Are there any female modelers?

This is certainly a male heavy field. At last nights local IPMS chapter meeting we had two women there out of about 40 some odd members who did show up. One of them does great work with figures (no pun intended) and I have yet to see any work by the other. At the LHS I frequent, you just dont see too many ladies that are customers who partake in any aspect of the hobby.

i think this should have been posted in the odds and ends section   you will get more responses 

I don't and have never known any women that build models of any type solo.  However, my last two girlfriends have been active participants by helping with thread selection and especially detail  painting.  I don't seem to have the steady hand or patience needed to paint like they have. 

 Paul

 

My wife is a graphic artist who occassionally helps me out on modelling projects (she can draw and cut a straight line, which I, alas, cannot...)

Also, our club, the L.A. Miniaturists has a female modeller who is absolutely fantastic (competition level), with her primary area of interest being WWII Russian armor.  She knows her history as well!

I have also seen some excellent female figure modelers at SCHAMS...

So, they're out there! Just few and far between.

Regards and Aloha,

Johnny B. 

I know of two incredible female modelers, both who scratch built in wood and metal.

Portia Takakjian was an illustrator by trade and an accomplished ship modeler. She died tragically from emphysema in 1992, reportedly the result of a fungal infection contracted from breathing sawdust from an exotic wood that she was using in a model.  She is most well known as the author of the Anatomy of the Ship book on the USS Essex, but was also the author of a book on Ship Modeling Techniques. Her papers are in the collection at Mystic Seaport and her plans of the Essex are commercially available. Professor Tilley can probably tell us more.

google 'portia takakjian'

 

Another fantastic female modeler is Jean Eckert. One of her models, the Nonsuch, was a medal winner at several shows, including one at the Mariner's Museum. One of the most striking features on Nonsuch is Jean's intricate carving.

Jean founded the South Bay Model Shipwrights in the San Francisco Bay area. The club is is now over 20 years old and still going strong. She also collaborated with the late Tom Fordham (Tom was a builder/repairer for the San Francisco Maritime Museum) in building a model of a shore whaler which is on permanent display at the Point Lobos State Park in Carmel, California. Jean's modeling has slowed down so she can care for an ailing family member, but she is still active with SBMS and is a tremendous resource for aspiring modelers.

google 'Jean Eckert' and 'nonsuch' for articles and photos

 

 

I never met the late Ms. Takakjian, but I have met Ms. Eckert several times at NRG conferences.  In addition to being a fine modeler, she's a fine, congenial person.

I can think of three more ladies who belong prominently on the list.  I believe Gerald Wingrove's wife, Phyllis, works extensively with him on his incredibly detailed car models.  Iris McNarry, wife of Donald, is a modeler of considerable ability and experience herself; her small-scale sailing ships can stand comparison with anybody's.  And though August Crabtree and his wife, Winifred, were rather secretive about just how the famous Crabtree ship models were built, it's clear that she had a good deal to do with them.  I know she did most, if not all, of the painting, and as I understand it, in her last years (she outlived her husband by quite a few) she told several people that she'd contributed more than that to the models.  As part of its latest refurbishment the Crabtree collection was, as I understand it, renamed "The August and Winifred Crabtree Collection of Miniature Ships."

I do some modeling...

http://communities.msn.com/ModelsandMiniatures/homepage

  Schooner- Thats what i'm talkin about! Its obvious that you hold these two women in very high regard,and, sorry to hear that one of them is departed. I'm unfamiliar with either of their works, however I am a big fan of the anatomy of the ship book series and, own a few of them. Those are some pretty impressive credentials, and thanks for the education.

  Umi-Thanks for the link, and for standing up for the silent minority! Excellent work indeed! I'd like to see you post some builds in these forums. Good to meet you.

  Regards, MacLeod

Umi_Ryuzuki wrote:

I do some modeling... http://communities.msn.com/ModelsandMiniatures/homepage

Hello Umi

Hi,

 I am in and out of here fairly often, but my marine models are mainly commercial or harbor vessels. So I don't post too often.