Guideline Publications Guideline Publications is the UK's leading publisher of modeling and hobby-related magazines. With a world-class portfolio of titles and an international Social Media presence, Guideline Publications has a dedicated readership that is constantly expanding into new areas. This English language book, Grumman A-6 Intruder & EA-6B Prowler, is authored by Andy Evans with scale drawings by Sam Pearson. The latest in Guideline’s Warpaint series, 146, was published in January 2025. A digital edition will soon be available. The latest on Guideline’s publications can be found on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/guidelinepub/

Warpaint's latest is their standard portrait A4 [8.25” x 11.75”] format square-back softbound publication that is 60 pages, including the covers. Andy Evans contributes eight pages of illustrations that includes 48 color side-profiles. Sam Pearson provides two pages of 1/96 line drawings showing top, bottom, front views, and seven side profiles. A bonus is that Sam Pearson does provide enlargement information to 1/72-scale. I counted 160 color photographs and 32 black and white photographs. The front cover features a Andy Evans color side profile of a Grumman A-6A [BuNo 155644] of VA-145 based out of NAS Alameda in August 1975. The color photograph is of Grumman A-6E Intruder [BuNo 155678] of VA-85 Black Falcons based at NAS Oceana. Here she is secured on the deck of USS America {CV-66] while anchored in Stokes Bay, England, on September 25, 1991. VA-85 was the first fleet squadron to receive the A-6E Intruder. The upper color photograph on the rear cover is of Grumman EA-6B Prowler [BuNo 159909] over Southern Maryland on September 16, 2011. Serving with the Air Test and Evaluation Squadron VX-23 Salty Dogs, she was testing a biofuel blend of JP-5 aviation fuel mixed with camelina oil. Camelina oil is a pressed seed oil made from false flax that has been used as a food supplement and cosmetic products. The color photograph at the center of the rear cover shows off elements of Carrier Air Wing 9 [CVW-9] on the deck of the USS Constellation (CVA-64). Grumman A-6A Intruder [BuNo 155642] is sort of center in view while serving with Attack Squadron VA-165 Boomers.

Andy Evans opens with an overview of the Grumman Intruder’s place in aviation history. Next is the development of the Intruder, initially designated A2F-1. The US Navy issued a Request For Proposals in February 1957 to replace the Douglas Skyraider. Bell, Boeing, Douglas Grumman, Lockheed, Martin, North American, and Vought all responded to the RFP by the deadline of August 17, 1957. These responses were evaluated and the final three were announced: Douglas, Grumman, and Vought. Grumman was announced the winner on January 2, 1958. Once the Grumman mockup was inspected, four development aircraft were ordered on March 1, 1959. The first prototype, YA2F-1 [BuNo 147864] had its first flight on April 19, 1960, under the care of Grumman test pilot Robert K. Smyth. She can be seen at the bottom of Page 3 in her unpainted finish with her gear extended for the entire one-hour test flight. She was painted in US Navy grey markings before being accepted on April 29, 1960. Sadly, she was lost on May 31, 1960. The third prototype, YA2F-1 [Bu No 147867] can be seen in the color photograph at the top of the page showing off her thirty Mk.82 500-lb bombs on multiple ejector racks on both the wings and fuselage. The center black and white photograph is also the first prototype, BuNo 147864, even though the caption labels it as BuNo 147263. Note the red and white nose boom and the lines of the grey over white paint scheme on the nose.

The Grumman A-6E Intruder was the main production variant and can be seen on Page 13. The color photograph at the top of the page is A-6E [BuNo 159899] repainted in a green-on-green camouflage. Serving with VA-165 “Boomers”, here she is on the USS Constellation (CV-64) on February 15, 1990. She was delivered to the US Navy in 1976 and served with VA-165, VA-95 “Green Lizards”, and VA-52 “Knightriders”. She was sent to AMARC on August 2, 1995 before being scrapped on August 20, 2018. The center color photograph shows A-6E [BuNo 160423] firing a Maverick missile when she served with VA-34 “Blue Blaster”. She was delivered to the US Navy in 1977 and served with VA-196 “The Main Battery”, VA-52 “Green Knights”, VA-115 “Eagles”, and VA-34. She was sent to AMARC in February 27, 1996 and scrapped on January 13, 2016. The color photograph at the bottom of the page shows A-6E [BuNo 160996] serving with VA-35 “Black Panthers” landing on a carrier deck on June 27, 1981. She later crashed in the sea during a night landing on USS Nimitz (CVN-68) on November 19, 1981. Both crew members ejected safely when the landing gear collapsed and were rescued by the USS Nimitz’ SAR helicopter. She was evidently salvaged from the waters of Sicily as she was spotted at El Centro NAF later, although clearly in a damaged state. She “survives” at El Centro NAF where she serves as a fire/rescue hulk.

