Southeast Asia Intruders (2)

USN A-6A, A-6B and KA-6D
Intruders in the Vietnam War

AOA Decals, 1/72 scale

Reviewed by Graham Carter

Designed to be used on the Trumpeter 1/72 A-6 Intruder kit, this is the second monumental decal sheet from AOAdecals and is accompanied by sheet 72-011 which has Full Airframe Data/Stencils.

The decals come in a large zip-lock sleeve and comprise a large 240x180mm sheet of individual markings and code/serial numbers for seventeen different Navy examples from :

1. VA-65 Tigers on USS Constellation in 1966, USS Forrestal 1967 and USS Kitty Hawk, 1968-9,

2. VA-75 Sunday Punchers on USS Saratoga 1972-73,

3. VA-95 Green Lizards on USS Coral Sea in 1973,

4. VA-165 Boomers on USS Ranger 1967-68 and 1968-69, USS America 1970 and USS Constellation 1971-72

5. VA-196 Main Battery on USS Constellation 1968-69, USS Ranger 1969-70, and USS Enterprise 1971-72 and 1972-73.

There is also a smaller sheet - 72011 - containing what looks like sufficient general markings for two aircraft.

All aircraft bar one, are in the pale grey over white finish but have radomes in either black or a pale cream. One airframe from VA-65 has dark green upper surfaces. Detailed colour notes are provided for each example. One page gives the upper surface layouts for different examples.

There are too many to list here but I urge you to visit the website at www.AOAdecals.com for more details. Many of the planes have colourful tail markings.

Instructions comprise six double-sided  A4 sheets printed in colour that give side profiles, upper surface configurations, weapon markings, stencil diagrams, application notes and individual histories of each aeroplane. Each aircraft is represented by a colour side profile. This is certainly a comprehensive set of notes. 

The decals themselves are printed by Cartograf and are glossy-finished and beautifully printed on a pale blue backing sheet and have excellent depth, register and minimal carrier film. The vast number of choices makes this sheet suitable for either a real “Intruder-phile” or a group purchase.

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Its quality is terrific and I recommend it to those of you with a keen interest in this aircraft.

This is a superb coverage of the US Navy use of this heavy weapons-delivery aeroplane from the Vietnam War.

This excellent package is highly recommended to those modellers with an interest in the Grumman Intruder

Thanks to AOA Decals for the review sample

AOA Decals are available online via their website

Review Text and Images Copyright © 2023 by Graham Carter
Page Created 24 October, 2024
Last Updated 26 October, 2024

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