U.S. Navy A-1/H/J
Skyraiders at War

Zotz, 1/32 scale

Reviewed by Rodger Kelly

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The Zoukei-Mura Skyraider certainly has caused a stir within the modelling community. So much so that aftermarket producers are already starting to release after-market items for it. The Mexico based company Zotz Decals are one who have caught on to this and have released two new sheets to give you an alternative to the decals supplied in the Zoukei-Mura kit.

The first sheet is 32/049 and it provides markings for three different United States Navy machines.

The individual options are:

• A-1H Skyraider Bureau number 139665 modex 584 assigned to VFA-152 ‘Wild Aces’ when embarked aboard the USS Oriskany in early 1966. The aircraft is in the standard U.S. Navy camouflage scheme of that era comprising FS 36440 flat gull grey upper surfaces over FS 17925 gloss white undersides and control surfaces.
  

• A-1H Skyraider Bureau number 134569 modex 300, the VA-52 ‘Knightriders’. CAG bird from March, 1967 when the squadron was aboard the USS Ticonderoga. It is in the standard gull grey and white scheme but befitting its status as a CAG bird it is a little more brightly marked that its squadron sisters (if that is at all possible!) with the title COMATKCARAWING NINETEEN on both sides of the fuselage.
  

• A-1J Skyraider Bureau number 142033 modex 301, the Squadron Commander’s assigned aircraft of VFA-145 ‘Swordsmen’ when it was aboard the USS Intrepid in mid 1967. In a gull grey and white camouflage scheme, it wears the name ‘Baby’ on both sides of the engine cowling, Tonkin Gulf Yacht Club insignia on both sides of the rear fuselage, as well as a Navy Unit Commendation ribbon with a bronze service star on both sides of its vertical stabiliser.
  

The two placement guide sheets measure 9½" x 7½" and feature full colour side profiles of each option (both left and right hand sides) as well as a generic upper and lower plan view. Full written descriptions of the salient points are provided for each option including the airframe’s ultimate history.

There is no information as to who has produced the decals but they appear to be well printed if a little thick. You are provided with the individual markings for each option as well as a single set of national insignia. No stencil data is provided at all and a note on the placement guide advises you to “Please use the kit’s data decals”. You get two sheets with this one, one measuring 9½" x 7½" and the other 5½" x 6".

The decals and the placement guides come packed in a clear plastic zip-loc bag.

Zotz were quick off the mark with this one. It provides you with three alternate options to finish the Zoukei-Mura kit. For information, whilst the Zoukei-Mura kit is available now Trumpeter have announced the release of a 1/32 scale Skyraider in the near future.

Thanks to Eli from Zotz for the sample

Zotz decals are available from Zotz Decals Website
or Hobby Retailers including Squadron.com

Review Text and Images Copyright © 2012 by Brett Green
This Page Created on 18 April, 2012
Last updated 18 April, 2012

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