Grumman A-6A Intruder

Modelling world By JAMES GOULDING
"Recent Frog/Hasegawa releases
Grumman A-6A Intruder

One of the best of the recent Frog Hasegawa kits is of the Grumman A-6A Intruder. This is a splendid model of the big two-seat aircraft. The general outline is very accurate and the standard of moulding is high. The A-6A is an impressive aeroplane in appearance and size, and the model loaded with drop tanks and multiple bomb carriers does justice to the full-size subject.

Transfers are provided for two different Intruders—from Attack Squadron VAH-123. US Navy, с Squadron VA-196, US Navy, on USS Constellation. Retail price of the kit is 9s 6d.

More new Frog/Hasegawa kits will be reviewed next month.

AIRCRAFT Illustrated, September 1969

NEW to YOU?
MONTHLY REVIEW OF NEW PRODUCTS CONDUCTED BY BOB JONES OF I.P.M.S.

Under an exchange agreement with Hasegawa, FROG now market many kits produced by this Japanese company, and the latest of these is that for a 1/72 scale Grumman A6 Intruder above. Moulded in white plastic, the surface detail and fit of component parts is excellent, though on our particular sample, some filling and filing was necessary to obtain a smooth fit of the belly section of the model; however, we gather that later kits have this fault eliminated. The very noticeable bug-eye cockpit shape is faithfully reproduced - a feat of moulding not immediately apparent to the layman - this is done by splitting the canopy along its centre line,the resultant join of the two halves being hidden by the fore and aft cockpit framing, as can be seen in our photograph.

Markings are to a fine standard and include all National insignia and squadron and code markings, plus a mass of Rescue panelling and other stencil instructions. The only comment we would offer is that the horizontal tail stripes should in fact be light gold in colour and not yellow; however, this can easily be corrected with a touch of paint. External stores include bombs and drop tanks, and the completed model makes an ideal companion to the other new release, the Grumman Mohawk, seen in the other print at left. The Mohawk, now on active service in Vietnam, is used for radar reporting and the kit comes complete with the SLAR radar pod as seen in our photograph. Moulded in olive-coloured high quality plastic, this kit goes together very well and again the manufacturers have managed to reproduce in miniature the bulged cockpit windows.

Scale Models No.2 1969 NOVEMBER Vol.1 No.2

HONG KONG COMMENT 12.6.68 by Colin Bramwell

No. 17 in the Hasegawa 1/72 series, the A-6A Intruder, has been released in the new style box which this firm are now using, and in my view this is one of Hasegawa's best kits to date. It is moulded in good quality white plastic with only a modicum of flash on the smaller parts. The only moving parts are the wheels, although the dive brakes can be fitted in closed or extended position. Surface detail is quite well handled by faint raised lines, and as far as I can see all the intakes, blisters, recesses etc. as well as a full load of stores have been included. The only fault I can find is that the dive brake doors appear to be perforated on the real aircraft, the kit only providing scribed circles in lieu, but in consolation there is a very nicely detailed control panel in the cockpit in the same type of scribing. The otherfault appears to lie in the decal sheet, the figure 5 in the U. S. S. Enterprise version 513, being much heavier than the other figures. . . . but who knows, this may be correct? The decal sheet is semi-matt, very clearly printed and covers aircraft from Enterprise and Constellation complete with Black Panther and Ace of Spades motifs. The canopy, as was to be expected, has been moulded in two halves to obtain the correct bulging.

This kit makes a good companion piece for the Buccaneer in any display.

The IPMS magazine, Vol.5 No.7, JULY 1968