THE INSIDE LOOP
MIKE FULMER
Jay Smith, Executive Editor
jays@modelaircraft.org
I WAS BORN at the right time to grow up with Star Wars. I have enjoyed the films and have been fortunate enough to meet a few of the people involved with the movies. David Prowse, who played Darth Vader, was one of the people I have met.
With David’s passing on November 28, 2020, I rewatched the original Star Wars trilogy, and my thoughts were also about Mike Fulmer. From 1978 to 1991, Mike worked for Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) as a model builder and, in some films, as chief model maker.
museum location [in Muncie, Indiana].” The 1950s hobby shop in the National Model Aviation Museum was one of his biggest ideas and contributions. Some models constructed by Mike are displayed at the museum. One is the Fokker D.VII that was featured on the October 2013 cover of Model Aviation.
After being involved in 20 films, a photo from the Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back ILM Model Shop Crew gathering states the following about Mike: “One of his proudest model making achievements
After Mike left ILM, he came to work for the AMA. His website states that he “participated in the conception, design and installation of historical model airplane exhibits in [the] new museum location.”
He worked on Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, as well as Indiana Jones, Star Trek, Always, and a host of other films. After Mike left ILM, he came to work for the AMA. His website states that he “participated in the conception, design and installation of historical model airplane exhibits in [the] new museum
was serving as the initial curator for the AMA.”
Sadly, Mike passed away in 2016; however, his work on the models that were donated to the museum, as well as the museum itself, continue his legacy. Learn more about Mike by visiting his website at www.michaelfulmer.net.
