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Grumman EA-6B Prowler - VAQ-140 Patriots UNITED STATES NAVY

Grumman EA-6B Prowler - VAQ-140 Patriots UNITED STATES NAVY
KINETIC MODEL KITS K48022 -

1:48 Scale Plastic Injection

"The EA-6B Prowler is an outstanding variant of the Grumman's award winning A-6 Intruder. Externally, it is similar to the basic A-6 with the same wings and meredifferences of a 1.37m fuselage extension for a four seat cockpit and a fin pod to house electronics. Internally, it is a completely different aircraft. Nicknames 'Gliding Electric Show, the EA-6B carries huge amounts of onboard equipment for one primary mission - ensuring survivability of fighter jets and fleet surface units. It is an effective radar and communications jammer to protect the US Forces and suppress enemy air defences (SEAD). Combats supported by the EA-6B include operations against Libya in 1986, Operation Desert Storm, Bosnia Herzegovina, Kosovo and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

The EA-6B has received numerous upgrades since it's career began in 1971. It was assigned to the Patriots of Electronic Attack Squadron VAQ-140 in the 1980's and was first armed with the AGM-88 High Speed Anti-Radiation Missile (HARM). Although the EA-6B is beginning retirement in 2010, continuous transition of existing aircraft to the Improved Capability (ICAP III) configuration remains in progress. This will ensure the Prowler remains a premier tactical electronic warfare platform in the near future."

The two paragraphs above are taken from the aircraft description printed on the box. Well said indeed.

This Kinetic kit can build into a model with a wingspan of 337mm so, even at 1:48 this no small model aircraft. However, there is an alternative if your shelf space is rather cramped. Read on!

There are 230 plus parts which include:

• a folded wing option

• ICAP III configuration (see para 2 above)

• AN/ALQ-99 Jamming pods

• GPS and various antennas

• 2 drop tanks

• AGM-88 HARM

On opening the box, I was confronted with one 'jam packed to the gunnels' sealed clear plastic bag containing 9 unprotected grey/green plastic sprues and one other sealed bag containing the clear parts for the canopies.

I was very disappointed. I think the saying goes, "You only have one chance to make a good impression" so in this instance, Kinetic have failed. Because of transportation handling, friction between the unprotected sprues had caused a number of small parts to be forcibly removed from their locations on the frames and in the bottom of the bag I found 10 small parts. On examination of the larger parts on the sprues, there was evidence of abrasion as there was on some of the clear canopy plastic. The main front windscreen had broken away from it's attachment point, but it was possible that this actually saved it from severe scratch marks because it was free to move within the bag.

This was the downside. The good news was that I was very impressed with the etched detail and quality of all parts, especially the wings and the electronic equipment/cockpit where the detail is very good indeed. The loose canopy windscreen framework also has some excellent detail and is possibly one of the clearest of clear parts I have witnessed for a long time. I haven't photographed every sprue, that would be too boring, but I have photographed the parts and pieces relevant to my findings.

One thing I was delighted to discover was that the decals have been designed by Fightertown Decals and printed by Cartograf. As usual, the design and printing by these decal experts is superb. I still did my magnifying glass test just to make sure they passed muster, but the register was perfect with no colour bleeding and it is possible to read the smallest of printed stencils. It is always comforting to look forward with confidence to the decal stage of the build when they have those names on.

There is a 12 page A4 mono instruction 'manual' which contains the aircraft history, Gunze colour references, detailed drawings of the sprues and self explanatory constructional diagrams. If I am to be 'picky' (well it is a review!) I would have to say the printers of this document were a tad too enthusiastic on the ink as some of the detail has been lost to 'flooding' but the instructions are clear enough to follow quite easily.

I was particularly taken with the opening building sequence, which, as usual, is the cockpit assembly. Four ejector seats! It is a pity that there are no seat belts, but I am sure aftermarket sets will be sourced.

Lastly, there is a full colour A4 sheet showing the colour camouflage layout for this rather snazzy example of the VAQ-140 Patriots version - lots of stars and lots of stripes! It looks very good indeed and should prove a stunner on the competition tables. As you will see, there is dark blue surrounduing the canopy area, dark blue on the top 'half' of the fin and red, white and blue stripes on the wing tips. Although there are decals for the blue on the wing tips, I would certainly recommend painting the blue in all the desired locations in order that everything matches. The white stars for either side of the fin are neatly arranged in strips on the decal sheet.

This is going to be a fabulous looking model.

So what do we think?

After my initial disappointment regarding the packaging and the lack of security of the contents, I think Kinetic have come up with a rather unusual winner here. The damage to the parts can very easily be rectified but should never have been allowed to happen in the first place.

Overall: 8/10

Please get the packaging right Mr Kinetic. It would have a score of 10/10 otherwise.

Our thanks to Lucky Model for the review sample. This kit currently retails at £34.40 direct from Lucky Model.

Peter Buckingham