Trumpeter – 01640 – Grumman A-6A Intruder

Description:

Unassembled plastic model kit in 1/72 scale of a U.S. Grumman A-6 Intruder carrier borne attack aircraft.

The Grumman A-6 Intruder, an American twinjet all-weather attack aircraft, was developed and produced by the American company Grumman Aerospace, serving in the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps. Operational from 1963 to 1997, the A-6 witnessed the creation of various prototypes and versions. Notable among them were the EA-6B Prowler, a specialized electronic warfare variant, and the KA-6D tanker version. The A-6 played crucial roles in overseas conflicts such as the Vietnam War and the Gulf War. Initially slated to be succeeded by the McDonnell Douglas A-12 Avenger II, the program faced cancellation due to cost overruns. Consequently, with the retirement of the A-6E, its precision strike mission was temporarily taken up by the Grumman F-14 Tomcat equipped with a LANTIRN pod.

Newly tooled kit in 2023. Include decal sheet with 2 markings. Weapons payload include Mk.20 bombs, Mk.81 and Mk.82 bombs, M117 bombs and GBU-8, plus center line or side fuel tanks.

Sadly despite the good engineering and quality cast of the kit, it’s accuracy is not the best you can expect nowadays. Community was expectant to see this model, as has been a long time since a new Grumman A-6 was tooled so once released many good modelers put their hands and eyes over the kit with two main conclusions, main fuselage is more appropriate for a A-6E variant (it’s supposed Trumpeter will release this version too) and weapons payload is mostly unuseful, either was not carried in A-6As, has a wrong shape, has a wrong size or all at the same time. The seat isn’t also appropriate for an A-6A but for a later A-6E.