AOA Decals has released its first 1/72 scale sheet which is a scaled down version in many ways of the 1/32 scale sheet. AOA indicates that the reason the company formed was to fill the large void in decal coverage of Marine Corps Intruder accomplishments during the Vietnam War.

There are a couple things that hit you when you first open the package. First, the number of options is staggering - 64 marking options of 45 different aircraft. These include:

• 7 options (5 aircraft) for VMA(AW)-225 Vikings at Da Nang Air Base, South Vietnam, from 1969-71
• 19 options (17 aircraft) for VMA(AW)-242 Batmen at Da Nang Air Base, South Vietnam, from 1966-70
• 19 options (13 aircraft) for VMA(AW)-533 Hawks at Chu Lai Air Base, South Vietnam, from 1967-69
• 19 options (10 aircraft) for VMA(AW)-533 Hawks at Royal Thai Air Base Nam Phong (aka “The Rose Garden”), Thailand, from 1972-73

There one large full color decals sheets included and markings/stencils for two complete aircraft. The sheet is in perfect registry and is gorgeous and printed by Cartograf.

The second thing you notice, there are no instructions. But there is a CD. Once you pop the CD and read it, the reason for the lack of written instructions becomes clear. The instructions included are a PDF file and are 86 pages long to cover the all sets of markings. The instructions start with two pages of corrections that the modeler may want to make to accurately represent an A-6A. This is followed by pages of color and marking notes, ordnance load outs, stencil placement and detailed three view drawings of all aircraft. This includes helmet markings, notes on specific planes with things such as unpainted parts, markings for pylons, wear and color variations. The depth of research and care is incredible. There is no way this could have been printed and cost less than twice as much.

​80+ Page Instructions (on full size CD) Containing:

• Introduction
• Fujimi kit modification information
• Possible A-6A configuration information
• Marking notes
• Typical ordnance loadout charts for the three squadrons
• Stencil placement
• Single page for each marking option (3 view)

One other note, the markings are generated to fit 1/72^nd Fujimi Intruders but there is a nice note explaining several options that may or may not be needed to fit other manufacturers Intruders.

So for $19.00, you get tons of options and a total set of markings for not one but two aircraft. The research is, with a doubt, the best I have ever seen and I love that fact the entire instructions are on PDF instead of a shortened paper version. Kudos AOA! These are most highly recommended and will improve an already good kit.

My thanks to AOA Decals for the review sample.