The Grumman EA-6B Prowler replaced the EA-6A, which was an interim solution for electronic warfare / electronic counter measures. Serving with the US Marine Corps, the 28 EA-6A Intruders replaced the USMC Douglas F3D-2Q [EF-10B] Skynights. The EA-6B featured four crew members in a stretched airframe that can be seen on Page 36. The bottom color photograph shows four Cherry Point EA-6B Prowlers on a “Final Four” division flight on March 1, 2016. This was the last time the USMC Prowler squadrons flew together prior to the official retirement of Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Training Squadron. The top color photograph shows a US Navy VAQ-134 “Garudas” EA-6B ICAP II Prowler [161884] landing on the USS George HW Bush [CVN 77] in July 2014. She has been on display at the Seattle Museum of Flight since she flew there on May 27, 2015.

A standard feature for Guideline’s Warpaint series is the In Detail section as seen on Page 44. These color photographs as seen on Page 44, feature detail shots of several Grumman A-6E Intruders and a Grumman EA-6B ICAP I Prowler [BuNo 160437]. The EA-6B, shown serving with VAQ-142 “Grey Wolves” during Operation Enduring Freedom in 2006, based at Bagram, Airfield. She was delivered to the US Navy in August 1979 and has served with VAQ-130 “Zappers”, VMAQ-2 “Playboys”, VMAQ-3 “Moondogs”, VMAQ-4 “Seahawks”, and VAQ-129 “Vikings”. Andy Evans contributes eight pages of profiles with six schemes on each page covering the Grumman A-6A Intruder through the EA-6B Prowler. Six color side profiles of A-6E Intruders can be seen on Page 55. The top profile is A-6E [BuNo 154128] serving with VA-155 on board USS Ranger in 1981. She was delivered to the US Navy in 1968 as an A-6A Intruder and began serving with VA-85 “Black Falcons”. She was upgraded to the A-6E variant in 1975 and joined VA-176 “Thunderbolts”. She was salvaged in 1995 and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean as part of an artificial reef program.

The Chapters include:

• Introduction
• The Grumman A-6 Intruder
• The A2F-1/A6A- Grumman’s Bomb-Truck [Page 03]
• The A-6B Intruder
• The A-6C Intruder
• The A-6E Intruder [Page 13]
• TRAM
• The A-6F Intruder
• The KA-6D Intruder
• TC-4C Academies
• The Intruder In Service With the US Navy
• The Intruder In Service With the US Marine Corps
• The EA-6A Jamming Intruder
• The EA-6B Prowler [Page 36]
• Intruder and Prowler Squadrons [Table]
• A-6 Intruder General Characteristics [Table]
• A-6 Intruder Variants [Table]
• Grumman A-6E Intruder In Detail [Page 44]
• Grumman EA-6B Prowler In Detail
• Grumman A-6 Intruder, EA-6B Prowler 1/96 Scale Drawings by Sam Pearson
• Colour Profiles [Page 55]

The Grumman A-6 Intruder has been issued in a wide range of scales: 1/32, 1/48, 1/50, 1/72, 1/100, 1/144, 1/300, 1/400, 1/700 and 1/800. Revell’s 1/48 Grumman A-6 series was first released in 1988 in both A-6E and EA-6A variants. Kinetic released a 2012 new-tool A-6E and HobbyBoss joined in 2013 with their A-6E. If you are into details, there are no shortage of decals, and resin / photoetch detail sets.

I was able to read Andy Evans’ monograph over three days. The text is well supplemented with very clear photographs with good captions. Andy Evans provides well executed color side profiles with Sam Pearson contributing the 1/96-line drawings. This is a nice reference on the Grumman Intruder and would be a handy addition to your reference library. If you are building any of the model kits, I would consider this edition essential as an aide to your build. If you own any of the previous releases in the Warpaint series, you know what you are getting. If this is your initial entry into this series, you will be quite pleased.

My thanks to Guideline Publications and IPMS/USA for the chance to review this great monograph.

Highly recommended!