Your T-33 looks really nice in black primer, Michael (@michaelt). Maybe you should leave it black and call it a stealth trainer. I was in high school when this kit came out, and I am pretty sure I built it when it was new.

I painted the control surfaces SMS silver, masked them off and then painted the rest SMS aluminium. Unfortunately, there is little if any difference in the colours.
I have to fix a few rough parts still - metallic finishes show up every blemish.

Indeed, there looks to be little difference between the two NMFs, my friend @michaelt, but still it is visible. The engine looks superb!

Painting is almost done.

SMS Aluminium over all.

SMS Super Silver control surfaces, the upper panel in front of the cockpit and the drop tanks.

The dark panels are 50:50 Vellejo Aluminium:Dark Aluminium with the fin fillet being straight Dark Aluminium, which I decided was a little too dark.

The black is SMS Black Primer.

Rather than use the decal, I painted the (Gunze H13) red turbine warning band on the rear fuselage. I first thought this was at the fuselage join, but had to repaint and move it aft of the wing fillet when I had a better look at the instructions.

Also, I masked and painted the (Gunze H4) yellow and (Tamiya X18) semi-gloss black checked tail band.

The tail tip and lower nose are Gunze H338 light grey.

Unfortunately I broke the nose gear off, so I'll have to drill and pin it back on.

I am contemplating masking and painting the "USAF" and "U.S. Air Force" markings too because the decals area bit smudged looking. I'll use the rest of the decals, though - stars and bars, stencils, serial number and nose artwork.

Supreme paintwork, my friend @michaelt! Yep, pity about the nose leg, easily fixable though. I always manage to break at least one such bit at least once in almost each one of my builds, so this is normality for me 😄
Looking forward to your progress!

Excellent masking, my friend @michaelt!

Perfect, my friend @michaelt! Looking forward to your USAF masks!