SEARCH FINESCALE.COM

Enter keywords or a search phrase below:

1/48 Academy T-33A (Completed)

1131 views
10 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    July 2016
  • From: Kentucky , USA
1/48 Academy T-33A (Completed)
Posted by MailDude on Saturday, July 30, 2016 5:50 PM

Here is my most recent build. It is the third and final build for my uncle, and the third after getting back into models and taking it seriously, unlike my teenage years. I guess I can thank my uncle for getting me to pick up the hobby, since he asked if I could build him an F-100D from his days in Viet-Nam.

Anyway, here is the box art for this model:

The build went pretty well, I don't recall any major problems. However I had terrible problems with the decals. Mainly the wing-tip fuel tank decals. I had to cut them to try to get them to conform, and they still wouldn't conform. So, I scratched them up a bit to make them look worn. To my relief when I gave it to my uncle today he pointed to them and said "look how worn those look, that's how a lot of them were. We had planes in all sorts of shape". He worked on these craft just before getting out of the USAF.

The paints I used were all Vallejo. I airbrushed Metal Color over Vallejo's Black Gloss Primer. I think it looks really good. In hind site I wish I had used different metal tones on seperate panels. Next time. For the panel lines I used Vallejo wash.

This plane almost wound up a tail sitter. I checked several times during th build, and it seemed OK. Then with only the wing flaps to go it started tail sitting. I was able to slide of all things finishing nails into the wing flap gap and shake them to the frontStick out tongue.

This has some flaws in it, but my uncle loved it when I took it to him today! That made my day.

Enjoy! And give me some pointers if you see anything that needs it.

The red air splitters on the leading edge of the wing did not come with the kit, I scratch built those. My uncle insisted they be on there. He was walking on the wing on a rainy night, slipped off the front and it caught his knee. An ambulance ride to the hospital and a USAF doctor telling him "Son, this injury will bother you the rest of your life". Doc was right!

Here are my three builds together on display at my uncles. T-33A, F-111A and F-100D. The three aircraft he worked on during his USAF days.

 

MailDude a.k.a. mailwalker

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Northern California
Posted by jeaton01 on Saturday, July 30, 2016 6:51 PM

You uncle is fortunate to get those models, very nice!

John

To see build logs for my models:  http://goldeneramodel.com/mymodels/mymodels.html

 

  • Member since
    March 2015
  • From: Streetsboro, Ohio
Posted by Toshi on Saturday, July 30, 2016 7:33 PM

What a fantastic trio for your uncle!  Great builds.

Toshi

On The Bench: Revell 1/48 B-25 Mitchell

 

Married to the most caring, loving, understanding, and beautiful wife in the world.  Mrs. Toshi

 

 

  • Member since
    April 2016
  • From: Parsons Kansas
Posted by Hodakamax on Saturday, July 30, 2016 7:38 PM

Wow the T-33 looks great. If an aircraft looks good it usually flies good and it does still fly today. I saw a couple of Canadian T-33s at Oskosh a few years ago and they still looked good. Your model does it justice!

Max

Hmm, I think I'll add that to my build list!

  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Sonora Desert
Posted by stikpusher on Saturday, July 30, 2016 8:02 PM

Man that T-33 looks sharp! Very well done! Is that straight OOB, or did you spruce up anything besides those wing leading edge splitters? I know there is some AM stuff out there for this kit, but man, you really pulled this off beautifully. I know it is originally a Hobbycraft molding that Academy reboxed.

 

F is for FIRE, That burns down the whole town!

U is for URANIUM... BOMBS!

N is for NO SURVIVORS...

       - Plankton

LSM

 

  • Member since
    July 2016
  • From: Kentucky , USA
Posted by MailDude on Saturday, July 30, 2016 8:26 PM

stikpusher

Man that T-33 looks sharp! Very well done! Is that straight OOB, or did you spruce up anything besides those wing leading edge splitters? I know there is some AM stuff out there for this kit, but man, you really pulled this off beautifully. I know it is originally a Hobbycraft molding that Academy reboxed.

 

Stik-Sorry, it is OOB besides the splitters. I should have put that in the description. Thank you for the compliment. I'm learnin'.

jeaton01-Thank you for the compliment, sir.

Toshi- Thank you. I enjoy watching your builds.

Max- Thank you for the compliment. It was an enjoyable build. I would recommend adding it to your list.

MailDude a.k.a. mailwalker

  • Member since
    January 2003
Posted by Darren Roberts on Saturday, July 30, 2016 9:10 PM

NOICE!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: SW Virginia
Posted by Gamera on Sunday, July 31, 2016 10:09 AM

If I were your uncle I'd be very pleased too, that's some sharp work. Yes

The natural metal came out really well and the decals look great (getting them to lay down over a curved surface like the tanks is something I've never been very good at).  

"I dream in fire but work in clay." -Arthur Machen

 

  • Member since
    July 2016
  • From: Kentucky , USA
Posted by MailDude on Sunday, July 31, 2016 9:35 PM

Darren- Thanks!!!

Gamera

If I were your uncle I'd be very pleased too, that's some sharp work. Yes

The natural metal came out really well and the decals look great (getting them to lay down over a curved surface like the tanks is something I've never been very good at).  

 

Gamera-Thanks for the compliment. I'm really pleased with the Vallejo Metal Color. I personally steer clear of enamels and laquers, so this being waterbased, no complaints. Solvaset couldn't even handle those tank decalsCrying.

MailDude a.k.a. mailwalker

  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: Twin Cities of Minnesota
Posted by Don Stauffer on Monday, August 1, 2016 8:20 AM

Very nice!

 

Don Stauffer in Minnesota

  • Member since
    July 2016
  • From: Kentucky , USA
Posted by MailDude on Monday, August 1, 2016 8:34 AM

Don Stauffer

Very nice!

 

 

Thank you, Don.

MailDude a.k.a. mailwalker

JOIN OUR COMMUNITY!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

SEARCH FORUMS
FREE NEWSLETTER
By signing up you may also receive reader surveys and occasional special offers. We do not sell, rent or trade our email lists. View our Privacy Policy.