Some of you have probably heard of the passing of Mike Martinez of Mercury Art Studios from a head on collision with a drunk driver last night. He was an avid Star Wars Fan and Customizer and is fairly well known on most Star Wars Forums. He has left behind a fiancé and daughter with the fiancé expecting another child. Needless to say the family is going to need some funds so ImperialShipyards.net have organized a Charity Drive through their website. Right now they have a paypal address you can make direct donations as well as an auction for a gentle giant clone trooper classics bust. They are also organizing a few other auctions that they will be releasing details about in this same forum thread. Click through for more information as well as an embedded podcast that features an interview with Mike.

http://www.imperialshipyards.net/SMF/index.php?topic=6986.new

ImperialShipyards.net also just interviewed Mike on their developing podcast called Custom Action Figure News this past Thursday. He talks about his love of Star Wars and customizing figures from said film. Please check out this story in tribute to Mike and his family and his love of Star Wars.