AOA Decals has provided IPMS/USA reviewer corps with a wonderful decal set for Vietnam War era markings for US Navy A-6A, A-6B, and KA-6D Intruders. The rollout of this decal sheet coincides with the 2023 release of the 1/72 scale Trumpeter A-6A Intruder.

Five US Navy squadrons are covered in this decal set with multiple options for each squadron:

• VA-65 Tigers - USS Constellation (1966), USS Forrestal (1967), & USS Kitty Hawk (1968/69)
• VA-75 Sunday Punchers - USS Saratoga (1972-73)
• VA-95 Green Lizards - USS Coral Sea (1973)
• VA-165 Boomers - USS Ranger (1967-68), USS Ranger (1968-69), USS America (1970), & USS Constellation (1971-72)
• VA-196 Main Battery - USS Constellation (1968-69), USS Ranger (1969-70), USS Enterprise (1971-72), & USS Enterprise (1972-73)

Note: VA-165 and VA-196, tied for the most A-6 Intruder Vietnam combat cruises (five each); VA-65, including the experimental 1966 camouflage trials and the ill-fated 1967 Forrestal cruise; VA-75 with coverage of their third and final deployment to Vietnam; and lastly, VA-95 that supported the naval mine clearing Operation End Sweep along the North Vietnamese coast under the Paris Peace Accords in 1973.

This set also includes markings for MERs and fuel tanks for each squadron.

In the Package

There are two (2) decal sheets provided. Seventeen (17) aircraft of the USN Vietnam A-6 Intruders are in this set! The main sheet provides bureau numbers, MER, fuel tank, and tail markings for each Intruder. The smaller second sheet, 72-011 ($9.00 if bought separately), has common data/stencils for only one (1) Intruder and compliments the larger first sheet. With both sheets, you can do one complete A-6A, A-6B or KA-6D Intruder.

There are 6 colored pages (or 12 front and back) sheets of great instruction, illustrations, and information of decal placement and notes for each aircraft. For those who love to take that extra step of placing ALL the stencils on a jet, this will be close to heaven for you.

The decals are printed by Cartograf and are in perfect registry with vibrant colors and with barely any clear decal film edging.

Conclusions

There a so many decal options for a Vietnam era USN A-6 Intruder it may inspire you to build multiple jets. The markings are perfect and colorful. If you are a fan of USN A-6 Intruders, then this is a must buy.

I want to thank AOA Decals for providing this wonderful decal set and IPMS/USA for allowing me the opportunity to review.

Highly Recommend to EVERYONE!