AOA Decals 1/48 Intruders from the Beach Decal First Look

By Michael Benolkin

First Look

Here is a new decal company that has started off with a pair of impressive new sets. In this release, 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 one aircraft, but with the help of AOA Decals' airframe stencil set, you have sufficient markings here quite a few aircraft between the various tailcodes and squadron markings included.

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 HobbyBoss 1/48 A-6A Intruder kit(s)! 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!