South East Asia Intruders I

USMC A-6A, A-6B, & KA-6D Intruders in the Vietnam War

AOA Decals, 1/48 scale

Reviewed by David Couche

This 1/48 decal sheet from AOA Decals, updates and supersedes their older sets, 48-001 and 48-006, and covers all four USMC A-6A Intruder squadrons during the Vietnam War. These squadrons are:

• VMA(AW)-224 Bengals - USS Coral Sea (1971-72)

• VMA(AW)-225 Vikings - Da Nang, South Vietnam (1969-71)

• VMA(AW)-242 Batmen - Da Nang, South Vietnam (1966-70)

• VMA(AW)-533 Hawks - Chu Lai, South Vietnam (1967-69) & Nam Phong (“The Rose Garden”), Thailand (1972-73)

The set comes in a thick zip locked bag, which protects the decals from damage. Airframe stencils in correct colours are provided for each aircraft in the set.

New full airframe data/stencils provided for one aircraft, which is the AOA set 48-023. If you intend doing more than one aircraft from this set you will need to purchase this data/stencil sheet separately.

Decals also included for MERs, fuel tanks, and crew helmets. 

Also includes special Easter 1970 bomb graffiti for VMA(AW)-225. A great addition from AOA on the web site is a set of PDF files with mission load-outs for each to the squadrons in their missions.

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The decal sheet is printed by industry leader, Cartograf of Italy, which ensures top printing quality and ease of application. The instructions on 7, double sided glossy heavy paper sheets are printed in colour with helpful annotated notes where needed. Of those 13 pages, 3 are dedicated to the application of aircraft stencils, 2 pages of top views with the different wing walk configurations as well as National insignia placement which varied with many aircraft. This is followed up with useful notes on “errors” in the HobbyBoss kit with the anti-glare painting/position as well as MER markings for each squadron, helmet and drop tank markings as well as the Easter bomb markings for VMA(AW)-225 with coloured reference photos. The note section finishes with suggested kit modifications to the airbrake sections as well as looking at warning receivers and 2 pages of specific notes for each squadron. All up, AOA gives us a mass of reference material to back up their decal selection.  The decals are printed in perfect register with great definition and strong colour by Cartograf, and we know they will go on perfectly and settle down exquisitely.
The aircraft in this set are;

VMA(AW)-224 Bengals

A-6A, 155708, VMA(AW)-224 Bengals, USS Coral Sea, 1972

• A-6A, 155650, VMA(AW)-224 Bengals, USS Coral Sea, 1971/72

• KA-6D, 151789, VMA(AW)-224 Bengals, USS Coral Sea, 1971/72
• A-6B, 151562, VMA(AW)-224 Bengals, USS Coral Sea, 1972

VMA(AW)-225 Vikings

• A-6A, 152606, VMA(AW)-225 Vikings, Da Nang, South Vietnam, 1969
• A-6A, 155702, VMA(AW)-225 Vikings, Da Nang, South Vietnam, 1970
• A-6A, 155702, VMA(AW)-225 Vikings, Da Nang, South Vietnam, 1970/71
• A-6A, 152707, VMA(AW)-225 Vikings, Da Nang, South Vietnam, 1970

VMA(AW)-242 Batmen

• A-6A, 152612, VMA(AW)-242 Batmen, Da Nang, South Vietnam, 1966/67 -lost Nov,1967
• A-6A, 151795, VMA(AW)-242 Batmen, Da Nang, South Vietnam, 1967/68
• A-6A, 152936, VMA(AW)-242 Batmen, Da Nang, South Vietnam, 1968
• A-6A, 152595, VMA(AW)-242 Batmen, Da Nang, South Vietnam, 1968

• A-6A, 155689, VMA(AW)-242 Batmen, Da Nang, South Vietnam, 1969
• A-6A, 155689, VMA(AW)-242 Batmen, Da Nang, South Vietnam, 1970

VMA(AW)-533 Hawks

• A-6A, 152643, VMA(AW)-533 Hawks, Chu Lai, South Vietnam, 1967/68
• A-6A, 154159, VMA(AW)-533 Hawks, Chu Lai, South Vietnam, 1968
• A-6A, 154159, VMA(AW)-533 Hawks, Chu Lai, South Vietnam, 1968 – option 2
• A-6A, 152124, VMA(AW)-533 Hawks, Chu Lai, South Vietnam, 1969
• A-6A, 152124, VMA(AW)-533 Hawks, Chu Lai, South Vietnam, 1969 – option 2
• A-6A, 155679, VMA(AW)-533 Hawks, Nam Phong, “The Rose Garden”, Thailand, 1972
• A-6A, 157024, VMA(AW)-533 Hawks, Nam Phong, “The Rose Garden”, Thailand, 1972/73
• A-6A, 155687, VMA(AW)-533 Hawks, Nam Phong, “The Rose Garden”, Thailand, 1972
• A-6A, 155687, VMA(AW)-533 Hawks, Nam Phong, “The Rose Garden”, Thailand, 1972/73 – option 2
• A-6A, 155706, VMA(AW)-533 Hawks, Nam Phong, “The Rose Garden”, Thailand, 1972

This is a nice large set of decals from AOA Decals, comprehensively covering 24 different airframes from US Marine Corp squadrons in Vietnam, one from a carrier and the others land based. With several brands of A-6A kits available in 1/48, I would be fairly sure that, whilst designed for the HobbyBoss kit that they are sized closely enough to be used on any of the kits.

These AOA decals are highly recommended.

Thanks to AOA Decals for the review sample

AOA Decals are available online via their website

Review Text and Images Copyright © 2025 by David Couche
Page Created 15 April, 2025
Last Updated 15 April, 2025

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