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George Schembri
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1/72 CAF CT-133 Silver Star - 'Mako Shark'Hasegawa Kit A18

April 9, 2022 · in Aviation · · 25 · 1.4K

Here's another older kit, 's Kit A18 T-33A 'Shooting Star' released in 1982 with original molding from 1969.
Dressed as CAF CT-133 Silver Star 'Mako Shark' scheme, the original 'Mako 1' Shark Mouth scheme was applied to CAF Aircraft #133504 in June 1992 to acknowledge the disbandment of CAF Utility Squadron VU-32.
The most recent 'Mako Shark' is aircraft #133577, flown by Waterloo Warbirds in Ontario, Canada - you can actually book a flight if you can scarp up the coin.
Decals used were the excellent Decal Set #72.5 'Silver Shark' Special from Leading Edge Decals, which were a pleasure to work with. Nicely opaque with excellent adhesion, they came with great placement instructions.

A great write-up on the history of the T-33 by Bill Upton can be found on the following link:
https://documents.techno-science.ca/documents/CASM-Aircrafthistories-CanadairCL-30SilverStar.pdf
Great info regarding the original 'TP-80C' along with the differences between the American and Canadian aircraft.
The major difference was that the Canadian birds being produced in Canadian with license built Rolls Royce Nene engines.

The original Shark #133504 had a more Bluish Grey colour, Leading Edge decal set provided a colour sample to allow a correct colour match which I was able to achieve by mixing Tamiya X-14/XF-12/XF-53 together.
However, I decided to go with a colour closer to the brighter, newer Warbirds Mako #133577 which I thought matched X-14 alone. So, i guess it's a bit of a hybrid finish.
I was thinking of placing the model on a display base so I added the pilots. I ran out of colour ink on my inkjet so I'll update the base label once I get new ink.

Thanks for viewing.

Reader reactions:
10  Awesome

6 additional images. Click to enlarge.


25 responses

  1. Amazing result on the classic Hasegawa kit, George!
    Love your chosen scheme!

  2. Very nice build of a CT-133.

    I have this Leading Edge decal sheet saved for an Academy T-33 (1/48) and I, too, have been scratching my head over what Chrysler Blue (which is what the color apparently is) should be. I don't like mixing paints either. Thanks for the X-14 option which is probably what I'll use and screw the Color police!

    • Thanks Dan (@dbdlee), I thought I actually had an acrylic C.E.Blue but I couldn't find it.
      I think I had the mix right on a small scarp of paper, but couldn't lock it down in a bigger mixing jar...so X-14 worked for me.

    • Also Dan (@dbdlee))- I had a quick look in my enamels (which I don't usually spray anymore) and found that 'visually' Humbrol 48 Med Blue also matches the Leading Edge Colour Sample of Blue Grey and should work with no mixing for the VU32 colour.
      And my colour chart notes H48 matches X14 but they are quite different.

  3. Sharp, George! T-33s come in a lot of great flavors.

  4. Great looking bird Other George. Like Dan, I have this in the 1:48 stash

  5. Wow! That is beautiful George! Great work on a true classic aircraft! ?

  6. You did extremely well on this one, George @georgeswork
    The blue scheme and sharkmouth do look great.

  7. What a great looking build, George! That's a shelf stand out for sure.

  8. Nice! This is the coolest looking T-33, the colors and shark mouth makes this a great looking build.

  9. That is one terrific looking paint scheme, George. Very nice!

  10. Great looking build!

  11. Nicely done George, looks good.

  12. Hey Allan (@kalamazoo) thank you!

  13. Very very nice build George, looks awesome I love those teeth

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