Reviewed by Rodger Kelly
 

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Cam Decals sheet Number 48-101 provides marking for two brightly marked CAG bird Grumman EA-6B Prowlers of the Atlantic Fleet.

Whilst both aircraft bear the standard TPS (Tactical Paint Scheme) of light and dark Ghost Greys, worn by Prowlers, that is where the similarities end.

Click the thumbnails below to view larger images:

The first aircraft Bureau No 161350, is a veteran of VAQ-151 Shadowhawks‘part in Operation Enduring Freedom whilst it was part of CVW-8 and based on the USS Enterprise in 2001. A brightly marked machine it is too. The Squadrons stylised hawk marking is in black and it just about covers the entire tail cap radome or football, and extends down the vertical stabilizer. Painted red eyes add much to its sinister appearance. Stencilled on the “hawk” are the various awards that the Squadron have won, the Radford Award, a “Battle E, and a Safety S. Painted on the port side of the nose is a mission marker in the form of a missile with the numerals 79 painted across it. Included as well are the various aircrew and maintenance crew names. These latter decals are great as it enable you to build a specific Prowler, not just a generic one.

The second aircraft is Bureau No 161118 and the markings supplied depict it as the CAG bird of CVWR -20’s (R stands for Reserve) VAQ-209 Star Warriors based at Naval Air Station, Whitby Island in 2001. Whilst not as striking as the former aircraft it still is a bright one if you were to compare it to its squadron sisters. The airwing identifier is black with a thin yellow outline as are the modex numbers for the nose. The Star Warriors squadron insignia adorns the rudder and is in full colour. CVWR-20’s insignia is also in full colour on the forward edge of the vertical stabilizer. Interestingly, the intake warning stencils are also painted in the same green as the squadron insignia. The nose is adorned with the radiation symbol, something that Prowler squadrons seem to perpetuate. Originally, this symbol was painted on the nose of Prowlers so that the deck crews could differentiate between A-6s and EA-6Bs when they were in the circuit. They needed to know the difference so as they could set the arrestor gear for the greater weight of the Prowler as opposed to its lighter A-6 cousin – or as the story goes.

A reasonable amount of stencil data is supplied on the sheets (there are two of them in this set. The main sheet holds the majority of markings whilst the smaller has the walkways and the zaps for the Star Warriors drop tanks). There are two complete sets of slime lights, one for each aircraft as well as two sets of walk ways in different colours. I wouldn’t get too fussed about the stencil data – no two Prowlers look the same after the corrosion control guys get through with their relentless patch painting. However, the main ones are there.

The instruction sheet is an A-4 sized affair which contains a decal placement plan for each aircraft as well as painting notes. The decal sheets and instructions are packed in the standard Cam Decal manner of a plastic Zip-loc bag with a stiff cardboard header.

The decals have been printed by Microscale and are sharp and clear. So sharp is the printing that you can actually read the stencil data but you will need a strong magnifying glass to do so!

It never seems to rain, and then it pours! The Revell/Monogram EA-6B has been out of production for years and yet decal manufactures seem to have taken the Prowler to their hearts lately and produced several new sheets. However, there is a strong rumour around the traps that the Prowler is to be re-released shortly!

In conclusion, this is an excellent effort by Cam Decals.

Highly Recommended.
 

Thanks to CAM Decals for the review sample.

CAM Decals are available online from their website at http://www.camdecals.com

CAM Decals 59 page 2002 color catalog of decals and resin parts is also
now available through the CAM Decals website

Review Copyright © 2002 by Rodger Kelly
This Page Created on 25 September, 2002
Last updated 22 July, 2003

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