AOA Decals 1/72 Intruders from the Beach Decal First Look

By Michael Benolkin

First Look

AOA Decals has released their A-6 Superset in 1/72, previously released in 1/32 and 1/48 scales. As with those releases, we have markings for the three U.S. Marine Corps squadrons that operated the A-6A Intruder in Vietnam. When I say three squadrons, I do mean markings and color profiles are provided for every aircraft from each of those squadrons. The instructions are provided in PDF format on a mini-CDROM disc.

The aircraft provided in this decal set include:

1. A-6A, 155606, VMA(AW)-225, CE/03, Da Nang AB, 1969
2. A-6A, 155626, VMA(AW)-225, CE/06, Da Nang AB, 1969
3. A-6A, 155702, VMA(AW)-225, CE/02, Da Nang AB, 1970-71
4. A-6A, 155707, VMA(AW)-225, CE/07, Da Nang AB, 1970
5. A-6A, 155683, VMA(AW)-225, CE/12, Da Nang AB, 1969-70
6. A-6A, 152603, VMA(AW)-242, DT/3, Da Nang AB, 1966-67
7. A-6A, 152607, VMA(AW)-242, DT/7, Da Nang AB, 1966-67
8. A-6A, 152608, VMA(AW)-242, DT/8, Da Nang AB, 1966-67
9. A-6A, 152610, VMA(AW)-242, DT/10, Da Nang AB, 1966-67
10. A-6A, 152612, VMA(AW)-242, DT/12, Da Nang AB, 1966-67
11. A-6A, 151795, VMA(AW)-242, DT/9, Da Nang AB, 1967-68
12. A-6A, 151796, VMA(AW)-242, DT/00, Da Nang AB, 1967-68
13. A-6A, 151578, VMA(AW)-242, DT/4, Da Nang AB, 1968
14. A-6A, 152593, VMA(AW)-242, DT/9, Da Nang AB, 1968-69
15. A-6A, 152595, VMA(AW)-242, DT/10, Da Nang AB, 1968
16. A-6A, 152934, VMA(AW)-242, DT/10, Da Nang AB, 1968-69
17. A-6A, 152596, VMA(AW)-242, DT/11, Da Nang AB, 1968-69
18. A-6A, 152598, VMA(AW)-242, DT/00, Da Nang AB, 1968-69
19. A-6A, 155685, VMA(AW)-242, DT/1, Da Nang AB, 1970
20. A-6A, 155686, VMA(AW)-242, DT/2, Da Nang AB, 1969-70
21. A-6A, 155689, VMA(AW)-242, DT/4, Da Nang AB, 1969-70
22. A-6A, 155696, VMA(AW)-242, DT/10, Da Nang AB, 1969-70
23. A-6A, 152631, VMA(AW)-533, ED/1, Chu Lai AB, 1967-68
24. A-6A, 152634, VMA(AW)-533, ED/2, Chu Lai AB, 1967-68
25. A-6A, 152639, VMA(AW)-533, ED/5, Chu Lai AB, 1967-68
26. A-6A, 152642, VMA(AW)-533, ED/8, Chu Lai AB, 1967-68
27. A-6A, 152643, VMA(AW)-533, ED/9, Chu Lai AB, 1967-68
28. A-6A, 154164, VMA(AW)-533, ED/7, Chu Lai AB, 1968
29. A-6A, 154158, VMA(AW)-533, ED/1, Chu Lai AB, 1969
30. A-6A, 154159, VMA(AW)-533, ED/2, Chu Lai AB, 1969
31. A-6A, 154124, VMA(AW)-533, ED/3, Chu Lai AB, 1969
32. A-6A, 154163, VMA(AW)-533, ED/6, Chu Lai AB, 1969
33. A-6A, 154165, VMA(AW)-533, ED/8, Chu Lai AB, 1969
34. A-6A, 154156, VMA(AW)-533, ED/9, Chu Lai AB, 1969
35. A-6A, 154169, VMA(AW)-533, ED/00, Chu Lai AB, 1969
36. A-6A, 155679, VMA(AW)-533, ED/1, Nam Phong AB, 1972-73
37. A-6A, 157024, VMA(AW)-533, ED/2, Nam Phong AB, 1972-73
38. A-6A, 155687, VMA(AW)-533, ED/3, Nam Phong AB, 1972-73
39. A-6A, 155706, VMA(AW)-533, ED/4, Nam Phong AB, 1972-73
40. A-6A, 155666, VMA(AW)-533, ED/5, Nam Phong AB, 1972
41. A-6A, 154126, VMA(AW)-533, ED/6, Nam Phong AB, 1972-73
42. A-6A, 155619, VMA(AW)-533, ED/7, Nam Phong AB, 1972-73
43. A-6A, 155708, VMA(AW)-533, ED/8, Nam Phong AB, 1972-73
44. A-6A, 155680, VMA(AW)-533, ED/9, Nam Phong AB, 1972-73
45. A-6A, 155707, VMA(AW)-533, ED/10, Nam Phong AB, 1972-73

Three squadrons are represented here including two different tours by VMF(AW)-533. This decal set is so thorough that it provides marking differences for a number of aircraft here as crews and/or significant markings changed during their time in-country. This decal set also includes sufficient airframe stencils for two aircraft.

If you look in the dictionary under decal superset, you'll see the cover art for this set displayed there. Forty-five aircraft (plus variations) and all for your Italeri or Revell 1/72 A-6A Intruder kit (or the upcoming Trumpeter release)! Get a set today!

For more information about this set and the other releases from AOA Decals, visit their website at www.aoadecals.com.

My sincere thanks to AOA Decals for this review sample!