Mike Maben - RIP

[RBrown]

7 hours ago, Oldbaldguy said:

I think there needs to be either a Mike Maben Memorial group build in the near future or maybe an annual Mike Maben award for the best work in progress thread.  He was always a positive presence on this site.  We all come and go, but some should be remembered.  Mike is one.  Never met the guy but I liked him anyway.

 

 

Mike had posted several times that he was eagerly awaiting the release of a new P-51B.  Eduard and ZM have kits that will likely be released in the not to distant future...

[CRAZY IVAN5]

9 hours ago, RBrown said:

 

Mike had posted several times that he was eagerly awaiting the release of a new P-51B.  Eduard and ZM have kits that will likely be released in the not to distant future...

Add to that ,he was also waiting for Z-M to release their FW-190A-3[ that was the version he really wanted]. Food for thought.

[Gazzas]

I'll always remember something Mike said to me after me saying I was afraid to ruin my first WNW model.  He said:  "What are you afraid of, it's just a model."  And I've carried that philosophy ever since.

[LSP_Mike]

And a good philosophy it is 

[CraigC]

and hopefully the simple version of the FW190A-3 🙂

Edited April 20 by CraigC

[RCPlym]

On 4/18/2026 at 7:59 PM, Gazzas said:

"What are you afraid of, it's just a model."

 

A wise man indeed. 👍👍👍 

[wingman777]

I'll say this, I never met Mike but I appreciated his upbeat, positive attitude towards modeling and his skill level.  Many times, I would comment how well he had done on a particular model.  These words can also apply to all of you readers / modelers.  We won't meet in person during our lifetime, but I feel a bond with so many of you through admiring your projects.  I'm very appreciative of this web site and it's always been my favorite.  Most other modelers that I know shy away from the larger scales, but you guys take it on as a challenge and make it look great!   Keep up the good work and know that I appreciate you all and I want to tell you so on this side of the grave.   As a side note, I wonder what will become of all those fantastic model builds that Mike produced?    

[Granger Davis]

I was just admiring his Mustang build this morning.....

[blackbetty]

maybe its time for another "in memory of the fallen" group build, its more than a decade since the last one....

[amurray]

On 4/10/2026 at 7:28 PM, LSP_Kevin said:

I've just been informed of the sad news that Mike did indeed pass away back in January. This information was passed to me by another forum member, who had been contacted by Mike's nephew, so I consider it to be legitimate and authentic. Mike was a stalwart member of LSP, having joined way back in 2003, and was a constant presence here ever since. He will be missed, and our condolences go out to his friends, family, and all who knew him.

 

Vale Mike Maben.

Kev

Oh, no . . .

[ChuckD]

I’ve been pursuing other hobbies the last few months, haven’t been around here much, and missed this news. 
 

My sadness is immeasurable and my day is ruined.
 

Rest in peace, Mike. You left behind you a legacy of kindness, courtesy, compassion, and humor; you are missed.  My condolences to his family. 
 

 

[mattlow]

I too missed this sad news.

Mike was (still is in his 'digital footprint) a kind of constant presence in this and a couple of other forums I frequented. His preferred   emoji saying 'I'm here and interested, waiting for your next post' always, for me, seemed a necessary element of a build thread.

 

I shall miss his sometimes gruff, but always encouraging and interested presence both here and elsewhere on the internet.

 

Matt

[ndc154]

I found this group by luck. I went to the estate sale at his house today and one of the models had a receipt from 2006 with his name. Just by reading about Mike I hope that when my son and I put together the models we do it justice. 

[chrish]

Just reading through this, if I could only wish to leave a quarter of the positive presence Mike left in his passing I’d count that as substantial. I can say nothing more 

[John1]

15 hours ago, chrish said:

Just reading through this, if I could only wish to leave a quarter of the positive presence Mike left in his passing I’d count that as substantial. I can say nothing more 

It’s weird, I was just surfing through LSP this morning and Mike came to mind.   He always had a friendly, supportive comment.  Just thinking how much I missed the guy and then I saw your post.