Sad News

[PR19_Kit]

I'm a VERY sad Kit now.

I first met Mike at the Farnborough Plastikfest in 1972, almost FIFTY years ago, where I had my RAF Starfighter F3 on show, and he had a Miles twin engined 'fighter' with a MASSIVE gun in the nose (ideal for the current GB...) We realised that we were kindred spirits with brains that didn't quite work the same was as others in the modelling fraternity, and we've been firm friends ever since.

I shall miss him so very much, and I'm so glad he was able to see most of us at Telford this year.

Rest easy Mike, clear for maximum rate climb.

[Radish]

Really saddened to hear that he's gone. I've known him for so many years. Happiness and joy surrounded him. I'm fed up with 2021. I've lost so many friends this year. Blue Skies, Mike.

[TheChronicOne]

Huge bummer...... rest in paradise and godspeed.

[buzzbomb]

Indeed a loss to the Modelling community.
I had the privilege to meet Mike on my first visit to SMW way back in 2001 and a couple of time since. What a gentleman.

Time to break out some old Airfix Magazines/SAM and read a few of his inspiring articles.

[Weaver]

Awww man that's sad. I met him quite a few times at shows, and as others have said: lovely guy, true gentleman and fascinating to talk to. Irreplaceable.

RIP

[JayBee]

I knew Mike.

I remember the first time we met. It was in the Seagull bar in Bournemouth.
He was at that time an instructor at the College of ATC and I was a student Controller. This must have been the early 1970's, the Seagull was a favoured watering hole of the cadets at that time.
He had with him, a box within which was an F-4 in the Screaming Eagle scheme that the US Navy had created.
We became very good friends after that. This was way back in the early 1970's.

Mike rose to the position of being the chairman of ATCO cadet selection boards, during which period, as the IPMS National Branch Liaison Officer he had to travel about the country to attend Cadet selection interviews. That these interviews happened to coincide with local IPMS branch meeting dates can only be summed up in Mikes own words "What's the point of a little power if you can't abuse it slightly."

I shall miss the conversations we used to have, deeply.

Farewell old friend.

[Pellson]

I did not know the man, but please accept my sincere condolences to all of you who are bereaved.

In corresponding situations, and actually also when contemplating my own coming demise, I have found solace in an old Norse wisdom, from the 78^th song in the Havamal collection. In Bellows English translation:

Cattle die,
and kinsmen die,
And so one dies one's self;
One thing now
that never dies,
The fame of a dead man's deeds

It seems applicable here indeed.

[The Rat]

Never met him, but I have heard of him. Who hasn't? When I first saw the notice on a facebook group I thought it was about a well known Toronto area birder with the same name. Learning it wasn't was a mix of relief and sadness. Let's keep his spirit soaring - hit the bench!

[The Wooksta!]

As a few have been suggesting a tribute build to honor Mike for next years Telford, may I suggest that it has to be Hunter based.

Gondor

Seconded.  I've a pair that are close to finishing.

[KiwiZac]

I was alerted to Mike's death via Facebook message from a forumite. Like a few here I was only vaguely familiar with Mike but reading the above-posted tributes has me on the edge of tears. I'm so very sorry for the loss of those who we close to him.

I last saw Mike as we where about to brake down the SIG stand at this years Scale model World. A show he was determined to be at as he was expecting the call from the hospital at any day to have a stent fitted.
In the run up to Telford he was terrified the NHS would call him in on the show weekend. He was very relieved to find out just days before the show that his surgery date was to be the end of the month.
I'm glad I got to spend a little time with him one more time, and watch the the joy on his face as he revelled in what was realy his element, being amoung fellow modellers..........

Martin, that really got me. I'm so, so very pleased he was able to make SMW so close to the end.

[rickshaw]

Sorry to hear that, Chris.

Obviously, I never met or knew Mike but, given the positivity from those of you who had, he must have been one of the really good ones.

My condolences to his family & to those of you who knew him.

Ditto.  He sounded like a really good bloke...

[Nigel Bunker]

I first met Mike in the early 70s when I went to IPMS Reading as a very green teenager. I followed his journey in SAM as first a reviewer and then a columnist. Next I then came across him again in person in the 90s through the What If SIG and through the Thames Valley Scale Model Club.



As has been said, Mike was a true gentleman and was always interesting to chat to. He was truly one of the unsung heroes of this hobby and will leave a void that will be hard to fill.



My condolences to his family and all those who will miss him.



Nigel

[NARSES2]

We definitely need to organise something for SMW 2022 and perhaps something a little more permanent ?

The idea of a "Mike McEvoy Trophy" for the SMW Competition has crossed a few people's minds and I am simply putting the idea forward on behalf of them, but it would definitely be "Whiffed" based.

Something to think/talk about once the initial shock has died down a bit. Then we can perhaps discuss the actual mechanics with the IPMS (UK) Committee, who may well have some ideas of their own and we don't want to be in competition.

[NARSES2]

One of my fondest memories of Mike, and one that sums his spirit up to me was of a show many moons ago just after the Anigrand Douglas XB-42 had come out and I'd proudly taken my new build USAAF one for display only to discover Mike had already built three I'd had a little trouble fitting one small part to the underside and asked Mike how he'd handled it ? His reply "Oh that, I just left it off, to much hassle" .Wonderful 

I'll always remember Mike as a man who enjoyed modelling, who enjoyed talking about modelling and who perhaps most of all enjoyed encouraging others to model regardless of their skill level.



Chris

[kitbasher]

We definitely need to organise something for SMW 2022 and perhaps something a little more permanent ?

The idea of a "Mike McEvoy Trophy" for the SMW Competition has crossed a few people's minds and I am simply putting the idea forward on behalf of them, but it would definitely be "Whiffed" based.

Something to think/talk about once the initial shock has died down a bit. Then we can perhaps discuss the actual mechanics with the IPMS (UK) Committee, who may well have some ideas of their own and we don't want to be in competition.

Good call, Chris, I'd support you in this (if you needed support).