1/48th Academy T-33A
I just completed this 1/48th model of a T-33A that was assigned to the 157th TFS of the SC ANG. They were based at McEntire ANGB, SC. At the time that unit was equipped with the F-102 Delta Dagger.
The model is an Academy T-33A which was a fun build with no serious problems encountered while working with it. The kit cockpit is a bit sparse as are the wheel wells but there’s enough there to work with. The finish is all Model Master paints and the decals were out of ye ole decal stash box with the exception of the tail markings. Using my photo of the real T-33 as a guide I took the Draw decal 1/72nd sheet for the F-102A in SC ANG markings and pieced it together to replicate the markings seen on the tail of the T-33A. A bit tedious but it achieved the goal. The serial number was pieced together from the 1/48th F-102A Draw decal sheet which gave a nice set of black numbers so a particular aircraft serial number could be produced. I’m considering my next build to be a 1/48th F-102A in SC ANG markings to go along with the T-33A seen here. Academy produced a nice kit that with a little TLC can be made into a nice model addition to your collection.
7 additional images. Click to enlarge.
Tom Bebout said on March 12, 2021
That’s a pretty nice looking T-33 Jim. Well done I say and nice job on piecing together those tail numbers.
Jim Sullivan said on March 13, 2021
Thanks Tom, it was a fun build but it did take a bit of patience to get those tail markings right.
Greg Kittinger said on March 12, 2021
Love the venerable T-bird! You did a great job with this.
Jim Sullivan said on March 13, 2021
Thanks Greg, it was a good kit to work with.
John vd Biggelaar said on March 12, 2021
Nice and clean looking Shooting Star, Jim.
Well done.
Jim Sullivan said on March 13, 2021
Thank you very much John.
George Schembri said on March 12, 2021
Looks amazing Jim, and great job with the decals!
Jim Sullivan said on March 13, 2021
Thanks George. it took a bit of patience to get thru those tail markings.
Spiros Pendedekas said on March 12, 2021
Amazing job, Jim!
Kudos to your fin decal job!
Jim Sullivan said on March 13, 2021
Thank you Spiros.
John Krukowski said on March 12, 2021
I’ll add to the echos, nice work piecing all these markings together, looks perfect.
Jim Sullivan said on March 13, 2021
Thanks John K. and it took a while to put those tail markings on the bird. Draw decals were a pleasure to work with.
John Healy said on March 12, 2021
Nice work, Jim. I love ANG planes.
Jim Sullivan said on March 13, 2021
Thanks John H. and I share your appreciation for ANG planes
Tom Cleaver said on March 12, 2021
My god, man! Don’t you know the Academy T-33 is an *unbuildable mess*??? 🙂
Pretty nice result with said “unbuildable mess.” I like it a lot.
Jim Sullivan said on March 13, 2021
Hello Tom and thanks for your comments. I didn’t realize that kit had a reputation of being an ‘unbuildable mess’. I must have missed that kit review. Actually it went together quite smoothly. I was pleasantly surprised to see that the canopy fit well either open or closed. That’s a rare quality among models.
Tom Cleaver said on March 13, 2021
It’s considered such over at the Central Office of Those Who Will Never Be Satisfied, i.e., “The other place.”
George Williams said on March 12, 2021
All in all it turned out very well, just shows what you can do with a little perseverance, definitely liked.
Jim Sullivan said on March 13, 2021
Thank you George, much appreciated.
Clark Cook said on March 13, 2021
Jim, what a fine replica of a real bird as shown with the accompanying photo of the real bird. The Hobbycraft/Academy family of kits are indeed nice models when tweaked a bit by us builders. The decal work is certainly impressive so additional high fives for that and the paintwork. We’re gonna miss Model Master down the road. Looking forward to seeing the completed F-102.
Best, Clark
Jim Sullivan said on March 13, 2021
Thanks Clark, glad you liked it. I’m a bit partial to USN/USMC aircraft, especially in GSB, but that T-33 fired my rocket enough to want to do another USAF bird, the F-102A from the SC ANG as a companion to it. I haven’t built a Monogram F-102 since my earlier years of modeling so I’m looking forward to a bit of nostalgia working with it.
Michel Verschuere said on March 13, 2021
Very Nice! Belgium also had some T-33 in the early jet days!
Jim Sullivan said on March 13, 2021
Thank you Michel.