Richard L Ward RIP

[peebeep]

Those of you of a certain age will know of Dick Ward, who sadly passed away last Sunday. He was an aviation artist and the man behind the Modeltoys shop in Portsmouth. Modeltoys stocked all sorts of plastic exotica that was unobtainable elsewhere and did worldwide mail order.

Then along came Modeldecals that were in their day the best researched and printed decals available on the market. The instruction sheets in themselves were mini references with drawings, photos and copious notes to provide a wealth of information for the modeller. Although printing and colour reproduction has improved no end since the mid sixties when Modeldecals first appeared, they are still a benchmark of how aftermarket decals should be produced and packaged. Dick became a decal consultant for Frog, Airfix and Revell and I think it would be fair to say he was responsible for kit manufacturers upping their game in respect of colour schemes and the decals supplied in their kits.

He was also a copious illustrator and his research and artwork can be found in dozens, possibly hundreds of reference works published over the last fifty or sixty years. Amongst other things, Dick was a founder member of the IPMS. His contribution to the hobby has been immense and we can be grateful that this huge wealth of knowledge will be continued to be shared in the future. RIP Dick.