This next new sheet from Superscale Decals is designed for the reissued Revell 1/48 A-6E Intruder. The Intruder was possibly the last of the US Navy's dedicated bombers. Its sole purpose in being was to deliver a large load of ordnance on an enemy target. No secondary role of air to air combat and the aircraft was never equipped with self defense Sidewinders as were some other types.

Again, both of the schemes on this sheet are from the earliest days of A-6E operations in that both of these are in light gull grey over white and neither of them have the FLIR turret in the lower radome.

These are both USMC options and like aircraft in those days, all unit planes had the same nice markings, so these tail colors are not just for the boss planes. First up is from VMA-121 in 1977. It still carries the bicentennial scheme with the flag motif on the fin/rudder. The modeler will need to paint this area white before applying the decals. Note that this has a white radome. This aircraft was written off in April of 1987 while attached to VA-42. It missed a carrier landing aboard the USS Lexington due to some sort of malfunction and the crew ejected. The aircraft impacted the Gulf of Mexico about 500 feet from the ship and quickly sank.

The next one is from 1977 as well and is a plane attached to VMA-224. This has a very dark blue fin and a tan radome. This aircraft is another originally built as an A-6A and retained the perforated dive brakes that were soon found redundant and disabled. This old bird survived active service and is now part of the collection at the Virginia Air and Space Center in Hampton, VA. This is a very neat museum and if you are in the area, be sure to save some time to stop in.

The instructions include a superb data placement guide so you can get the myriad of stencils properly located. The sheet also includes enough major data markings and insignia to do both options.  Cartograf is now Superscale's default printer and the sheet is superbly done.  Those wanting to do both options can use kit decals for the common bits.

June 2011

Review copy courtesy of Squadron Products. Get yours at your local shop or on-line retailer. 

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