The 1/48th Academy T-33 Shooting Star, released in 2000, is merely a re-box of the 1982 Hobbycraft kit. While a decent 80's model with engraved panel lines and details, it has some shape issues that you'll need to factor into your purchase / build decision.
Notable Kit Features:
Basic cockpit with raised detail for instruments
Simplified ejection seats
Overall basic kit with low parts count
Engraved panel lines
Pylons, bombs & rockets provided (however it is rare to see anything loaded on a T-33)
Large wingtip tanks are separately provided
Two piece canopy can be posed open
Build Inspiration:
There has been a lot of special markings applied to Canadian Armed Forces' aircraft and the CT-133 is no exception. In 1992, VU-32 of CFB Greenwood, Nova Scotia, painted up one of their T-Birds as a "Silver Shark." The aircraft sports blue over grey scheme with a large shark mouth. Leading Edge Models issued a decal sheet for these special markings in 1/48th and 1/72nd. All the marking needed for the aircraft, including stencils, additional intakes and exhaust ports necessary for the re-engined CAF aircraft are produced on the sheet. Instruction details included cockpit colours, aircraft exterior colour swatches, and paint mixing suggestions for the grey and blue of the "Silver Shark." So, next I went looking for a T-33.
Heads-Up Report:
I will give you the (edited) "GingerBob" Long List of Grievances here FYI:
Fuselage too "slim"- max diameter should be 56", the kit measures out to about 50"
From the back end of the canopy (or sooner) to just before the removable tail section, it should be a level, straight line. The kit rises up and then curves back down again
As the nose rounds toward the windscreen it is level, whereas it should still be rising
The fairing at the back of the canopy is a bit abrupt. It seems about the right angle, but needs to be faired to the fuselage line a bit more smoothly, and again the "hump" might accentuate this.
The windscreen is too far back from the angled rear edge of the nose compartment doors
Intake lips not accurately shaped and also the "mouth" isn't at the right station. (It lines up about right with the windscreen- but the windscreen is too far aft.)
The canopy is not as long as it should be.
The wing gives the impression of being too thin, not having enough "airfoil curve" to it at the root.
Wing root/ fuselage/ intake duct juncture seems a bit clunky
The shape of the back end of the wing fillet also doesn't seem accurate
Shape of fin tip not right.
The armament bay doors in the nose are a bit shorter front to back but the bottom edge is noticeably low
To his credit he ends with, "For the rest of you, beginning to grumble about rivet-counters, it will be clearly recognizable as a T-33 if you build it straight out of the box"
Kit Additions / Modifications:
Added a couple of pilot figures from my Monogram stash
Vent added in rear fuselage below fin fillet on left side
Used Leading Edge decals
Finishing:
The paint scheme on this aircraft was the inspiring feature of this build and a good amount of guidance was provided by Leading Edge. Paints were custom mixed using the suggested colour swatches provided. The Black anti-glare panel was painted on and it was pretty much time for the gloss finish in preparation for the decal application. A gloss finish was applied to seal the decals in afterwards and the kit was ready for hanging display.
The After-Build Report:
Once again we model makers have imperfect kits of choice to consider for your T-33 build. While the 1/48th Academy T-33 Shooting Star kit has its shape accuracy issues, it is typically a very inexpensive kit and will look like a T-33 to most viewers. If you want to spend more in order to build the ultimate T-33 you will want to shift to the 1/48th Great Wall Hobby kit. While not without issues, it does have the advantage of a modern tool kit with much more involved details provided. Finding one will be your greatest challenge.
Feel free to comment or ask any questions - Keep on building, gain experience, challenge yourself if you like, but try not to stress yourself out over the build - it is supposed to be an enjoyable hobby after all - Cheers
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