When the A-6 was retired from active service in 1997 it had served for a remarkable 33 years. It was employed in almost all major conflicts and campaigns of its time, from 1965 onwards in Vietnam, in the Persian Gulf, and over Iraq and Bosnia in the 1990s. While its carrier colleague the F-4 would never win a beauty contest (it was soon christened 'Double-Ugly' by one US Navy officer), the A-6 design could easily be considered even more 'pragmatic'. As with most aircraft, the Intruder was subject to modifications and upgrades due to new and different requirements, which finally lead to the A-6E depicted here by Kinetic. The kit plastic was quite thick and heavy, with soft detail and flash that needed to be removed; but ultimately the styrene proved very workable, sanded easily and was responsive to paint and filler. One major issue needed to be considered before the build began...the wing in the kit represented the composite or 'plastic' wing, which was retrofitted to a large number of airframes to prevent fatigue and extend service life. However, after-market decals for these aircraft are rare; one would either have to stick with the decals provided in the kit or search for compatible markings. But Fightertown Decals produces two excellent sheets and no.48059 was used here.
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