Desert Storm Intruders
VA-35 VA-36 VA-65 VA-85 A-6E/KA-6

Afterburner Decals, 1/48 scale

Reviewed by Rodger Kelly

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Here’s something different from Afterburner Decals.  Normally these fellows produce decals for the latest U.S. Navy and USAF airframes.  This time however it is a step back to the early 1990s and the Grumman A-6 Intruders that took part in OPERATION DESERT STORM.

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Markings are provided for 12 different options in all, the details of each are as follows:

• Grumman A-6E Intruder, Bureau number 161675, modex 500 assigned to
  VA-65 "The World Famous Fighting Tigers" aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt, January of 1991.   The machine is in the standard Tactical Paint Scheme (TPS) worn by the A-6 in its later life comprising FS36320 dark ghost grey upper surfaces over FS36375 light ghost grey undersides.  Befitting its status as the squadron’s CAG Bird, it wears full colour squadron markings on its vertical stabiliser and rudder as well as nose art in the form of a flight helmeted baseball bat wielding Garfield the cat on the port side of its nose.

• Grumman A-6E Intruder Bureau number 155620, modex 503another VA-65 bird that was aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt in the January of 1991.  A little different from her squadron sisters, it wears a disruptive camouflage pattern comprising FS3371 tan and a 50% mixture of FS33711 and FS30140 on its upper surfaces/fuselage sides over FS36375 undersides and nose radome.  Its squadron markings are in light tan where they are on the darker mixed colour and mixed tan colour where they have been applied to the lighter tan colour.  A distinctive machine indeed and it will test your skills at painting as you need to get the demarcations right if the decals are to be placed correctly.

• Grumman A-6E, Intruder Bureau number 155600, modex 536 from VA-36 Roadrunners flying from the deck of the USS Theodore Roosevelt in the January of 1991.  The machine was assigned to the squadron commander which is unusual as the CO’s aircraft normally wears the modex 501.  In standard A-6 TPS with full colour squadron markings as well as a mission log and nose art on the left hand side of the fuselage.  The placement guide advises that all CVW-8 squadron commanders’ aircraft wore nose art Skipper's Aircraft sported nose art but it was promptly removed prior to the Air Wing returning to the U.S. post OPERATION DESERT STORM.

• Grumman A-6E Intruder Bureau number 155600 again.  This from the March of 1991, sans the nose art and with a different and larger mission log applied in its place on the nose.  Other detail differences include the application of the Plane Captain’s name on the intake and the over painting of the original mission log.

• Grumman A-6E Intruder Bureau number 158051, modex 530 of VA-36 and aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt in the March of 1991.  The Squadron’s CAG bird, it is in TPS with full colour squadron markings and a small mission log on the port side of the radome.

• Grumman A-6E, Intruder Bureau number 155716, modex 535 a VA-36 line bird flying from the USS Theodore Roosevelt in the March of 1991.  It is in standard TPS with lo-viz squadron markings and a large mission log on the port side of its radome.

• Grumman A-6E, Intruder Bureau number 154135, modex 500, the VA-35 Black Panthers CAG bird flying from the USS Saratoga in the January of 1991. It is finished in standard TPS with lo-viz markings which is very unusual for a CAG bird.  Mission log painted on both sides of the fuselage to the rear and beneath the cockpit canopy.

• Grumman A-6E, Intruder Bureau number 152953, modex 505 assigned to
  VA-35 aboard the USS Saratoga in the January of 1991.  More of the same, a Black Panthers line bird with lo-viz markings and a mission log on its fuselage under the rear of the canopy.

• Grumman A-6E Intruder Bureau number 155678 modex 500 from VA-85 Black Falcons aboard the USS America in the April of 1991.  The squadron CAG bird it is in standard TPS and devoid of any colour in its markings at all.  Mission log is worn on both sides of the fuselage beneath the windscreen.

• Grumman A-6E Intruder Bureau number 162190 modex 500 from VA-75 Sunday Punchers aboard the USS John F Kennedy in the March of 1991.  Another CAG bird, it is in standard TPS with lo-viz markings.  It has a mission log on both sides of its radome.

• Grumman A-6E Intruder Bureau number 162191, modex 501 and assigned to the VA-75 Commanding Officer in the March of 1991.  In standard TPS with lo-viz markings and a mission log on both sides of its radome.

• Grumman KA-6D, Intruder Bureau number 152927 modex 522 assigned to VA-75 and flying from the decks of the USS John F Kennedy circa March 1991.  The odd man out on the sheet, it is finished in FS16440 light gull grey over FS17875 gloss white with full colour squadron markings.  It wears a “log” comprising four F/A-18 and one F-14 silhouettes on the left hand side of the fuselage beneath the windscreen indicating the number and type of aircraft it “saved” from fuel exhaustion following their mission into Iraq.

The decals themselves have been printed by Cartograph.  There are no register issues on my sample sheet and this is noteworthy as all decals are of the “one part” type.  The decals are crammed onto a single large sheet measuring 10½” x 8¾” and crammed onto the sheet they are, so much so that you will need to take considerable care with your scissors or scalpel blade in separating them from the others on the sheet when you come to use them.  Stencil data is also provided and this is pretty comprehensive as well being in the two different lo-viz greys and the standard black for the KA-6D option.  Three sets of national insignia is provided, again, in the two different lo-viz greys and a single full colour set for the KA-6D option. 

There are four placement guides/information sheets included in the package.  They are just shy of A-4 in size and printed on both sides.   They are printed on good quality paper and feature full colour side profiles and upper and lower plan views of each option to aid you with decal placement. 

The decals sheets as well as the placement/information guides come packed in a clear plastic Zip-loc bag.

Another great sheet from Afterburner Decals.  It provides you with excellent support material and first rate decals to let you to produce twelve different Intruders that took part in OPERATION DESERT STORM.

Thanks to Afterburner Decals for the sample

Review Copyright © 2011 by Rodger Kelly
This Page Created on 5 September, 2011
Last updated 9 September, 2011

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