did she make a 1/32 F4 Phantom?
Yes, she did. I ran across a FSM snippet where her Phantom won a reader survey for best cover one year. I wish I could remember when.
Glenn
IIRC, it was back in the 80s…
EDIT: It was March 1993 she made the cover…
http://www.finescale.com/en/sitecore/content/Magazine%20Issues/1993/March%201993.aspx
I just did a quick search and found this page: http://www.pbase.com/larrygrace/scale_aircraft_modeling_awam
Awesome work.
I agree, stunning work, I remember her builds with great affection – remember her 1:32 B-58 Hustler? That one made the cover and took the prize for Best Bomber in the SAC show. I have always felt her passing was a great loss to the hobby as her skill and enthusiasm were an inspiration, not least to girls with an interest in building. I’m just glad that her models were preserved as a display to be enjoyed ever after.
Cheers, M/TB379
She made a couple visits to participate at the IPMS-RI Bong contest when it was being held at AirVenture Museum in Oshkosh back in the early 90’s. Her aircraft were always the center of attention. This at a time when 1:32 kits of modern aircraft were just coming into the market. Tamiya’s F-4 was the kit everyone wanted to have.
Somewhere I believe I have photographs of her models when they were on display on the contest tables. I’ll see if I can dig through the archive to see if I can find them, scan and post them.
Not much is heard about Michelle though there are a few around who remember her well and knew her. Mostly the guys from MN where she lived and attended club meetings. I remember talking about her not too long ago with a friend who lives in southern MN and knew her well and is still in awe of her craftsmanship.
I think the last time I saw her and her models was at the IPMS-R5 Convention or possibly the NIMO Show in Chicago. I believe this is her B-58:
I was unaware Michelle Choquette passed away.
From what I recall of the FSM photo, she didn’t appear very old.
OTOH…I’m considered ancient by 25 % of the US population. [:D]
Thanks for sharing that page, Phil. Absolutely tremendous work. I’m glad her work is preserved as well.
Glenn
Talked with a guy who claimed to have known her and, according to him, Michelle wasn’t always Michelle…
What exactly does this comment have to do with her modeling accomplishments?
Seems a bit disrespectful to make such a comment about the deseased. No need for it.
Mark
Michelle passed away 2-5-98 from a serious health issue which contributed to her physical appearance.
This from the Twin City Aero Historians, her hometown club:
Michelle joined TCAH in 1983. Being a woman in a male dominated hobby was a rarity, but to top it off, she could build world class models of museum quality. While she built in all scales, her main scale was 1/32nd, scratch built. A draftsman by trade, she had attention to detail. Later when her health forced her out of work, she would spend 16 hour days drawing up plans for current projects and building her impressive models. Perhaps her crowning achievement was a 1/32nd scale B-58 Hustler, all scratch built of course! Her work has been featured in Fine Scale Modeler magazine as well. Other areas of modeling interest was cars and armor.
Images of her models can be found here: http://www.pbase.com/larrygrace/scale_aircraft_modeling_awam
[:|] I see says the blind man…
Don’t read more into it than what I wrote, Mark… I thought the guy I spoke with had an interesting insight as to why she may have chosen modeling military aircraft as a hobby… Deceased or not, there was certainly no judgement being passed or even implied on my part…